2010

Resolution

Many of us would like to forget 2009 as 2010 beckons. In every people and culture, celebrating a new year presents an opportunity to close a door and open a new one. Forget the past and look forward to the future. Like when you go bowling and you couldn't strike nor spare and you wanted to denote that you are going to have a fresh start so you draw a thick line at the end of your last miscue hoping for better returns.

This very thought makes people around the world do a resolution list of things to stop doing or to start doing. Weeks and days leading to the end of the year, you start to give yourself pep talks but at the same time realising that it is an onerus task ahead since you have probably achieved little from the previous years' list and with the add-ons the list is getting longer. Just like in the midst of a motivational seminar, hordes of people could even walk on heaps of burning coal and they walk out still feeling smart about the event but as the days go by and pressure from work and life takes its toll, the reality sets in, the energy burns out, the fire gets doused and you begin the hang your head low.

Its never easy isn't it? Once the festive period of Christmas, New Year and the Lunar New Year gets past with no holidays in sight and the weather gets hotter, you wither along with the heat with the humdrum of life melting like butter. Our habits of the last 10, 15, 20 years are not easily broken as we are creatures of habit doing things in a set pattern knowingly or unknowingly. Making a list of resolution like being a better person, getting better results, study hard, quit gambling, drinking, smoking, spending more time with family or living healthier may look useful but it would be easily abandoned without commitment.

Remember I have previously mentioned about commitment is like what a pig has to do to give ham? Are you ready to give ham? We have been in chains for so long and to break out of these chains one has to peform a great escape act like Houdini as the water level start rising. You start struggling when the water level reaches your nose causing you to tip toe but it is not enough and soon one will be under the water. At some point in your struggle, you are going to get lonely or feel like giving up.

You thought you saw a light at the end of the tunnel but it turned out to be an on coming train. Work pressure and life's problems may then pile up. You feel like going berserk. Somebody may even accused you of not trying. You are now almost running amok. You say to yourself: "What the heck, I give up!" Now, this is the critical point of no return. Stick to your guns like a postage stamp sticks to an envelope till it reaches the final destination. Keep pressing on. What if I say that if you look back you will turn to stone?

Goals

Why not start small and set clearer and more specific goals. Baby steps as I like to say. What are your goals? Instead of saying - be a better person, get better results or live healthier, why don't we smile a little more, say a few kind words and be more cheerful. By eating less, it would already be healthier. Begin by not taking yourself too seriously. These small acts can immediately transform the world around you since the world is really a mirror image of ourselves. People will then respond in kind. It always starts with a thought that turn into words and finally action. Dark and dangerous thoughts can be deadly so do not even allow it to be there in the first place. Words are like a double-edged sword. They inspires when use appropriately and destroys when not. A tongue six inches long can kill a man six foot tall. At the end of the day, regardless of what you think and what you say, it is what you do that really matters. Always make your tone and words less harsh as there may come a day when you will have to swallow it. Pleasant words are easier to swallow. Remember that people will never ever forget how you make them feel.

Character

What you think becomes what you say and what you say becomes what you do. What you do becomes habits and habits becomes your character. Your character will be your destiny. Thoughts = Words = Action = Habits = Character = Destiny. I last mentioned that whenever in doubt, look at how the person - a partner or a friend treats other people because that's how he or she will treat you one day when you are of little importance. What do you do when in doubt of a person's character? Just give him power. Develop a character for 2010 that would make you a great person and who knows you might be Time Man of The Year! Is developing our character is a major goal in our life? Examine it.

Priority

What's your priority in life? Make lots of money? Play plenty of golf? Spend more time with the family? This is an important question as it sets the tone and direction. There will be a trade off, a price to pay whatever your choice. Sacrifices in some areas may be needed. Begin with the end in mind. Everybody has only but 24 hours. No one gets even a minute more. We all have different motivation and priorities in life.

Nothing wrong with that but then life is like walking a tight rope, a balancing act. Do you have a safety net below? All you have is a pole you grasp at for balance. There was a very successful man who met a fisherman and he told the fisherman that when he caught enough fish, he could use the money to buy a boat. The fisherman asked him what he should do with the boat and he gladly advised him to haul in more catch and with even more money he could open a canning factory to can all the fish for distribution and export and to expand the business overseas he could then get his business public listed.

The fisherman asked him what he should do after all these. The man replied: "With all the success by then, you can go fishing". The fisherman said: "What do you think I am doing now". You too can go fishing now, all you need is a rod, a tackle, line, hook and sinker and perhaps some good old friends. Enjoy whatever you have now. Family time, friends, a new shirt, skirt, golf club, whatever. Enjoy it now. Don't keep it for the next day, next week, month, year. Wear that favourite shirt now, moths know how to fnd their own food, you don't have to feed them. Organise family gatherings, get in touch with friends. Now is yet and yet is now.

Success & Failure

Sometimes you will succeed, at times you may fail and you may succeed or fail spectacularly. There is nothing wrong with that. Keep pressing. The important thing is to be sincere and truthful in your ways and efforts. Winston Churchill has said: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts". Pick yourself up, dust your bottoms and go on. Thomas Edison failed a thousand times before he gave us the light bulb. If not for him, we will be living in darkness. He said he did not fail. He just learned a thousand ways how not to make a light bulb.

I know many out there are making their resolution. This is the easy part. Well, at least you know your weaknesses and your flaws so that you can identify the problem areas. You have the guts to admit it. It takes a great man to realise and acknowledge his own shortcomings. You have to know the problem before you can think of a solution. Quite often, the irony is that it may be easier to find a solution then to be able to identify a problem.

The execution part is getting close. Are you prepared to give ham? Think of it this way, your family, friends and all the brotherhood of man are with you. Everybody is trying to exorcise some demons as no one is perfect, so let us kick some butts! . Conquering a major one is good enough. Let us resolve to have a resolution to resolve resolutely. Let's have a http://www.kickbutts.com/ forum to share. I wish all friends and readers a Happy New Year and an awesome 2010!

Let's sing to the traditional Scottish Auld Lang Syne which literally translated means "old long since" or long long ago, days gone by or simply the good old days.

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind. Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne .

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.