Burning the Ano Viejo

Set ablaze the old
And start a new year
Cleanse what's bad, be bold
Cause your heart to cheer

I love how they celebrate the new year in Ecuador.  Believe it or not, they will blow up this bad boy Hulk with fireworks.  Hope the building survived!  I am putting a jar on my kitchen table for adding small slips of paper listing good things that happen this year. Still, you could probably stuff this Hulk with all the bad!

In Ecuador at the stroke of midnight, people around the country bring effigies of politicians, pop culture figures, and other icons of the year to torch in the streets. This tradition of burning the “año viejo” ("old year") is symbolic of cleansing the bad from the previous 12 months before thenew year commences.Dec 31, 2013

New Year's Eve - Atlas Obscura

www.atlasobscura.com/articles/new-years-effigies-ecuador

Tying Up Lose Ends

That neglected lose end
Came apart at the seams
For you did not attend
To trouble's first signs

Example-  losing weight, learning, reading, writing, walking, exercising
I think all my New Years goals have involved habit change. Some goals were so fleeting I don't remember them.  I think they need to be written down and placed on high priority (on your mind a lot. )  There are so many tools available as well.
1. Brainstorm the goal- read about the subject
2. List why- vision it reached
3. How it is a wholesome goal
4. How it benefits those around you
5. Consider the twelve step pattern
6. Look for success stories
7. Plan for temptations
8. Pray
9. Keep a journal
10.  Baby steps
11. Set up accountability with a friend
12. Celebrate in your goal and in each milestone

Next: How many weeks does it take to kill off a sweet tooth? I am eating chocolate like crazy!  It is in the house.

January 3- I have been drinking some herbal tea and I don't crave sweets.  I think it is because I am drinking more. Now I am still eating too much snacky foods. popcorn and crackers.  I think it is the salt.  I guess I will try homemade popcorn and Mrs. Dash.
Last night I did belly squeezes.  I am not toned enough for crunches and my neck hurts too much as well. I noticed that it is uncomfortable to do the squeezes.  My poor intestines are not happy with me eating so much.

The Incentive

The incentive is here
For a clean and fresh start
I resolve this Year!
To pray more from my heart

Facebook

From the album: Timeline Photos

By The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

"Should there be changes which need to be made in your life, may you find the incentive and the courage to do so...May each of us resolve anew to live so that we are worthy sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father." - President Thomas S. Monson https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/as-we-gather-once-again?lang=eng

My Resolution for 2013

I've heard it be said

That the stocking should hold

Your goal to be read

When next Christmas unfolds

As a gift to the babe

That lasts the whole year

To preserve and to save

His memory near

Where will I stand?
Who will I be?
When comes the grand
Two thousand thirteen

Dynamic goal setting
Is well founded that's true
But not if your'e forgetting
The spiritual side too

The Savior modeled
The way we should live
For each prayer mattered
Like a gift, sweet to give

So prayer is my goal
To meekly submit
To improve my soul
And to not forget

So on my heart and on paper
I've written and placed
From my love for the Savior
This goal I've embraced

As a gift to the babe
That lasts the whole year
To preserve and to save
His love I feel near

In my stocking with care
Is the best gift of all
One that is always there
My prayers great and small

The Starting Point New Years Resolution

Source: lds.about.com via Rebekah on Pinterest

Start with what you know
Study it and let it grow
Resolve to be your best
Pray. Believe. You will be blessed!

Happy New Year

MyWeightLossTeam.com ~ Inspiration Video #3

I used to belong
To an awesome team
I left... I was wrong
I let go of my dream


I lost 30 pounds at myweightlossteam.com
years ago and then stopped the membership
thinking I was done. Having established
healthy habits. But, now I have moved and
am a little older... and with the holidays
it hit me that I have gained 20 pounds back!

Here is me getting back on track...

Push yourself to the limit
Starting today....and go slow
Through baby steps you will witness
Results... long term to know

this is now a free site by the way, and the profile page alone is worth it...

Why is it Hard? New Year Change

Why is it hard
To admit a mistake?
To repent and discard
Bad habits we make?

Ever it's sweet
To change for the good
And honesty meet
Doing as we should

For the new year
And Jesus Christ
Let one change appear
May we each try!

Forgive and forget
And let the past go
That gratitude project
And happiness grow

[Verse 1] Why is it hard To admit a mistake? To repent and discard Bad habits we make? It’s sweet to change For the good And honesty meet Doing as we should [Pre-Chorus] For the new year And Jesus Christ Let one change appear May we each try [Chorus] Forgive and forget Let the past go Forgive and forget Watch the good grow That gratitude project And happiness grow Forgive and forget Let the past go [Verse 2] When pride gets loud And we fall back again Teach us to bow And start clean within Give us soft hearts And stronger hands To choose the right road And make new plans [Pre-Chorus] For the new year And Jesus Christ Let one change appear May we each try [Chorus] Forgive and forget Let the past go Forgive and forget Watch the good grow That gratitude project And happiness grow Forgive and forget Let the past go [Bridge] If mercy can find us Then mercy can stay If love can remind us We can change today [Final Chorus] Forgive and forget Let the past go Forgive and forget Watch the good grow That gratitude project And happiness grow Forgive and forget Let the past go

The Second Coming - Jon McNaughton

In the light of a new year
Something warms each heart
There's feelings of good cheer
And resolutions start

The launching point was Thanksgiving
As the offering of thanks enlarges us
Then, with love, comes Christmas giving
And our hearts grow more generous

Now is the time to search and build
A heart that's truly deep
Mending what inside can be healed
What, through neglect does sleep?

For fear distracts and grasps us hard

Eating our time, so much that we stumble
Fear is but a bad habit to discard
This year, let's be purposeful and more humble

From long months of storing and eating well
It is time to ponder life and fast
That Christ's gift inside might lift and swell
Filling each soul with joy sure to last
---------
When Jesus comes again to earth
I hope that He shall find
Multitudes filled with rebirth
With hearts grown selflessly kind

Wait on the Lord

Wait on the Lord
Walk in His name
Trust in His laws
And upwardly aim

pondering new years resolution

what do you think the scriptures mean by wait on the Lord?
Does it mean be patient?
Or serve Him?


Isaiah 40:28-31
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall erun, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Heaven Rings the Bell Anew

Heaven rings the bell anew
And a new year comes with promise
What shall we conquer... and then do
To change what is weak in us

For in truth it takes a dozen weeks
To change addictions unto good
So, before our eyes close to check light leaks
Let us take an inventory as we should

What causes those sleepless nights
That sets the mind a buzzing with dread
The worried stomach and butterflies
Let us face them one at a time instead

That wasted day with things undone
The words said that were a mistake
The unmet promises soon forgotten
All these race to bring heartache

But, we can chase these moments far
And be more mindful of each new day
We can pray more at each days start
And serve one another in some way

Then comes certain assurance
That our lives are progressing
For we find lasting endurance
From the heavens we're accessing

The Heavens Are Poised

The heavens are poised
To assist righteous goals
When to above they are noised
We are raised for new roles

Especially when a resolution
Involves attending the temple
Then there's light and solutions
As we go in faith, it's that simple

We've many examples...

click on above title to go to the site at Mormon Times

Setting the ultimate New Year's resolution
By Beth Palmer
Monday, Jan. 04, 2010