Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! A New Decade Begins!

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor of Southern Writers Magazine

Yes, at Southern Writers Magazine we say Merry Christmas! After  all that is what it is. So again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Years from all of us here at Southern Writers Magazine. We hope your year has been a happy and prosperous one. There are still a few days left in the year for you to tie up any loose ends. But remember these last few days are also the last few days of the decade.

Author, p.m. terrell recently posted on Facebook, “There’s only two more weeks left in this decade. What would you consider your most memorable moments of the decade?” The response was amazing! Looking back over the last 10 years wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. A lot has happened and choosing the most memorable ones, although difficult, was a great opportunity to count my blessings.

Looking back also gave me an eye-opening moment to realize 10 years has passed in the blink of an eye. Another is about to start. So much planning and goal setting went into the last 10 years. I had to ask myself what my goals are and plans for the next 10 years. What have I learned and what do I hope to learn in the coming years?

As great as my last 10 years have been, I want the next 10 years to be the best yet? In order to assure that happens planning and goal setting come into play again. Also taking stock and knowing where we have been, will make us aware of what is possible. The next step is to set your goals higher. As business like as this sounds it can also be used to plan personal finances and family time. All parts of our lives are intertwined so we must plan as such.

So simply put it boils down to 5 questions. Where are you now? What are you excited about now? What would you change? Who makes the decision? What is the solution? With this  searching and planning you should have the best decade yet!

Back to p.m. terrell’s question, “What would you consider your most memorable moments of the decade?” For me that was easy. On December 17^th Nancy and I celebrated our 50^th Wedding Anniversary. We first took a trip to Hawaii. We then renewed our vows in the presence of family, including 8 of our 10 grandchildren, and friends in the little church in Arkansas we grew up in. We were fortunate to have the pastor that married us return to renew our vows. Now that’s memorable!