I RESOLVE TO . . .

I Resolve To™ . . . Focus, Focus, Focus - Day 271

Know what you have to do - then do it with keen focus!  When we hit the 100-day count-down to New Year's Day a week ago, I began ernestly reviewing what I've achieved in 2007 with my resolution project.  My goal is to help people to achieve their New Year resolutions, dreams and goals.  I show up here every day writing about common sense ways to turn dreams into determined resolutions, then make them a reality via daily goals - one small step, one day at a time for one year.  That's my formula:

Dream + Resolution + Daily Goals = Success, Reward & Fulfillment!

I also launched a small shop offering inspirational sayings on t-shirts and gear, as a way to remind folks about their dreams, and I'm working on an E-Book.  I've made progress on all fronts, I'm happy to say, but still have so much to do.  I'm excited about what lies ahead.  I have a plan.  I have a timeline.  I'm focused.  I know my priorities . . . and I intend to burn the midnight oil in the next 93 days to push my project - my dream forward. 

Dreams, resolutions and goals - like most things in life - always seem to take longer than you would anticipate, or hope.  You really have to be patient, persistent and passionate about your dream to succeed.  Without those traits it's hard to stick with it, to run the race like the marathon that it truly is.  Without those qualities it's hard to meet all the challenges and obstacles, to be creative, to keep wanting to learn, and take one more step forward on those days when you're exhausted, frustrated, or overwhelmed.

With that in mind, at the end of the day, I truly believe that it's all worth it.  My dreams, like the wonderful people that inhabit my life, keep me going and make me happy.  I'm grateful for everything that I have and everything that I am.  I hope you are too.  I hope you'll consider making your dream a top priority in the next 93 days.  What a wonderful way to start the New Year!!

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 30, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Make The Most Of This Fabulous Saturday! - Day 270

What a gorgeous, sunny, fabulous Fall day!  I hope you're enjoying your weekend - and making some time for yourself and your dreams.  Why not carve out some time out today to do a Weekly Check-In?  What have you achieved the past week - the past month, the past year?  I bet if you pull our your journal and your calendar, and find a quiet place to do some soul searching, reviewing, plotting, planning, and brainstorming - you'll discover that you've achieved a lot this year.  Pat yourself on the back - give yourself some credit!  Reward yourself!  Celebrate!

Why not use those successes - all the time and hard work you've put in on living, achieving, doing, learning, giving - to fuel the fire of your dreams the next 94 days - that's what's left in 2007.  That's an eternity.  Maybe it's time to breath some new life into your dreams, resolutions and goals.  Why wait for January 1, when you can begin today during these wonderful crisp, sunny Fall days?  Use the great weather, the start of the new school year, the start of Fall - whatever works to motivate you - but use it to move your dreams forward now.  Don't wait!

If you put in some true quality time now, you'll have wonderful momentum going by January 1.  That momentum will take you through the cold, harsh, grey days of winter and right on into Spring.  Why not 'give it a go'?!

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 29, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Trust The Light At The End Of The Tunnel! - Day 269

TGIF!  Thankfully I'm coming to the end of an extremely busy, but productive month. I write about 'busy' a lot because it seems one of my biggest problems - if you can call it that - is lack of enough hours to tackle everything I would like to, or need to, in a given day.  Always the 'realistic optimist' I try to keep my daily Things To Do List' manageable by prioritizing.  Rather than stressing about what I'm not completing, I focus on what I 'must' complete that day.  An alternative, positive way to view my situation is that I'm never lacking for interesting things to do, people to see and places to go.

As I make that journey I also work hard to keep my eyes focused on the light at the end of the tunnel.  Whether it's burning bright like the sun, or just the dim flicker of a distant candle - that light keeps me going day after day.  Faith, hope, patience, passion, and persistence also keep me going.  I believe in myself, my dreams, my abilities, and a higher power.  Those beliefs help me to take one small step after another, each and every day - on both the tough days and the easy ones.

I hope you are taking one or more steps toward your dreams, if not each day - each week!  If you've been hit and miss with your New Year Resolutions - remember those? - maybe it's time to dust them off and begin anew.  You don't have to wait until January 1 - you can start planning today.  That way you'll have momentum to see you through the long, cold months of winter!  We have 95 days until January 1, why not 'give it a go'!?

