This year we said our New Year wishes standing watch on the luggage conveyor belt at Wellington Airport having touched down minutes before from Melbourne. I liked the quiet passing of time from one year to the next.  Traditionally New Year is the time for reflection and forward planning – a natural break point for change and renewal.  Personally I find it a false start and prefer to look for renewal when I need it not when the calendar dictates.

Last year I wanted to focus more and do less.  In the main I did this although the outputs of my effort didn’t quite turn out how I imagined when I blogged about it and I’m OK with that.  When I trained as a professional coach it was all about helping people to set goals and achieve them but I’ve come to learn through experience that end goals are good but not the main gig. Personal renewal stems from a persistent focus on what truly matters to you and rarely can that be summed up in a list of goals.

I find personal mantra’s a much better vehicle for personal renewal than goals.  Last year I was focused on “value not volume” because I wanted to find space in life be a stronger person doing less better.  As I start this year I feel I’m a more thoughtful person – alas, not necessarily more thoughtful to others, although I do try – but more mindful of what I’m doing and more deliberate with my intentions. I’ve not yet decided what my theme for this year will be, or indeed whether I’ll change my theme or have a theme at all.

All I know now is that I’m on a roll with this whole notion of personal renewal and that will be my foundation for what’s to come.  I’m sure things are not going to change that much though so  you’ll find me still here at Domestic Executive HQ growing vegetables, playing with my bassets, taking photographs and bitching about the weather.  What ever your plans for 2011, hope that you’ll be happy and healthy and having lots of fun.