At this point in my blogging career, I realize that I will repeat myself.  Even though I will try not to do so, I am sure it will happen.  Please forgive me when I do, but I am choosing to not go back and review all my past blogs.  I can only hope that when I do repeat myself it is on a subject of value.

This is the time of year for New Year resolutions.  So, I thought I would take the cliché route and talk about just that - New Year resolutions.  This is the time of year many of us say we are going to eat better and exercise more.  I hope we all are successful.  If we are, it will be good for our milk business.  However, I am not sure it will have a positive effect on our ice cream business. 

In the last few days, I have read three or four commentaries by famous people and they seemed to be filling space.  It is a hard subject to address, but I think some benefits can come from really taking the time to look at where we are going and whether or not our daily routines are fulfilling.  There are many things that I do, but not all of them are fulfilling.  Most of us need to give those things that are fulfilling more of our time and reduce the amount of time we spend doing things that are not fulfilling.  Easy to say - not so easy to do.  So, I want to offer some suggestions. 

The first step is to identify fulfilling endeavors.  So, if I could suggest a New Year resolution, what would it be?  It would be to set a goal to identify some lifestyle changes that could be adopted to provide a more fulfilling lifestyle by July 2007.

How should you start?  Think of some people who seem to be happy all the time.  Make a list.  You decide if it is two or ten.  Sit down with each of them individually and ask about their fulfillment.  Try to understand which of their lifestyle habits you would be comfortable emulating in your own way.  Get enough ideas and plan your own planning session.  When thinking about the questions you would ask these people, make sure you are balanced.  Make sure to ask about physical, mental and spiritual fulfillment.  Make sure you include one person of the opposite sex and one person of a different age group. 

Once you make a list of things that work for other people, it is soul searching time.  You must decide who you are, what you want and how to make changes in your day-to-day activities to achieve those lifestyle changes. 

Reading is also a possible way to add to this thought process.  We hear people talk about what they would do if they were given a limited amount of time to live.  For young folks, this is hard to grasp.  Once you cross the 50-year mark and you have a few friends and family leave this world before their time, it becomes easy to admit our time here will end some day.  An interesting book to read is “Chasing Daylight” by Gene O’Kelly. 

Well, I have certainly gotten way too deep with this discussion.  I will try to lighten up next month.  Best of luck creating a more fulfilling lifestyle.

Best wishes for happy, healthy and prosperous year to everyone.                      

Scottie