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 28, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Decide Firmly To Make My Dreams A Reality! - Day 265

You don't have to wait until New Year's Day 2008 to begin thinking about what you want to change, learn, achieve!  This week I'm doing a five-part series of articles about 'how to get a jump' on the New Year.  There are 99 days left in 2007, so why not begin the process of reviewing what you've achieved in 2007, and what you want to achieve in 2008?  If you make some effort now - brainstorming, soul searching, thinking - you'll have a plan in hand by January 1, 2008!

Let's say you sat down yesterday, journal in hand, in a quiet place and made a list of the 25, 50, 100 things that you truly want to do, see, achieve, learn, have, experience in this lifetime.  Call it your Lifetime Dream List.  What's the one dream that you would truly love to pursue in 2008?  What one thing on that list inspires you, would help you to learn and grow, would create fun, excitement and reward in your life?  What's the one thing that you would 'regret' not doing?  What's stopping you from pursuing that dream?

In many cases, a lot of people simply don't know where to begin - how to make a dream a reality.  That's why I preach about simple daily steps, and using a simple, common sense, system.  Personally I follow this simple formula:

Cherished Dream + Determined Resolution + Daily Goals = Success, Reward & Achievement!

You start by opening your mind and 'Daring To Dream' - soul searching and brainstorming and asking the 'what if's'.  Eventually a light bulb goes on and you know what you have to do.  You know what dream you must pursue.  It's probably been with you for a long time.  Maybe you were afraid to pursue it out of fear of failure, but you just couldn't let it go.  Regardless of your reasons, you know in your heart that you have to make your dream a reality.  It's at that moment when you 'Decide' firmly to 'Go For It'.  You make a promise to yourself, a firm commitment to stick with your dream through thick and thin - to overcome the obstacles that often will sprout like dandelions.

Knowing what you want - and making a firm decision to pursue it with your heart and soul is half the battle.  In the next few days, I'll talk about the second half of the battle - Defining what you want to achieve, Developing A Plan, and Doing It Daily.  Turning your dream into specific, determined resolution - then making it happen with daily goals.  Stay tuned!

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 24, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Make The Most Of The Next 100 Days! - Day 264

Just 100 days until New Year's Day 2008!  When you think about it, that's an eternity.  Three full months offers a lot time and opportunities to work towards dreams.  You don't need to wait for New Year's day to pursue a cherished dream - why not 'begin' today?  Or, if you're already working toward a dream, why not breathe some new life into it right now, so that you can take it to the next level in 2008?

Each one of us has dreams - things that we truly want to do, achieve, feel, see, have, be, feel in this lifetime.  Maybe we don't talk about our dreams very often, perhaps out of fear, or embarrassment - fear of telling others about our dreams, then not fulfilling them and being labeled a failure.  Or maybe we're not willing to seriously consider pursuing a dream because we're afraid of failing, so we don't even begin.  Or we're waiting for just the 'right' moment to 'begin' - that's the 'Someday, Someday, Someday Syndrome'. There are so many reasons that folks don't pursue dreams.  Each one of us and our life experiences are unique, but often we often share similar reasons for avoiding or fulfilling our dreams.

Consider for a moment . . . What if you open your mind to the possibility that you 'can' achieve your heart's desire.  When you think about it, what's stopping you?  I'm sure you can come up with a zillion reasons.  But what if you turn on a dime - and consider the zillion reasons why you 'can and should' pursue your dream today?

If you have a dream - or many dreams - consider the possibilities. Open your mind this week and consider that you can achieve one or 100 of your dreams in this lifetime.  Find a quiet spot in a park, your favorite art museum, coffee shop, or wherever you can think, and consider these three brainstorming exercises - If I could, I would . . . . Dare To Dream!

