Mid Year Stock Take

July 1, 2017
by Rodney Olsen
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I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that time keeps slipping away at an ever increasing rate.

Today is the first day of the second half of 2017.

Here in Australia, the 1st of July marks the beginning of the new financial year. For businesses, it’s a time to draw a line under one year and to look ahead to what the new financial year will bring.

For all of us, being halfway through the calendar year means it’s a good time to look back before looking forward. It’s as good a time as any to reassess where our lives are heading and look at making adjustments or changes where needed.

Every day gives us an opportunity to start again but I think there can be something special about setting a new course on certain landmark days such us the start of a new year, the midpoint of the year, the start of a new financial year or on a birthday. There’s nothing magical about those days but we can use them as markers throughout the year that remind us of where we’re heading or perhaps where we should be heading.

What about you? Are you going to review the goals and resolutions you made at the start of the year?

Are you prepared to put the broken resolutions behind you and start again? I just love the fact that what has happened in the past doesn’t have to decide the direction of our future. While we can’t erase the past, we can deal with it and move forward.

When I look back over the first half of 2017 I see both triumphs and disappointments. I guess that’s what life is all about. It won’t always be smooth sailing but it’s how we deal with the tough times that helps us develop and grow into the people we will become, for better or for worse.

One of the things I’ve wanted to do this year is spend more time on my bike. I need a lot more kilometres in my legs over the next twelve or so months if I’m going to be ready to cycle across the country in September next year. (You can read more about that adventure in my post, Going the Distance.)

While I haven’t cycled as much as I would have liked, I have cycled a lot more than I did last year, so things are improving. Now I get to reasses, reset and move on with the plan to ride more.

There are always things in my private life, my family, my spiritual journey and my work that need reflection and readjustment.

If you’re interested in help towards a mid-year spiritual stock take, I recommend listening to a couple of messages that Rob Furlong preached recently. Check out The Springs of Life and Keeping the Springs Fresh.

How is 2017 looking for you? What adjustments will you make to ensure that you achieve at least some of your goals by the end of the year?



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2013 – I Wonder

January 2, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
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2013

In all the busyness of this time of year have you managed to set time aside to draft out a few New Year’s resolutions?

Maybe you’ll get some time over the next couple of days. I’m hoping to get something together before the year moves on too far. I’ve got a few areas of life where I want to see change or growth and I have most of the ideas of what they’ll look like in in my head. I simply need to commit them to paper … er … computer.

While many people don’t believe in such things I reckon that any time we can sit down and take stock of our lives and make plans for the time ahead is time well spent.

As with every year I’m sure that many will set all the usual resolutions about losing weight, getting fitter, quitting smoking, reducing debt and all the rest but I wonder what 2013 would look like if we made resolutions and goals about improving relationships with those close to us and then asked those people, or others, for help in staying accountable to those goals.

I wonder how things would be if we made resolutions about helping those we may not even know but who need a hand up.

How would 2013 shape up if we determined that family was more important than the demands of work and then structured our schedules accordingly?

What would it be like if we decided that 2013 was the year that we would look beyond the physical and material things of this world to discover deeper spiritual meaning?

I wonder.



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Half Time

July 2, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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We’re not there … but we’re well on the way.

We’re half way through the year and it’s a good time to look back before looking forward.

For those of us in Australia, we’ve just begun the new financial year so I guess it’s as good a time as any to reassess our lives and look at making changes where needed. No matter where you are, yesterday marked the first day of the second half of 2012.

Every day gives us an opportunity to start again but I think there can be something special about setting a new course on certain landmark days such us the start of a new year, the start of a new financial year or on a birthday.

What about you? Are you going to review the goals and resolutions you made at the start of the year? Are you prepared to put the broken resolutions behind you and start again? I just love the fact that what has happened in the past doesn’t have to decide the direction of our future.

When I look back over the first half of 2012 I see both triumphs and disappointments. I guess that’s what life is all about. It won’t always be smooth sailing but it’s how we deal with the tough times that helps us develop and grow into the people we will become, for better or for worse.

How is 2012 looking for you? What adjustments will you make to ensure that you achieve at least some of your goals by the end of the year?



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Wondering about a new year

December 28, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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new_years_calendar.jpgIn all the busyness of this time of year have you managed to set time aside to draft out a few New Year’s resolutions?

Maybe you’ll get some time over the next couple of days. I’m hoping to get something together before the end of Thursday so that I’m ready for Friday and a brand new year. I’ve got started with a few categories or areas of life where I want to see change or growth and I have most of the ideas of what they’ll look like in in my head. I simply need to commit them to paper … er … computer.

While many people don’t believe in such things I reckon that any time we can sit down and take stock of our lives and make plans for the time ahead is time well spent.

As with every year I’m sure that many will set all the usual resolutions about losing weight, getting fitter, quitting smoking, reducing debt and all the rest but I wonder what 2010 would look like if we made resolutions and goals about improving relationships with those close to us and then asked those people, or others, for help in staying accountable to those goals.

I wonder how things would be if we made resolutions about helping those we may not even know but who need a hand up.

How would 2010 shape up if we determined that family was more important than the demands of work and then structured our schedules accordingly?

What would it be like if we decided that 2010 was the year that we would look beyond the physical and material things of this world to discover deeper spiritual meaning?

I wonder.



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Are we there yet?

July 1, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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calendar.jpgWe’re not there … but we’re well on the way.

We’re half way through the year and it’s a good time to look back before looking forward.

For those of us in Australia, today’s the first day of the new financial year so I guess it’s as good a day as any to reassess our lives and look at making changes where needed. No matter where you are, today marks the first day of the second half of 2009.

Every day gives us an opportunity to start again but I think there can be something special about setting a new course on certain landmark days such us the start of a new year, the start of a new financial year or on a birthday.

What about you? Are you going to review the goals and resolutions you made at the start of the year? Are you prepared to put the broken resolutions behind you and start again? I just love the fact that what has happened in the past doesn’t have to decide the direction of our future.

When I look back over the first half of 2009 I see both triumphs and disappointments. I remember the pain of losing a family member. I smile when I think about how the hard work of getting into better shape is paying off so well. While I’m disappointed that the process of moving house hasn’t gone as smoothly as hoped, things are going forward one step at a time and every day brings us closer to our new home. I’m excited by the fact that I sense a stronger connection to God than I have for quite some time. While I haven’t read as much as I’d like, I’m heartened by the fact that my reading is increasing. My target of doubling last year’s kilometres on my bike looks strong.

How is 2009 looking for you? What adjustments will you make to ensure that you achieve at least some of your goals by the end of the year?



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