How to Make Positive New Years Resolutions with a Twist!

Most of us start off the New Year with a renewed resolve to improve our lives. Most often we include breaking unhealthy habits, more exercise, better money management and so on. The memberships fly off the shelves of the local gyms and the parking lots are jammed with well intentions. Getting healthy is a great goal, but this year why not try making a different type of New Years Resolution list? One of "To Do before the end of the year"? Yes, that's right! Make a list of things you wish to do in the upcoming year. Fun things, things that you wish you had done this past year. Life is busy. Life is short. Make a list of experiences that matter to your family and make them happen. Life is sweet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• pen
• paper
• dreams
• cut outs from magazines

1. First, make some ground rules, like the cost of each goal or idea on the list. A trip to Disney may be a family goal that everyone has a smaller goal to help contribute and make it happen, but wouldn't be realistic for 5 y/o Suzy to achieve on her own. Maybe setting a $50.00 limit or the such would be a good base line. Also decide on the number of goals, one a month, per quarter? or 3, 5, 6?
2. Second, go thru some old magazines and dream build, cut out pictures, or words and make a collage. This can be done as one big family collage, or individually. I personally like individual ones and the family one can be placed out on the fridge!
3. After you've listed all your tasks, review your to Fun to do list and decide on the priority of each task. Give higher priority to the tasks that get you closer to your goals. :)

Tips & Warnings

• Sleeping in a tent or under the stars
• Learning to horseback ride
• Walking on the beach
• Making ice cream from scratch
• Earning own money
• Getting a paperroute or first job
• Going to the movies with Dad or mom on a parent/date night
• Learning a new language
• Learning a new hobby, like photography or basket weaving
• Go to the zoo or aquarium ....or BOTH!
• Have a backwards day, start the day with supper, then end the day with breakfast!
• Get a massage ( every month!)
• Get flowers for yourself
• Find an address to your favorite famous person and write them a letter. See if they write you back
• Dig for fossils
• Have a bonfire and roast marshmallows
• Go on a breakfast picnic.
• Take a bicycle trip.
• Build a tree house or fort
• Take a dance class
• Go on a horse and buggy ride
• This may be contagious to friends and family!