1. Achieve the 25, 50, 100 things that I truly would love to do, see, feel, be, achieve, give, have in my lifetime, dreams large and small.  Of those dreams, I would choose the one I'm most passionate about, most interested in and pursue it today.  I would choose the one that makes me excited about getting out of bed in the morning.  I would choose one that helps me to make a contribution to myself, my family, my community.  What is that one dream?
2. Identify and overcome the obstacles to my dream, one by one - obstacles created by me, and all the exterior 'Overtaken By Events' type of life obstacles that are thrown at me?  What are the obstacles, and how would I work to overcome them?
3. Begin today to make my dream a reality, by opening my mind to the possibility that I can and will succeed.  What's my next step?

The next step is to turn 'If I Could, I Would, into 'I AM' . . . Tomorrow, I'll be back with 'steps' that you can easily take to create motivation and momentum in pursuing your dreams - and turn 'If I Could, I Would' into 'I AM'.

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 23, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Consider The Possibilities! - Day 263

Consider the possibilities!  So much in life is possible, why not open your mind and Dare To Dream?  If you could do, be, feel, achieve, have, give, learn anything in this lifetime, what would you choose to do? 

We have a little more than 100 days until the New Year, why not begin plotting and planning early?  Three months is a long time - why not begin thinking, researching, brainstorming, now - then when the New Year rolls around, you'll have a huge head start.  You'll already have made enormous progress - you'll have turned your dream into a determined resolution - specifically defined.  You'll have developed a plan, that is already underway with day to day action.  Why not 'give it a go' today rather than wait for New Year's day?

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 22, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Go With Life's Ups And Downs, Ebb And Flow - Day 262

Life can be such a roller coaster . . . considering all the ups and downs, and the speed at which we travel day to day.  As we near the end of September - 262 days into 2007 - I'm certainly feeling the full brunt of my own roller coaster ride.  While it brings joy and fulfillment, it takes its toll both mentally and physically, at times.  A dear friend was recently lamenting her own personal roller coaster ride - and though it is different in its details, I can completely understand and sympathize. 

When you're dealing with life's ups and downs, sharing with folks you trust is such an important way of coping, growing and learning.  Sharing with a spouse, friend, mentor, teacher, relative, and so on, can help you to find your way to the light at the end of the tunnel - a new and brigher day.  Often times that 'ear and shoulder to lean on' is there for the asking - you just have to 'ask' for support.

Along that vein, tonight, as I was finishing my errands and listening to 'Delilah' on the radio, I got a much needed boost.  If you're not familiar with her, Delilah hosts a wonderful evening radio show filled with good music, support, and and her own 'personal brand' of positive thoughts.  Delilah, this evening, was doing her best to lend hope to a young woman who was feeling very alone and depleted from personal struggles.  Personally, it's heart wrenching to listen to folks who are having such a hard time, but Delilah has a gifted knack for listening and offering common sense advice and comfort to her 'listeners'. 

As far as I'm concerned, Delilah succeeded in her mission again tonight.  Listening to the advice she gave this young woman, I felt better in my own circumstances.  After an especially heavy, challenging month with my business and personal life, I was feeling drained, and somewhat down in the dumps.  In a nutshell, and I'm paraphrasing - Delilah told this young woman that it's not uncommon to hit 'lows' after experiencing the 'highs' from something about which you have great passion - a dream, being in love, traveling to a wonderful foreign city . . . so many different possibilities. 

Delilah compared our highs and lows to the ebb and flow of the tides . . . a natural part of life, and I agree with that analogy.  Of course the highs are much more pleasant, like the wonderful crashing waves of the ocean - but the lows, and the ebb of the tide, teach us something too.  And they make us stronger. 

With all of that in mind, I'm looking forward to 'future highs' from all of the things and people in my life that I 'love', and I'll deal with the lows as they present themselves, learn from them, and move on.  For now, I'm looking forward to re-charging my batteries, both mentally and physically in coming weeks - my dreams, resolutions and goals are begging for some TLC, very soon!

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 21, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Be Thankful For All That I Have, All That I Am! - Day 261

There are so many things in life to be grateful for!  If you're having a bad day, or a rough patch - or perhaps you're trying to generate more hope and optimism in your life - maybe it would help to consider the things that are so often taken for granted.  Sometimes, they are so simple, so basic that we overlook them. 

