As I thought about the end of 2023, I figured it would be appropriate to put together a list of resolutions to guide me into 2024.
Past successful resolutions included reading a certain number of books, organizing a closet or desk, writing letters to friends, or making phone calls. Another one was to take a big vacation—one that never seems to get done.
As you can see, I’ve already missed the mark. Procrastination and focus lacked as I finished the year. No doubt the death of my dad nearly a year ago distracted my thought process. This was the first Christmas and New Year without a phone call to him. Among the topics we’d talk about was what was ahead for the upcoming year and realistic goals that he always had a way of putting into perspective.
This year although I missed the timeline, I don’t think dad would be disappointed. He also had shared experiences about the loss of family members and he knew that sometimes life’s experiences were not easy to compartmentalize.
Sometimes I’d go over the list of ideas I thought about for the year ahead and he would chuckle about some suggestions while other matters he would say were spot on. To his credit I don’t remember dad saying he used resolutions in his planning process.
He often talked about the importance of five-year plans and how they could be applied to business, professional or personal matters and ways they could work in concert with each other. The most important ideal was to be to be optimistic about the future—even in difficult times.
I’ve struggled to find balance in the past year but I think that is forgivable. Maybe the most important resolution is to regain the path toward balance. If it seems murky, I think that’s OK. As I look inward—perhaps the 2025 resolutions will be easier to do in advance.
Maybe that should be my resolution, to make sure I put a list together on time. Time will tell but it is one worth considering.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
