One of the January activities in most people lives is to make 'New Year Resolutions' that before the month is over are usually forgotten or meagrely carried out. I have given up this custom after many years of feeling guilty when my resolutions failed. What I have found works for me is to not to make resolutions but to take time to think about what matters. These thoughts help me adjust my activities in the upcoming year. Your first question might be what is the difference. Thoughts do not have specific activities attached to them and if they do they are not have to situations. You do not have to do something but you just might get some issues in your life clear.

Going into 2004 my thoughts revolve around the value of time. How often through the year we all say 'I just do not have time for this.' That phrase crosses my lips often these days. Like most people I know I am an extremely busy person. There just is not enough time in the day to do everything.

BUT and that is a big but we all have exactly 24 hours each day. No more than and no less. Each of us has precisely the same amount of time. The difference is what we choose to do with our precious seconds. Everyone has a long list of 'have tos'. I have to go to work. I have to clean the house. I have to watch that football game. But we do not have to do any of these 'have to' things. Sure there are some drastic consequences if we do not do them - like maybe loosing a job. The truth is we choose what we are going to do with our time.

All of our choices are different and many are based on our age. When I was small I wanted to play with toys, when I became a teenager I wanted to listen to music, as my children grew up I wanted to go be proud of them at whatever they were doing, and when I was employed in a salaried job I wanted to please my employer. All choices, some of which were more significant than others.

I have been self-employed for over 25 years including the last five years as a successful author. One thing a self-employed person learns is that you make all of the decisions related to use of your time and there is no one to blame for the consequences those choices bring but yourself. This had been true all of my life but it just is more evident working for myself.

When I reached pensioner age (60) I seemed to treasure every minute more. That perception I believe was based on the fact I truly thought that amount of time I had left on earth might be limited. A lot of my friends are always saying they should spend time doing the things that really matter to them right now as they could be killed in a car accident tomorrow. I have said that often but I am not sure I really believed it until I got to be a Senior Citizen.

My thought for 2004 is to make choices to spend my time on the things that genuinely matter to me. The 'to me' is the important part of that statement. Each of us has a different list of what is we consider important. If I want to sit for hours watching the puffins ride the waves, spend a whole evening reading a great book, or a whole day just watching my Grandchildren play I will do it.

With that thought in mind I would rather be putting together my annual New Year jigsaw puzzle than sitting at the computer so I close by wishing everyone a great 2004. Remember those precious minutes are yours to do with what ever you choose and do not let all of the 'have tos' take away some of the joy of doing what you want in the new year.

Sharma

I love to hear from you so contact me by Email at sharma@sharmakrauskopf.com

You can find more articles in the archive under Island Miniatures/Lighthouse Letters.

I have three books which are directly related to this column. The Last Lighthouse tells how we bought our lighthouse, the day by day journal of a year at Eshaness entitled A Year in the Lighthouse and in Scottish Lighthouses our lighthouse is featured in the 31 lighthouses presented. You can find out more about these books and others I have written at my official author web site.