Looking Back, Looking Forward, and Enjoying the Ride

https://www.jimmybuffett.com/description?albumId=15

As I have mentioned in a previous post (https://gregorymaness.wixsite.com/website/post/same-old-lang-syne-dan-fogelberg), I typically find myself wanting to listen to Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Lang Syne" at this time of year. It is a bittersweet song that just seems appropriate at this time of year. Not particularly surprising since it's set during the Christmas season. But this year I am thinking more about another song that I have shared before on this blog, "Trip Around the Sun" (https://gregorymaness.wixsite.com/website/post/trip-around-the-sun-jimmy-buffett-and-martina-mcbride). This song performed by Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride is on my mind as I ponder the prospect of making New Year's resolutions and the prospect of enjoying another year on this planet's elliptical journey. Sadly, 2024 will not see me attending another Jimmy Buffett concert as his trip came to an end on September 1st of this year.

The last couple of years, I made some progress on some goals and resolutions and not so much on others. I know that I need to do a better job of dialing it in if I hope to do better in 2024. I need to check in more frequently to ensure that I am on track for meeting my goals and sticking to my resolutions. And I will need to make course corrections as necessary. Of course, I could just chuck it and, as Jimmy Buffett suggests in the song, resolve to never make another resolution.

Personally, I kind of enjoy having some targets and I think that I generally do a pretty good job of attacking my resolutions without necessarily beating myself up too much when I don't accomplish them all or when my circumstances or priorities change during the year. I think that is a pretty good way to approach them, although it is possible to be a little too nonchalant. I will probably make fewer resolutions for next year and also create a list of things that would be nice to do during the year. That way I can really focus on the things that I find most important and yet not lose sight on some other things that I would like to do or accomplish. In any case, assuming that I see 2024, I am looking forward to what the future holds.

Happy New Year, family, friends, and fellow travelers. 🎉 🤩