Lessons learned about goal setting over the years include:
Break resolutions/goals down into manageable steps for greater success.
From your list of goals for the year, start with just one or two; once those have been achieved pick another goal to work on.
Most Importantly: Don’t try to work on the whole list all at once — set yourself up for success, not failure.

Every holiday seems to get a little harder as we are now the eldest generation in our families. Losing the last of our parents is harder than I imagined it might be. I remember one of my cousins sharing her thoughts a few years ago as we talked about losing our parents and becoming the generation that others would look to. She had much wisdom to share and hopefully, we’ll be able to carry through and stay connected with our families in the years to come now that it has passed on to her brothers as she passed a couple of months ago.

As we prepped and made plans for this year’s holiday gathering, I was crushed to have to cancel it because we were sick and wouldn’t be healthy enough to carry it off. I worry that our kids won’t have the desire to continue to connect with their cousins and their children won’t know their extended family either in a few years. We’re now making plans to hold our holiday party in January. Fingers crossed that with everyone’s schedules, we’ll find a weekend that will work for a majority of our extended family.

Here’s to health and family ties in 2025.

Gatherings — our family always had a December gathering to celebrate the holidays. We’ve scaled things back a bit since Mom passed, however, this year, with the help of a few members of the family, we are scaling back up again. Not quite ready to pass the torch yet to the next generation, but I think that will be the case in just a couple of years. It would be nice to formalize the organization a bit — and make sure that the traditions we hold dear continue with the cousins and beyond.

November Greatitudes:
Day 1. Family
Day 2. Good friends
Day 3. Hospice care
Day 4. Peace of heart
Day 5. Rest
Day 6. Shelter: a home where love abides and grows daily
Day 7. A hug
Day 8. A smile
Day 9. An amazing sunrise
Day 10. Shared talents
Day 11. Technology
Day 12. Eyes that see and ears that hear
Day 13. The beauties of nature that surround us
Day 14. The colors in the sunset
Day 15. Peacemakers – and there are many if you take the time to look.
Day 16. Aunts, uncles and 2 generations of cousins gathered together
Day 17. Shared experiences
Day 18. Good memories of memorable moments and laughter
Day 19. Somedays, it’s the little things that matter the most.
Day 20. A sincere, thoughtful and unexpected “thank you”
Day 21. Reflection time
Day 22. Challenges and outcomes
Day 23. Having faith in what matters most
Day 24. Being able to “let go.”
Day 25. Family stories and heirlooms
Day 26. the ability to make daily choices – and opportunities to make things right if the choice was wrong.

November Greatitudes:
Day 1. Family
Day 2. Good friends
Day 3. Hospice care
Day 4. Peace of heart
Day 5. Rest
Day 6. Shelter: a home where love abides and grows daily
Day 7. A hug
Day 8. A smile
Day 9. An amazing sunrise
Day 10. Shared talents
Day 11. Technology
Day 12. Eyes that see and ears that hear
Day 13. The beauties of nature that surround us
Day 14. The colors in the sunset
Day 15. Peacemakers – and there are many if you take the time to look.
Day 16. Aunts, uncles and 2 generations of cousins gathered together
Day 17. Shared experiences
Day 18. Good memories of memorable moments and laughter
Day 19. Somedays, it’s the little things that matter the most.

November Greatitudes: 
Day 1. Family
Day 2. Good friends
Day 3. Hospice care
Day 4. Peace of heart
Day 5. Rest
Day 6. Shelter: a home where love abides and grows daily
Day 7. A hug
Day 8. A smile
Day 9. An amazing sunrise
Day 10. Shared talents
Day 11. Technology
Day 12. Eyes that see and ears that hear