The end of the year is a beautiful, typically quiet (especially this year) time to think ahead, create, and envision. Last week I wrote about creating a highlight reel of the past year to remember all the good that happened.
Our family has New Year’s rituals for setting the stage for a great next year. We’ve done these since 2003.
Rogin Family Goal setting:
- We write our goals for the coming year. This is a list of what we would love to see happen and accomplished. Often included are savings goals. When Amy was seven years old, she set the goal of saving $100. That’s a huge number for a little kid. Not sure how, but she did it and has been a great saver ever since. We typically set a target of how much we want to give to charities as well. Of course, we also write down other goals. When the kids were in school, they set goals around grades and athletic achievements. There are usually travel goals, goals around friends, etc. I usually have a goal on how many books I’ll read during the year.
- We make two copies. One copy goes in the “goal box” which is a special box that holds all of our goals from each year. The second copy we burn in the fireplace to seal in our goals. Not sure how or why we started doing this but it’s what we do. As we place the paper in the burning fire we give it the blessing of “so be it.”
- The Goal Box. This box holds all of our goal sheets. It is so fun to go back and see what we set as goals. The benefit of time is that I realize that even if a goal isn’t accomplished in the year I planned, if it’s an important goal, it eventually happens. For Benjy and Amy it is so sweet for them to read their goals from when they were little kids.
- New Year’s Day meal. Since I read it was good luck and brings prosperity for the coming year, we always have black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. There’s more on this here. A few years ago we were in Ghana over New Years and our cook Evelyn made them for the same reasons. I loved it! Pretty sure this is the vegan recipe I’m making tomorrow, but I’ll make it in the Instant Pot to speed it up a bit.This year is the first year we’ve ever been apart during New Years, but we’ll continue our rituals virtually (better remind Benjy and Amy to go out and get black-eyed peas!)
My wish for you is a beautiful, healthy, and prosperous 2021!
P.S. And when you’re ready and the time is right, let me know if you want to have a conversation about how to listen to and understand your own thoughts and beliefs when it comes to money. Email me at ellen@ellenrogin.com and put “money thoughts” in the subject line.
Click 
to subscribe to the Prosperity Tips newsletter.
Like this post? Click below to share…
Leave a Reply