Year-ender

A friend shared the following with a group of people and i thought it's a timely reminder to everyone as the year draws to an end:

* Reconnect with an old friend or colleague. You know who I mean. The person who came to your mind as you read thatsentence. Make the effort to call or contact them. But do more than justsay hello. If they live close, get together for a meal or an evening. Ifthey live further away, schedule time for a long, relaxed phöne call.However you connect, make sure that you spend time on more than just "thegood old days" and the old stories. Learn about what this person is doing,their goals and dreams. And see what you can do to help them achieve thosethings.

* Spend one day in service to others. Volunteer your day to a service organization. Go to a nursing home. Rakethe neighbor's leaves. Use your professional skills in a pro bono way. Itdoesn't matter what you do, just do it with a giving heart.

* Read one book you've wanted to read. If you are a big reader, you already have a stack to read. Pick one andcommit to getting it read. If you read less and don't have a book in mind,talk to someone you trust and admire and ask them for a suggestion. Itdoesn't matter what the book is; pick it, and read it.

* Give someone a book that you have found personally valuable. Maybe it is the book you are nöw going to read. Maybe it is something youread in January, or maybe it is your favorite children's book. Again, whatthe book is doesn't matter; the joy comes in identifying a person who willenjoy and benefit from it the way that you did. When you give them thebook, make sure you share with them why you are sharing it with them -- itwill mean so much to them.

* Make a list of the things you've learned this year. Hopefully it is a long list! Don't try to do this all at one time. Give yourself a place to write and a couple of days to allow your mind to findthese nuggets. Identify the top five.

Review the list you \nmade and pull out the five that are most important toyou. Write them down and think about why they are so valuable to you andhow you can benefit from them today and in the future.

* Make a list of the most fun things you have done this year. You will have fun making this list -- and yes, I do mean make a list!

* Identify why they were the most fun so you can do more of it next year.This only makes sense. Once you have thought about your "most fun," figure out how to get more of it into your life -- whether it is an experience,time with specific people or whatever.

*Commit to having another experience before December 31st that you could add to your "most fun" list.Too often fun gets sidelined, especially near the busy end of the year.Don't let it happen. Make sure that you have some big fun before the endof the year.

* Make a list of things you want to learn next year. Some things in life we learn serendipitously, and those are preciousindeed. But we can also determine what we want to learn and why. Make someof those determinations nöw before you turn your calendar to the New Year.