Talane’s Blog of the Week, January 23, 2006

It’s Not Too Late! Make Your Wish List for 2006

I was going through my 2005 calendar and found, at the beginning of it, my list of accomplishments for 2004 and my wish list for 2005. I had to take a good look at it, since I had forgotten where I’d put it and hadn’t looked at it all year. That is the nature of a wish list. You write down your wishes and then forget them (unlike a goal list which you want to keep front and center).

A few things made me laugh. First was Wish #3: “French lessons 2-hrs. 2-on-1 (P&T).” That is exactly how I had written it down. Well, guess what? Last year I had a grand total of 2 hours of private French lessons with my husband Paul (he’s the “P”) and a private tutor. I got exactly what I asked for. What I meant was 2 hours per week. Another reminder to be very specific in writing down your wishes. Apparently, fairy godmothers take things quite literally. I also noticed I had written down Wish #23 as “Another baby?” Obviously I wasn’t completely sure or ready for another one and guess what — it didn’t happen. I won’t make that mistake again. Wish number #36 “Upgrade to a bigger dream house with a garden for kids to play” came true. It was serendipitous how we got this house. My last wish #39 “Buy Turkish carpets” made me laugh. A friend came by Friday with a truckload of carpets and we bought five. Of the entire list, 15 came true, and what didn’t come true, like #17 “Carpet the house,” turned out to be a good thing (carpeting would have been a waste of $10,000 as we sold the house with the old carpeting and the new owners can select their own).

You may have made a goal list for the year, and that is great. But if you haven’t taken advantage of your fairy godmother, then you are really missing out. After all, 15 out of 39 is pretty good, especially since they all came effortlessly. If you have jumped into 2006 without writing down your 2005 accomplishments, do it now. After basking in a well-deserved sense of gratitude and accomplishment, make your 2006 wish list. Be specific! Then tuck it away to find next year.

Enjoy!
Talane