In 2007 I commenced a regime of New Year’s Policies and Aspirations. The aspirations began the year before – I preferred to say “This year, I would like to go to three concerts and two interstate capitals,” rather than, “This year, I will improve my time management.” Aspirations are a lot easier to achieve, particularly if you book the tickets before making the list, and there is no foul if you don’t manage to tick them all off the list, only go to two theatre performances instead of three, or don’t get around to buying shoes (I did).
The policies were new to last year. New Year’s Policies are really rather more like mottos, except that I like saying, “This year I have adopted the policy of…” better than “My motto is…”.
In 2007 my aspirations were extensive – concerts, theatre, travel, art, etc. Most of them were attained, and no harm done by those that weren’t. I may review them if I can find the original list, but I don’t have it to hand.
I had only one policy: to make it a Year of Initiating Contact. My tendency is to proceed based on the laws of momentum and inertia. Actively pursuing friendships was something I left to friends, and I was starting to feel selfish and lazy.
The policy, though cautiously adopted, was unexpectedly successful, and even noticed by a few people. It led to many pleasant evenings and lunches and movies and meeting of interesting people, some of whom I turned out to be related to. It involved picking up the phone and calling people, emailing friends to ask them out for lunch, sending postcards (I keep stamps in my wallet to use on free Avanti art cards) and talking to people at social events.
I have not abandoned the policy of making contact, but I am hoping that a year is long enough to have acquired the habit at least of not being reluctant to talk to people.
This year I have two new policies: it is the Year of Using Things and the Year of Not Being Embarrassed. Much.
Kathleen Jennings 
I like the idea of policies rather than resolutions, and that policy of making contact was (and is) one I myself began to follow about two years ago.
When one attains a certain age one finds his or her circle getting smaller and smaller (from age and other attritions) unless an effort is made to continually seek new contacts and make new friends. To that end I joined a Bible study with some other guys two Septembers ago and it has really ministered to me in that area. I guess I realized that fellowship with others is far more important than staying home vegetating before a TV, for example.
Following your own efforts (the ones you write about) has helped me–I can see and know someone else is thinking along the same lines, and I appreciate your sharing these things on your blog.
It’s amazing how actually, well, doing something can have results, isn’t it?
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