If you read the previous BLOG you
know that I like to refer to December as Evaluation
Season. Evaluation Season is the time in which I take stock of my
life. I evaluate the year that is
rapidly coming to an end and consider the year ahead- what are the goals,
expectations, challenges that I anticipate and how do I plan to meet them? This is a crucial part of my life and one of
the tools I use to ensure that I remain on point. There are a few specific exercises I complete
each December to ensure I am ready for the New Year; let me share them with you
here.
In December of each year I take a
day to get away and do three specific things.
This year I went to one of my favorite spots on earth, Murrells Inlet,
South Carolina. I love looking out over
the marsh. It is a very peaceful place
and often quiet. The first thing I do on
these day-long retreats is evaluate the previous years goals. What goals did I meet or exceed and what
goals did I fall short in? I usually
spend one to two hours evaluating these past goals. Certainly this is not the only time I do this
during the year, but this is the time when I write my concluding thoughts
regarding the previous year.
The second part of the day includes
finalizing my goals for the upcoming year.
I have been considering and contemplating them for a few weeks by this
time, but this is when I put pen to paper.
I always try to make my goals measureable and I categorize them in six
areas. I have goals for spiritual
growth, finance, family relationships, personal development, career and fitness. That may seem like a lot, and it can be, but
remember if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time. I typically have two-four measureable,
distinct goals for each of those six categories. Some of my goals for 2018 include:
-
Read the Bible in its entirety.
-
Budget every dollar from the expected to the
unexpected that comes my family’s way.
-
Take my wife on a lunch date every other
Thursday. I have been waiting several
years to make this a reality and finally this year I think it may be. I am ditching my Thursday Men’s lunch group
every other week to take my beautiful wife out.
An awesome trade if you ask me!
-
Intentionally introduce kindness and grace to
our kids. I will do this through intentional discussion one morning a week at
breakfast.
-
Daily train for an athletic event (triathlon,
race, bike event, etc).
These are several of my goals for 2018. There are others, but you get the idea. This part of the day can take up to four hours
or more to complete.
The last
portion of the day is all about letter writing.
I learned of this idea from Dennis Rainey several years ago. He talked about how he writes a letter to
each of his family members recounting the year’s experiences and unique
challenges. This is a lot of fun. I write all three of my kids and
Rebecca. In the letter I express my
prayers for them, the fun things that the year included and the unique areas of
growth that were experienced by them during the year. I also talk about our unique relationship. The letters are to be read upon my
death. That may sound morbid, but in
reality it is one way I take seriously my calling as father and husband. God has granted me, and you if you are a
parent, with a tremendous opportunity to shepherd our families. These letters are one way to remind, teach
and encourage my kids and wife even in my death. It is a shepherding tool, and will serve as a
great history of our family to whomever may read them one day- Rebecca, my kids
or grandkids.
So these are
the three aspects of my day-long retreat to end each year. It is a full and busy day, and it takes a lot
of preparation to fit it all in to one day.
I hope that some of the ideas may inspire you as you seek to live your
life on point.
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