Mosaic Monday #13 - A Different Window

Do you make New Year's resolutions?  Many people enter January as a time of renewal and deem it appropriate to select some resolutions.  Others eschew the practice as a fabricated custom that rarely succeeds.  This dichotomy triggered consideration of the difference between resolutions and goals.  If the word "resolution" has such a negative connotation for folks, would it be more welcome to characterize them as goals?

Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something
Synonyms: intention, aspiration, design, purpose, plan, commitment, pledge, undertaking

Goal: the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result
Synonyms: grail, target, intention, aspiration, wish, dream, hope, raison d'etre

I may be splitting hairs, but it seems to me that the word 'goal' implies a medium- to long-term plan, an objective that can be sub-divided into bite-sized chunks that enable achievement.  A 'resolution' appears more binary - either you do it or you don't.  What do you think?

So, while I might have preferred to focus on goals rather than resolutions, I believe I have a few of each for 2019.  Here they are.

GOALS

1. Skype monthly with each of my siblings
2. Tidy the utility room.  I am sure you have a room like this - a 'dumping
   
   ground' visitors don't usually see that lets you keep the rest of the house uncluttered.  Well, in our case, it's that AND some boxes from the move that were put here "to be dealt with later".  That "later" is now.
3. Engage in true charity.  In January, I attended a women-only event at our church.  As part of the program, each attendee blindly picks a piece of paper from a basket, and it contains a virtue to focus on throughout the year.  I received "True Charity" - "true charity requires courage.  Let us overcome the fear of getting our hands dirty so as to help those in need".  I am still praying to discern what God is telling me with this … but I am pretty sure that He is ready for me to stop thinking and start DOING.
4. Archive my blog onto a flash drive or a remote drive
5. Reach out regularly to distant friends via text or email

RESOLUTIONS

1. One day a week without technology.  This one has already evolved.  Given

   

   Drawing - with help from Josie

   that I use my phone for even the simplest of tasks, such as checking the weather, I realized this was an unrealistic notion.  I mentioned it to Spousal Unit, and he asked a very insightful question - "What are you actually trying to accomplish?"  I want to make time for non-computer activities, such as knitting, jigsaw puzzles, drawing, reading, time with friends, etc.  So I have created a list of these activities, and dedicate a day a week to executing one or more of them.
2. Sit upstairs every other day.  This may seem an odd idea, but I have found that I tend to sit in the same dining room chair, or the same spot on the couch.  This resolution is about changing my perspective, looking out a different window, fully utilizing the house.  I will probably change this one as well, since I have recently discovered that I get a much better view of my bird feeders from the couch on the lower level …
3. Daily reflection using Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman.  I felt my approach to daily prayer was stale - this simple book has injected a Bible-based freshness that is inspirational.
4. Drink 64 ounces of water a day (well, any form of liquid - but coffee and wine don't count, folks!)
5. Practice piano for 30 minutes every third day.

What are your plans for 2019?  1 month down and 11 to go!

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us. 

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