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The month of January is named after the two-headed Roman god named Janus!

“What! How funny my little sister Janice Louise is truly a two-headed monster for sure,” my 8-year-old self suddenly became very alert and tried so hard to control her giggles in Mrs. McDonald’s third-grade class at Denver’s University Hills Grade School. 

Of course, Mrs. McDonald was not happy that one of her least favorite students was giggling. She so wished the child would just shut up or go back to reading her camouflaged book she knew the tall red-headed girl hid under her papers. (Mrs. McDonald would have so loved my little angelic sister, who did become a teacher, but by the time Janice reached the third grade, a new school closer to our 1954 blond-brick ranch had been built.)

Yes, indeed, the month of January is named after Janus, who had one head looking back at the year completed and one peering at what was to become. 

I like visiting with Janus every year for two reasons: first, life goes by so fast that I often forget what I have done; and second, I like planning for the year ahead because I want to make sure I do what is important to me. 

At this stage of life, I know women who say to me, “But, why, Elizabeth, I have to take care of my ailing husband, or something like why, Elizabeth, I should have done that earlier in my life, or why, Elizabeth, what does it matter I have health concerns or don’t have the energy anymore?”

I respond, but why not, friend? If not now, when? Or my new favorite Mary Oliver quote, “Have I walked long enough where the sea breaks raspingly all day and all night upon the pale sand? Have I admired sufficiently the little hurricane of the hummingbird? The heavy thumb of the blackberry? The falling star?”

So, looking back at 2022, the below positive things stand out in my life for me. I hope you share yours in the comment section of this blog site.

Finally, meeting in Greece (no less!) my Denver Thomas Jefferson High School mascot Spartacus on my 75th birthday. 

I went shopping with my middle daughter and her teenage grandchildren at Colorado Mills Shopping Center because this cool outing on a very, very hot day gave me a whole new perspective on life from the eyes of teenagers.

The launch party of my latest mystery, “Murder and Blue Spruce,” because a total stranger came to my home and in my driveway parked, “Maybellene,” his very expensive 1955 white Cadillac since Cadillacs are featured in the book. His kindness and generosity astonished me. 

Because of the lessening of covid, I returned to playing pickleball. The sport itself brings me joy. What brings me more joy are the people I play with. Almost all of us are gray-haired. I can’t believe the amount and volume of laughter I hear. I have never once seen anyone throw their racket down in anger. I saw many people throw their golf clubs down when I played that sport for over 40 years.

Now on to 2023–69 years later, from learning about Janus—I share with you my ambitions. Please note: This is how I do it. I am not advocating that you do the same. This method works for me: it may or may not work for you. I invite you to let us know what yours are in the comment section. 

Somewhere along the way, I heard about the power of setting goals based on primary personal principles. It took time for me to realize what is paramount for me in my life. I came up with these:

Spirituality 

Health

Family

Wealth

Home

Education

Amazingly to me, these principles haven’t changed over the years.

They are the basis for my own personal “strategic plan.” Each year under each principle, I develop goals, strategies,  and tactics for furthering my principles. And, yes, I include a timeline and budget where appropriate. I believe I owe much of the success in my life to this planning.  

Many of my friends over the years have bulked at my planning ideas. All I know is that this approach works for me and my personality. I don’t believe I would have achieved what I did professionally, had the health I enjoy today, dealt with various family situations, had a secure retirement, enjoyed my home and retirement community, and learned so much—from growing my herbs to traveling to foreign countries.  

I’ll share with you a few goals I have under each principle with you.

Spirituality —

Studying concepts of forgiveness, self-esteem, and creativity by delving into books by Rami Shapiro, Melody Beattie, and Julia Cameron

Health 

Practicing yoga daily because it so helps with my arthritis and scoliosis 

Family

Learning to be a grandma of older teenagers 

Wealth

Monitoring funds

Home

Planning several landscape projects and seeking additional help for my yard and home

Education

Traveling to Southern Italy, where my paternal great-grandparents came from. Convincing myself that I could travel alone with a tour group. 

Publishing a second edition of each of my mysteries. Publishing an audio version.

Finally, I’ll leave you with the Just for Today poem on a bookmark I picked up many years ago at an Al-Anon meeting and a similar one that I find useful today at The Art of Living.

Please note: Since its inception in 2013, this blog has not been financially or otherwise supported by any company or entity.  

Copyright – Elizabeth J. Wheeler, January 1, 2023

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