by Dan Hiland

Created on: September 10, 2009

I'd like to talk about New Years resolutions- more specifically, spiritual ones.

While not a big NYR guy, I have had some experience with goal-setting- and it hasn't been pretty.

Goals have always been difficult for me- probably because the mere mention of the word G-O-A-L makes me run for the exit. And I know that others feel the same way. Back in the day, during my church mission, I was asked by the District Leader to give a lesson to our group on goal-setting.

I studied hard for that lesson. I read, took notes, and made a lesson outline.

And then the great day came. I stood and introduced the topic, and about that time the district leader groaned: "Not another lesson on goals...Please."

Evidently he had forgotten what he had assigned me, or hoped that I would forget and choose another topic- or just ask everyone to bear their testimonies, and leave it at that.

Irritated as I was by his attitude and rudeness, I went ahead with the lesson, but within five minutes not only was everyone - including myself- bored, but one or two people were fast asleep!

And regardless of some people's sleeping habits, goals are vital to success. Without them it is difficult to accomplish anything of importance in your life.

But having said that, I'm not going to tell you that I know the secret to making resolutions and keeping them.

I'm also not going to give you ten foolproof tips for setting goals.

But what I will share with you is the one thing I've found that has helped me set one goal for myself and keep it.

I write a lot, and always have: journaling, stories, rants, essays, poems- I've even tried to write a book and several zines.

And why do I write so much? Because I found out, after years and years of asking myself what should I do with my life, and never having the right answer- or any answer- that amongst my many talents, writing stood out as the BIG ONE.

When I was younger, my parents, school counselors, even friends would ask me: "So Dan, What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I'd think about it for a bit and pull at my shirt collar and say, "Well, I - uh- Oh, look at the time. Gotta go!"

And while I always knew that there are some things we all must do, such as getting a better education and working to support self and family, the Big Career Thing was a big blank. How did some people seem to just know that they wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer or a soldier or an accountant?

Not knowing was very hard on me.

But through the years I have learned that the Lord works

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