Personally each day in my journal I close with both a written and silent prayer of sorts - gratefulness for all that I have and all that I am.  Even when things don't work out exactly as I hope, I'm happy for what I have in my life.  Here are a few things about which I'm thankful:

1. A brand new day today, full of opportunities to achieve, give, learn, love.
2. A family that loves me 'no matter what'.
3. The love of my two aging orange tabby cats.
4. My business and colleagues that I adore.
5. Dear, dear friends.
6. Good health and fitness.
7. My strength, faith, hope and belief in God.
8. My willingness to show up on the page whether I write well or not.
9. My eye for photography.
10. My interest in helping others.

If you're looking for greater inspiration to drive you towards your dreams, why not take a look at everything you have, everything that you are.  Consider all your successes, victories, accomplisments, and gifts - then use them to build the momentum, self esteem, and confidence that is necessary to make your dreams a reality.

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 20, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Go With The Flow - Day 260

There are so many things in life that you 'can't control' - so why try, why struggle with them?  Why stress and worry over those things about which you have 'zero control'.  I'm not advocating giving up on striving to make your 'mark' on life and the world.  Or that you just throw up your hands and abdicate all responsibility, leaving everything up to 'fate'.  But, studying situations, using your intuition, common sense, intelligence, and good judgement can make the difference between succeeding and batting your head against a brick wall.  Recognizing when you can and can't - or when you should or should not - apply pressure or control is so important to overall health and happiness.  It's also important to a person's ability to achieve dreams . . .

I've learned the hard way, at times, that you just have to roll with the punches, you have to 'let things go', rather than carry around a lot of heavy baggage.  Some bags, I admit, are hard to part with, but I try.  I work hard to focus on the positive, rather than the negative, and much of the time I succeed.  It makes such a big difference in the quality of life. 

Recently, during a conversation with a dear friend, my 'willfulness' came up.  I'm the first to admit I'm pretty determined, diligent, definitely resolute - and 'yes' I can be stubborn, not easy to control - but I recognize all of those traits and I try to temper them, channel them so they are useful not harmful to myself or others.  Age, and learning many lessons has helped - but, alas there is always so much more to learn about yourself and life.

My point is this:  I'm not advocating 'not' taking action in one's life.  I firmly believe, for instance, that taking daily action toward your dreams - just one small step, one small goal at a time for just 20-minutes, 30-minutes, or an hour, can turn dreams, goals and resolutions into resounding reality. 

But taking action, building a plan, caring about people, situations, dreams, and doing your best - are different, in my mind, than exerting control over people and situations.  If you do your best, and things are meant to be - Que Sera Sera, Whatever Will Be, Will Be - then things will fall into place.  If not, you have to recognize that, and shift to Plan B, C, D . . . go with the flow when you need to.

Recognizing this in my own life takes some of the pressure off.  I try to set the bar high, challange myself, but in a reasonable way.  When I set the bar too high, and can't make the leap over time and time again, I get discouraged.  I've learned when it's time to lower the bar just a bit - reduce the expecations.  That way, I'll clear the bar over and over.  I'll gain confidence and momentum, and take one small step, followed by another - toward my dreams.  All food for thought - always something new to learn . . .

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 19, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . View My Glass As Half Full Today! - Day 259

Happy Monday!  I hope you enjoyed a wonderful weekend and made some time for yourself and your dreams, resolutions and goals.  Life is full of so many choices - choices that we should conciously think about rather than passively acting without any forethought.  For instance, when you're thinking about the progress that you've made - do you view that progress as a 'Half Full Glass', or a 'Half Empty Glass'?

Personally, I know that it's better to see the 'Half Full Glass' - to appreciate what I've achieved, to give myself some credit for a job well done, and to be patient about my progress.  But, it's not always easy.  Some days it's really tough to be positive and upbeat. Some days I really have to work hard for that 'good attitude'.  Some days I have to lower the bar just a bit, in order to soar over it.  Then with momentum building - along with renewed energy, and a few victories under my belt - I raise it again, and challenge myself a little more. 

It's easy to get discouraged, frustrated, overwhelmed.  That's why you have to listen to your head, your heart and your body, and make concious choices about what you should do to move your dream forward. 

