With those Christmas songs still stuck in our head, we pack away
the ornaments, take down the lights and put away the nativity and
the Menorah until next year. As we drag the tree to the curb we are
also preparing ourselves to say goodbye to 2011 and readying
ourselves for all that 2012 has to offer.
But wait, before we get too far in our planning for the New
Year, there is still one more gift left to open. It must have
fallen behind the tree, has been left hidden in a closet, or is
waiting to be picked up at the post office. The present that has
yet to be opened is addressed to each one of us and no one else but
us. It has our name on the label, it really does, I know this
because I have seen it with my own eyes.
Ok, so here is a sneak peak at our gift, the one that I am
referring to and that remains unopened, the one addressed to each
one of us personally is this: a spectacular 2012, and maybe just
our best year ever.
2011 will soon be yesterday’s news. The heartache and
disappointments, the hurts and brokenness, and the temporary
failures and setbacks can all be left behind. While the triumphs,
amazing memories, and incredible experiences that filled our prior
year will now fuel our momentum and will serve as a solid
foundation of success as we enter into the spectacular-ness of our
2012.
Let’s take a look inside the box and see what we find. We will
find the goals we have clearly defined for ourselves; we will find
true friends, the friends that we have personally selected and who
we know will stand by us through thick and thin, we will find love,
hope, encouragement, and forgiveness; we will find new skills and a
positive attitude; charity and goodwill; and we will find a box
full of appreciation and gratitude.
What will be noticeably absent from our gift box will be; the
people who wouldn’t support us; negative attitudes; the bad habits
that have dragged us down in the past; the jobs that weren’t right
for us at the time; jealousy, envy, hatred, and anger. Not one of
these things will be found anywhere near our gift.
Without question 2012 could very well be our best year ever. And
when we look back next December on the year that was or that might
have been, the difference will be whether or not we focused our
energy, intent, and commitment on what was actually in our final
gift instead of focusing on the things that were missing.
I am wishing you all a very happy, successful, and blessed New
Year. And I do hope that you will enjoy the final gift left to
open. If you want to share your ideas, strategies, and plans for
2012, you can email me at gotonorton@gmail.com and I believe that
you will make 2012 a better than good year.
Michael Norton, a resident of Highlands Ranch, is the former
president of the Zig Ziglar organization and CEO and ounder of
www.candogo.com.
