Blessed to Bless! by Steve Klusmeyer

New Year's Resolutions
by Steve Klusmeyer - 12/30/2003

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Good Intentions

Have you made your list yet? You know, those New Year's Resolutions. If you are like me, you compose these lists several times during the year. You start out with the best intentions of making positive changes. But somehow, after a few weeks - or days - or even minutes, something happens and you fall back into the old familiar ruts that you have traveled in for so long.

Does your list look something like this?

Eat Healthy
Exercise More
Stop ______ (fill in the blank)
Start ______ (fill in the blank)
Save Money
Get Organized
Be Happy

Missing the Target

Do you see the problem? The goals just aren't practical. No wonder we end up discouraged by January 3rd and hoping that next year will be different. But now I realize we've been going at it from the wrong direction. I'm reminded of the story of a man who had the reputation of being the best marksmen in the FBI.

One day, he was traveling through a small town. Everywhere he looked, he saw evidence of the most amazing shooting he had ever seen. On trees, on walls, and on fences there were numerous bull's-eyes with the bullet hole in dead center. Finally the FBI man asked one of the locals who was responsible for the superior marksmanship. He was introduced to the town joker. "This is the best shooting I have ever seen," said the agent. "How in the world do you do it?" "Nothing to it," said the man. "I shoot first and draw the circles afterward."

So, now that I understand the appropriate concept, here are my New Year's Resolutions for 2004.

I resolve to:

Spend more time with my computer
Eat a better quality of chocolate
Get out of bed by at least 11:00 every morning
Never wear another tie
Promote blue jeans, sweat shirts, and tennis shoes
Turn off my computer and go to bed before 5:00 every morning

Taking the Right Shot