Today, I'm choosing to view my glass as 'Half Full'.  I know I still have a tall mountain to climb before I make my own dream a reality, but I also have faith in myself, and my ability to succeed.  I hope you do too. I hope you're making steady progress on your 2007 resolution - your dream - and your daily goals!  If not, why not give it a go now - then on January 1, 2008 you'll have momentum to see you through the bleak months of winter!

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 18, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Live One Day At At Time - Day 258

Happy Monday!  I hope your day today is calm, purposeful and productive.  I'm a firm believer in 'Things To Do Lists', Planning, and Check-Ins to review what I've achieved, and what I need to do. That said, I can't do it all at once, so I prioritize and strive to approach my life, just one day at a time - it helps to avoid feelings of being overwhelmed, and lends greater enjoyment.  As you approach your own day today, I offer these warm words of encouragement and a bit of humor . . .

"I'm feeling so good.  I feel like a million bucks.  I'm focused.  I'm alert, I'm zippy and top of my game . . . I've never felt better!  I'm sharp as a tack right now.  And what's weird is that I didn't get a good nights sleep last night.  And they say that's the most imporant thing.  Or is it breakfast they said? . . . That's the most important meal of the day, breakfast . . . yes. And then it's 'i' before 'e' I know that . . . Um . . . diamonds are a girl's best friend.  God is a man's best friend . . . What was I talking about? . . . Oh that's right, I feel geat and I'm at the top of my game. And it's odd because I didn't get hardly any sleep last night.  And, they say that's the most important thing."  Ellen DeGeneres

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.  This makes it hard to plan the day." E. B. White

"You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star."  Nietzsche

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 17, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Make Time For 'Me' This Weekend - Day 255

TGIF!  'Yep' that wonderful day of the week.  Actually, they're all wonderful, but even if you have to work, as I do this weekend, doing it on a Saturday is always calmer, quieter and more peaceful, which is nice.

I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel - it's been a very, very busy September, but what else is new.  Even though the days are busy and the weeks and months fly by, I work hard to carve out just a small chunk of the day for me and my dreams, resolutions and goals.  When you spend just 20-minutes, 30-minutes, or an hour each day working on a cherished dream it's amazing how much you can accomplish in one year.  And having done something for yourself add such pleasure, satisfaction and fulfillment to each day.  That's what keeps me going, and makes me happy.  With that in mind, I offer these warm words of inspiration . . . Have a wonderful weekend!

"The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome some ecstatic experience."  Emily Dickinson

"A Woman's life can really be a succession of lives, each revolving around some emotionally compelling situation or challenge, and each one marked off by some intense experience."  Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor

"Great loves too must be endured."  Coco Chanel

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 14, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Believe The Best Will Happen! - Day 251

Always believe the best will happen - things will work out.  It may sound 'Pollyanish', and maybe it is - but believing in the best that life has to offer, having faith, and hope in yourself, and a higher power - keeps us going each and every day.  Troubles arise.  Challenges happen.  Things don't work out the way we want.  But you have to keep moving forward regardless of the circumstances to find a better day and to make your dreams a reality. 

I hope you're having a wonderful day - working steadily toward your dreams, resolutions and goals.  With that in mind, I offer you these warm wishes for a great day, great week . . .

"If you want loyalty - get a dog.  If you want loyalty and attention - get a smart dog."      Grant Fairley

"Success is that old ABC - ability, breaks and courage."  Charles Luckman

"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be."  Voltaire

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 10, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Enjoy The Weekend Ahead! - Day 249

Yep, that wonderful time of the week.  This weekend, I hope you're able to spend some time working on your dreams, resolutions and goals - and with that in mind, I send you these words of encouragement and inspiration!

"The possible's slow fuse is lit, by the imagination."  Emily Dickinson

"I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen."       Ernest Hemingway

"Forgotten is forgiven."  F. Scott Fitzgerald

" . . . But surely for everything you love you have to pay some price."  Agatha Christie

"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend."  Henry David Thoreau

"If you don't like something, change it.  If you can't change it, change your attitude.  Don't complain."  Maya Angelou

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 8, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Give It A Go Today! - Day 248

Why not give it a go?  Why not give it a try?  Whatever your heart's desire, that thing that you truly, passionately would love to achieve, do, see, feel, learn, have, be, in this lifetime?  Why not just 'go for it'?  What's holding you back?  Your fears?  Why not replace those fears with hope, passion and faith in yourself, your abilities, your gifts, your dream?

