Welcome to my new space. As I wrote in my previous post (SEE ARCHIVED POSTS) I love this transitional time of a new year. Something about the opportunity of a blank page in the new year fills me with hope for accomplishing my goals. Although for all this heightened awareness of accomplishments brought about by the new year, I still need daily reminders of what I am truly trying to accomplish.

Sitting on my desk are three beach stones. It reminds me of the Steve Covey anecdote: Imagine you have some pebbles, some sand, some water, some large stones and a jar. In what order do you fill the jar so all are included? Some might suggest putting in the sand first or the water first. The only way to include everything without any spillage is to fill the jar with the big stones first and then add in descending size order. The point being in order to accomplish all that you want to do (e.g. to include all the items in the jar) one must put in the big stones first and then all the rest.

My three stones are there as a reminder of what is important to me: faith, family, friends. It reminds me that I need to cultivate my faith and my relationships every day. Sometimes I definitely need the reminder. I might be so busy with beginning my day that I forget to do my Bible reading. Or, I become so self-absorbed that I forget about my family and friends.

As I write out my 2016 goals, I do so with my three stones in mind. I have many specific smaller goals but I review them in light of what is truly important to me.

For example, this year I want to see my siblings and their families more. My husband and I are in a life stage where we can travel more. As is probably true of most families, my parents are the ones who keep the siblings together with information being past back and forth of each other's activities. I have realized that I need to build better relationships to prepare for the time when my parents won't be able to be the conduit of information.

As you might be reflecting on your goals for 2016 I would encourage you to think of the three stones of your life: what are the three things that are the most important to you? Once you determine them use them as a template for all your other goals. You may have written out your one big goal for the year and your smaller monthly ones. What Are You Doing New Year's? Archived Post

You may find that you really have only one big stone in your life. That is fine. For some reason, I am always thinking in three's. Whatever amount of "stones" you have they are not to replace or confuse your goal. Rather they are to be used as a daily reminder of what is important to you.

So often we can be distracted. Keep the main thing, the main thing. Or to quote a scene from City Slickers, a '90s film in which Billy Crystal portrays Mitch a man going through a mid-life crisis. He and his buddies decide to participate in a dude ranch/cattle drive. Jack Palance portrays Curly, the crusty, wise cowboy who offers guidance and advice along the way.

Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is?
[holds up one finger]
Curly: This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean shit.
Mitch: But, what is the "one thing?"
Curly: [smiles] That's what *you* have to find out.

What are your three stones (or one stone)? What is important to you for 2016? Can you name it? How will you remember them? What would be a good token or marker for you to remember them each day?