New Year Resolutions

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”

–     Bill Vaughn, American author and industry SME

Before the DD takes a hiatus until January 2nd, some thoughts on the “transition.”

The calendar makes it easy to look at the New Year as an event.  It is, after all a great excuse to have a party.  (By the way, Dick Heston admonished me every New Year’s Eve from 1977 – 2001 that “Tonight’s the night they come across the road at you.”  Be safe.  Have fun.  Now, where was I?)

Oh, yes.  New Year’s is a great excuse to hold a football game (although they’ve taken all the shine off that, haven’t they?).  It is a great excuse to resolve to lose weight, quit smoking, eat better, commit to quiet time, read more books, spend more time doing _________ and the list goes on and on.

New Year’s is a great excuse to consider making New Year Resolutions.

Careful that we not make it an excuse for waiting to take action, or accepting that “most resolutions fail.”

Tuesday is January 1.  By definition, it is the beginning of a new year.  By definition, it is also just another day.  Instead of resolutions, let’s make decisions.  Let’s decide to make a difference.

Making a difference is less about grandiose beginnings and events than it is about doing one thing in this moment that somehow creates a different ripple than not doing that one thing.  Making a difference is about what we do NEXT.

No matter what we have done before.  No matter what day the calendar says it is.  Today.  Now.

Living each day — each moment — with that perspective makes us, by definition, an optimist.

2012 saw the launch of The Heston Group.  Thank you for your engagement, support and belief in our mission.  Thank you for making a difference for us.

Happy New Year.  Back atcha on Wednesday!