What's holding you back?  Your lack of knowledge?  If so, why not open a book?  Do your homework?  Take a class.  Consult a friend, family member, or teacher who can help you to make the journey toward achieving your dream, and adding something special to your life? Build a plan that will enable you to take one small step at a time, one day at a time.  Each one of us has a limited time on this earth, why not spend a small part of that time working toward dreams?

It's easy to go through life responding to the 'In Box', all the many things that are required to fulfill daily responsibilities at home, work, school . . . Why not add 'dreams' to the mix.  Why not spend some time, perhaps 30-minutes each day, working on something about which you have great passion, interest, hope?  Lot's of questions to ponder, but perhaps they can make a world of difference?  All things to consider . . .

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 7, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Be Open To Wonderful Possibilities! - Day 247!

What's just around the corner?  You never know, it just might be something wonderful!  Have you ever had a mediocre, or bad day?  It starts out okay, then spirals in the wrong direction.  Fridays are famous for that - the crisis at 4 PM.  Of course the answer is 'yes', you've had days like that, we all have them.  You're smack dab in the middle of a pain-in-the-butt crisis, then things turn on a dime.  A fabulous idea.  A warm word of encouragement from a colleague that helps you to march on. A hug from a loved one.  Something positive happens that helps you to continue forward.

And maybe things 'don't always turn on a dime' - you struggle for a day or two, or more.  But, even when you struggle, it always works out okay.  Maybe not exactly how you would hope, in the way you would hope, or when you would hope, but it works out okay.  When you're able stay flexible, stay positive, and be open what's just around the corner - be it a turn of events in you favor, your soulmate walking into your life, a brilliant idea, the courage to pursue a dream, a flash of insight, a decision to start a new careeer . . . you get the idea.  When you're able to remain open, and optimistic - full of hope and faith - in yourself, your dreams, a higher power . . . anything is possible.  Why not be open to that . . . and your strength, courage, gifts . . . why not, what's stopping you?

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 6, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Believe Good Things Happen! - Day 246

Yes, good things in life do happen, but you have to believe.  Things don't always go exactly as planned.  We don't always get exactly what we want, when we want it.  But wonderful things do happen each and every day, we just have to be open to the 'good' that life has to offer - we have to believe in ourselves, our gifts, dreams.  Lord knows, it's easy to become jaded and pessimistic.  Life, at times can really wear a person down - but it also offers endless wonderful possibilities if we 'Dare To Dream' and 'Open Our Mind' to the endless possibilities.

Why not look for and recognize all the positive things that happen, rather than dwelling on the negative things, the annoying things, and 'yes' the painful things.  A good friend of mine often says, 'let it go'.  She is so wise.  The first time she said that to me, I really thought about it - and agreed with her message, it made so much sense.  Life really is too short to dwell on all the negatives - try to let them go.  Replace them with hopes and dreams - believe in yourself, and the good things that happen each day.  Why not 'give it a go'?

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 5, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Smile A Little Smile Today! - Day 245

No matter what happens today, try to smile a little smile every now and then!  'Yep' our lives are so often Overtaken By Events, OBE, but that doesn't mean we have to give in to OBE!  Sometimes you just have to roll with it, go with the flow, make lemonade out of lemons.  I've discovered when you do that, you quickly 'recover' - you get past the annoying, sometimes painful things that happen - and enjoy the rest of your day. 

Who wants to live in a state of OBE?  Not me, not you.  So you just have to get past it.  Take a deep breath and stop reacting.  Know that 'yes, this too shall pass'. Then deal with the situation with a calm attitude and cool head.  It's not easy, but it could improve your day.  With that I send you these warm words of inspiration . . .

"If you have mistakes there is always another chance for you . . .you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing called "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down." Mary Pickford

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."  T.S. Eliot

"Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow - perhaps it all will." Albert Einstein

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 4, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Dare To Dream, Not Worry! - Day 244

Dare To Dream, Not Worry . . .  A dear friend reminded me today that I should follow my own advice, and with just a few simple words, she reminded me what's important.  Yes, career, home, projects, dreams are all important - they keep us moving forward in life, they lend joy and reward to an otherwise boring, dreary existence. 

