|
|
CTC Readers' Poll:
|
|
"What are your own personal New Year’s traditions? How do you welcome the coming year and get it off to a good start?" |
|
"My personal
tradition for many years has been to sit down and
reflect on how the year ending has gone. What have I
accomplished? What do I wish I had accomplished? What
are my goals for the coming year? I try to limit the
goals to a dozen or less. If I accomplish 3 of these
over the year I am doing good. This is because my
priorities change over the course of the year. Then I
fill in my new calendar." ~ Robyn
"Because the schools are closed, I use the end of the year to renew the bond with my children. I take time off for their winter break and try to plan activities that they will enjoy each day (letting them participate in the decision). We’ll go to the zoo, visit museums, have movie days, or anything else we can do together without worrying about housework or anything else. It’s like taking a vacation at home!
"I do things in
January that I can never remember to do the rest of the
year. This includes random things like:
I clean out the medicine
cabinets and get rid of the expired medicines and
ointments and buy new ones. I also review first aid
supplies and buy as needed.
I clean out the overhead
light bowls to get rid of bugs and wash them.
I clean under my kitchen
sink, under oven drawers, etc.
I change batteries in the
smoke alarms.
I check the dates on
stored emergency water jugs and supplies and buy fresh
supplies as needed.
I keep an index card going
of all these odd things to remind me in January." ~
Betty
"Our tradition for New Year's Eve is to put together a puzzle in the evening while watching some of the entertainment shows, a toast at midnight with sparkling grape juice, and off to bed. My personal 'New Year' resolutions take place in October on my birthday. It's the time I make resolutions/changes to exercise, diet and self-improvement plans. I almost always stick to these resolutions. I try not to make any resolutions for the New Year but if I do, they are about my house, yard, environment, community, etc., and I make them short-term goals. It is much more enjoyable to say good-bye to the old year and welcome the new one without all the pressure of resolutions. I also take a look at my marriage every year on my anniversary." ~ Michele "In some ways, I like New Year's Day even more than Christmas. It is a new beginning. A second chance. The days between Christmas and New Year's are spent reflecting over the past year... what goals were met or unmet. On New Year's Day, my husband and I solidify our goals for the coming year. It gives meaning and purpose to the new year. I eagerly look forward to what we will accomplish." ~ Cindy "I write in a journal daily, just a note about what happened that day. The thing is, I use a daily calendar/journal and I use it for about 3 years. In other words, each page will have about 3 years worth of memories from that particular day. It’s fun to look back at what was happening a year or two ago on this day and see how we have been blessed or how we worried about things that turned out better than I could have imagined or even to recall times of sorrow. This is my year to buy a new journal so that’s been part of my end of year routine. Another annual routine is to pick out a verse to live by for the year. I started about 15 years ago with Philippians 2:14 – do everything without arguing or complaining. Applying that verse to my life every day made me realize I needed lots of improvement. Other years, I’ve claimed God’s promises to guide me or reminders to be thankful and joyful. I have several friends who also do this and we share our verses and why they were chosen. It’s a good thing. And one more – I usually sit down in early January and roll all the coins I’ve collected in my piggy banks over the previous year." ~ Cindy in Georgia
"I would like
to share a New Year tradition that I started for
myself several years ago.
I have several
questions that I reflect on and write answers down
for myself at the end of each year/start of the
next. The questions are:
1. Who were
the most stimulating people in my life during the
year?
2. What was
the most meaningful spiritual experience?
3. What were
the most significant family moments?
4. What was
the biggest contributor to my personal growth?
5. What was
the biggest blunder I committed?
6. What caused
me the greatest sadness?
7. What caused
me the greatest joy?
8. What was
the best marriage moment?
9. What was
the fondest memory I have with each of the children?
10. What was
the friend moment I cherish from the year?
11. What was
I most thankful for this year?
12. What was
one answer to prayer that blew me away?
Thanks." ~
Kathy
"For the past few New Year's, I've kept my resolutions in my journal to keep track of them. I like to start a few nights before the New Year to journal the changes I've made in the current year and my resolutions from previous New Year's. Then, reflecting on these things, I start my new list of resolutions with prayer and reflection. This helps me see what works for me and my family and what doesn't. It also builds my confidence to see the changes I've made for the better and to see how God works in our lives." ~ Tiffany in Mo. "New Years Eve is also my husband's birthday. We usually go to a nice restaurant, eat a chocolate pie for dessert and then take in the neighbor's fireworks." ~ Lisa "I enjoy watching the parades in the morning so I didn't want to make a big meal (traditionally here it is mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, and pork). Also, my men didn't want to miss the football games to eat the meal. So we decided to name New Year's Day 'Junk Food Day.' I set out a spread of foods, teenie weenies in the crock pot, shrimp which my husband makes around 12:00 (a special treat), junk foods the kids want (one per child), and other fun stuff like bologna and cheese cubes, fruit and veggies, etc. Then we just eat whenever we want and watch TV and movies all day. Even though my sons are married, they still come over for Junk Food Day." ~ Melodie Editor's Note: Thanks to all these readers who took time to write! |
Home
Products and Resources
Speaking Engagements Nancy's
Itinerary |