Baby steps to a larger goal better than none at all

Like a blank page, the new year 2010 beckons to each of us to shed failures of the past and move toward a more perfect vision of self.

Many persons much wiser than I am caution the rest of us against taking on unrealistic goals for the new year as they most likely will result in failure.

Better, they recommend that we make small steps toward a larger goal and build on our success. Rome, as the saying goes, wasn't built in a day. Therefore, we shouldn't expect to reverse a lifetime of bad habits overnight.

That is excellent advice and I intend to follow it.

Therefore, I resolve in 2010 to smile at one more person each day than I did the day before. It may not sound like such a big thing, but just by consciously working toward that goal each day, I may actually exceed it and the potential for change is enormous.

Also, in 2010 I resolve to daily show, not just tell, family members that I love and respect them. Maybe that means I will empty the trash basket more often, clean the windows or kitchen counter before being asked, write a Thank You note for something that usually goes unnoticed or simply hand out more hugs.

Whatever I do, I know that these random acts of kindness will go a long way in drawing me closer to those I care about and share space with.

At work, I resolve to notice and acknowledge at least one good thing daily about each person with whom I work. Especially for those employees who report to me, this means a conscious effort to build up instead of tear down the work efforts of others.

Too often, I and others get sucked into always looking at the down side of a person's actions, ideas or efforts. What a wonderful world it would be if everyone did this. In order to help that happen, I resolve to do my part.

Where will all this take me?

I hope it will make me more eager to show up at work each day.

I trust it will make me an easier person to deal with, both at the office and at home.

I know that these positive measures are more likely to be appreciated than not. That alone should make for a more pleasant work and home environment, reducing stress and conflict and making for smoother sailing when rough times do show themselves.

I also resolve to cut this column out, post it in a prominent position at my work space so that I can see it often and re-read it whenever I feel myself slipping back into old modes of behavior.

The experts say that the best way to get rid of an old bad habit is to replace it with a better one. Habits are fairly easy to acquire. Simply do the same thing for 20 or 30 days straight and becomes ingrained in your body memory.

I also expect all of you to hold me accountable and to remind me, gently of course, when you see me deviating from this path.