Questions for the New Year

I really do love New Year's Resolutions.

There's something about the act of thumb-tacking up a new calendar that symbolizes possibilities. I can't resist reflecting a bit on the year before and setting goals for the next. After all, those blank squares need to be filled with meaning. And to discover their meaning, I need to set aside some time to ponder, reflect, write in my journal the answers to thoughtful questions.

One article I found provided a list of questions to use for this kind of exercise. The author focused first on overtly spiritual questions, like "What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?" He then added to the list 21 questions that touched on other areas of life, like "What habit would you most like to establish this year?" and "What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?" I'm going to print out his list and pull out some questions to consider.

There's something powerful about the pause I take between Christmas and New Year's to go through exercises like these. I refocus my life on what really matters. If I can come up with a vision, purpose and plan for the upcoming year, then all the rushing, driving, shopping and planning that tends to take over a given day should be justified by a broader, bolder plan, infused with meaning by my great and glorious goals and dreams.

Well, my life isn't that grandiose.

But I do like to find a little direction. Otherwise, it feels like I'm chasing after the wind.

And I don't want to end up like Solomon, moaning that everything's meaningless.

So if you'll excuse me, I've got thinking to do.

Who knows, maybe I'll unearth some great and glorious goals? If not, I'm perfectly happy with a little nudge in the right direction.