Most every year in this decade, I begin each year with a theme. I like to use that theme to guide the entire year rather than make a list of impossible resolutions that sometimes actually backfire (too many resolutions, too unrealistic, and TOO varied). After much contemplation, I have decided that my theme for my 2009 is LEARN. I have been causally twirling it around in my head since the last few weeks and more intently this weekend. Using the word LEARN as an acrostic, I’d like to invite you to resolve to learn along with me this year: 1) Love – Be more loving with family, friends and in your faith life. Exploring the depths of each of these relationships areas more fully will be the highest form of learning. Love life, love living, love fully. 2) Experience – This year, create new experiences that stretch your thinking, expand your horizons and cause you to look at the world with new lens. Attend more lectures, listen to pod casts that are intellectually stimulating, and do things that create lasting memories and impressions. 3) Alter – Doing things differently will help shape a new perspective. Read magazine and journal articles that you have never read. Follow a popular blog for a few weeks that has diametrical views to your own. Read a book or listen to music or go a performance that is completely outside your interest. 4) Renew – Commit to a hobby, interest, or activity that you once found enjoyable and learn something new about it. Take piano lessons, write poetry, learn to snowboard, visit a long lost friend. Start writing letters to elderly relatives. Ask them questions about life, happiness, faith, family, the future, their past, their heros… 5) Navigate – Commit to using one new technology productively this year that will help you in your business or personal life. Start a blog. Upload videos to Youtube. Take a computer class. I invite you to make 2009 a year to really learn. If you commit to learn more in 2009, as I hope to, do it with vigor. John Wesley, the founder of the United Methodist Church was a noted speaker in his day. He would amass large audiences of people because of the enthusiasm in his preaching. He once said, “I go out and set my self on fire and people come out to watch me burn.” Burn, baby, burn… and it will be a year worth watching. Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, healthcare, and financial services. He is founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com
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