New Year's Musings

It's January 3rd already. Where is the year going?! The older I get the faster the years go by. I can remember when I marked time by the eternally long days between weekends. Then I measured in months or the school schedule. These days, if I'm lucky, my mind measures time in years. I say "lucky" because it's far too easy to measure my life in decades at this point. Yeah, I'm that old.

Something about age makes people more focused. I think I know why "old" people get up with the sun and avoid sleeping in; it's that gnawing reality that creeps up in the mind that you really don't have that many more sunrises to see. Faced with the stark fact of limitations, focus comes easy.

So, bubbling up from my focused musings are the following questions to help me choose how I use my limited time, talent, and treasure. In no particular order...

1. How many books will I read this year?

2. What is the most important decision I will most likely make this year?

3. What can I do to build a spiritual legacy for my children?

4. What is the most important financial decision I will make this year?

5. How can I encourage pastors/ministers this year?

6. What is my biggest time/energy waster and how can I avoid it?

7. How can I make my commute a time of meditation?

8. Who will I invest in this year?

9. What will give me the most satisfaction at the end of this year?

10. Where are the best places for me to take four mini-vacations this year?