Regardless of the reward we receive from all the things we 'do and achieve' it's the people we love and care for, the people with whom we share our days, who make a true difference in life.  With them we are better human beings, our days hold more meaning, we smile and laugh more.  Without them the blue skies aren't as crisp, the sunshine isn't as bright, and our potential to succeed, while still enormous, rings slightly hollow.

Stop talking every now and then and really listen to the people you care about.  You might learn something.  When you do speak, say or do something nice just because it's the right thing to do and because you'll make a friend or loved one happy.  Consider all the difference you'll make in that person's life.  When that person asks you to make a small sacrifice, 'do it'!  Be thankful for the opportunity to share and enjoy time together.

And, at the end of the day, don't forget about 'you' - it's okay to lighten the load some days, do something nice just for 'you'.  Rest, relax, enjoy!  You'll re-charge your batteries and be ready for the next challenge.  Above all, you'll be ready to turn those dreams into reality!  As you make your journey through your days :  Dare To Dream, Not Worry . . .

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 3, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Persevere! - Day 243

Life is a marathon, not a sprint!  The same is true for dreams, resolutions and goals.  If you want to turn a dream into reality you have to get out of bed in the morning with the desire and motivation to 'go for it'.  You don't have to make it real overnight - you just have to keep that dream front and center - and take one small step, one day at a time. 

If you have a dream that is languishing, but not dead - it's still a spark - consider the I Resolve To Formula For Success:

Dream + Resolution + Goals = Success And Fulfillment!

First, you open your mind and Dare To Dream.  Second you turn your dream into a specific, one sentence Resolution such as:  I Resolve To exercise daily for 30-minutes by walking, swimming, lifting weights, biking, doing Yoga, stretching, and playing tennis.  Third, you make that dream and resolution a reality with Daily Goals - one small step (one goal), one day at a time for one year until you have a Lifetime Resolution, a cherished dream that is with you for good, it's with you for life!

If you're falling victim to the 'Someday, Someday, Someday Syndrome' you can put an end to the procrastination today if you so choose.  You don't have to live a life of regret.  Whatever the dream, the challange, you can live up to your potential.  Why not 'give it a go'? 

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 2, 2007
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I Resolve To™ . . . Celebrate The September 1 New Year! - Day 242

Happy New Year!  Happy New School Year, that is.  For so many people - parents, kids, college students, teachers, professors - the start of a new school year, marks the start of a new chapter, a clean slate just like January 1.  If you're celebrating the blank page that September 1 offers - if you're feeling enthusiastic and motivated - good for you!  I believe in using every possible opportunity to move dreams, resolutions and goals forward!

For folks who are involved with school and classrooms, September 1 is a natural time to review what has been achieved during the past 12 months, and to do some soul searching about dreams, resolutions and goals for the coming year.  Personally, the start of the school year brings back fond memories of blank notebooks, buying new school supplies, anticipation of learning new things, meeting new friends, taking a journey with new teachers.  I still run my life out of blank spiral notebooks!  Yes, writing thingds down does help to make things happen!

I love learning, so 'yes', my memories of school and college are fond.  I firmly believe that learning can and should continue long after school days are just a memory.  Learning new things, tackling new projects, launching dreams improves lives, brings joy and reward, keeps us happy, and moving 'forward' day by day.  I can't say enough good things about learning - whether it's opening one of Ernest Hemingway's novels, taking a class about cooking, experimenting with a new hobby, trying a new sport, launching a new career, starting a business, creating a new 'good' habit - you get my drift, so many options, possibilities and choices. 

Learning will open doors, enable us to dream the impossible and make those dreams a reality.  Learning will help us to reach for the stars, and even if we don't come away with a star, we may live our days with a bit of stardust on our hands to remind us of all the wonderful possibilities.  So, even if you're not enrolled in a class, why not open your mind and consider 'what could be' in your life, if you're willing to consider the possibilities and work to make them a reality.  Why not give it a go, this September 1?  What do you have to lose?

Remember:  I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim M. Simpson - September 1, 2007
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