Summer Blog – Breakfast in Bed (Can you tell that it’s a heart?)

They say if you want to be happy for an hour, take a nap.
If you want to be happy for a day, play a round of golf or go shopping.
If you want to be happy for a month – get married!

My wife doesn’t find that anecdote very amusing. But I’m excited to report that after a year of marriage, I’m happier than I’ve ever been! Our anniversary also signals the start of the second half of the year. Which means Halloween’s right around the corner, then Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah (why did I ever take the holiday lights down?!) and then New Year’s!

Speaking of New Year’s, what ever happened to those goals we all set out for ourselves to start the year? If you’re like most, you’ve probably already forgotten what the resolutions were. If you were as wise as some of the people I’ve spoken with, you were smart enough to not make any resolutions. I myself have never been a big fan of resolutions. That said, I am a huge believer in setting goals. But anything worth doing is worth doing today. Regardless of how you’re doing on your goals. Now’s as good a time as any to do a quick check up on them.

First, find that crumpled up cocktail napkin or pull up that iPhone note that you wrote that ambitious resolution on. Read it again now that we’re halfway through the year. Does it still make sense? Is it a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely) goal? If your answer to any of these is “no,” then it’s time to revise or amend your goals.

Now that you’ve amended your goals, what activities do you need to put in place to achieve them. For example, one of my goals is to be a better husband by doing something thoughtful for my wife at least once a week for a year. I really hope she isn’t reading this! I started strong- made her breakfast in bed one weekend, bought “just because” flowers one week, left a note on the refrigerator another week. I’m embarrassed to report that I haven’t done much since. What I should have done and am now doing is to create a spreadsheet with every week left in the year and fill each week with the activity that I’m committing to doing.

Once you’ve committed to the activities and have the plan in place, it’s just a matter of monitoring the plan and your progress. Sounds eerily similar to the financial planning process!

Good luck all. Can’t wait to celebrate your successes in a few months.

Cheers!