New years's resolutions - an inspiration

[kmus]

During this time, it is common for people around the world
to make the new year's resolutions. These are the goals that one will try hard
to achieve by the end of the coming year. I barely do or commit to that, mainly
because i thought i knew my goals and will obviously keep working on them.
The matter of fact, is that i do not. Looking back to my last year's resolutions (2015),
I notice that I forgot many of them and only achieved few. So it was a mistake to
not revise them and to not inspect my progression through the year. If your excuse
is that you're too busy, then you should know that you may be busy on the wrong
stuff and that reviewing your goals does not take that much time. Also, reviewing
your goals and motivation for them is at least more important than the daily trivia
you're committed to, such as watching a movie, hanging out with friends, ...
This year, by the will of Allah, I will give a better shot.

I came across an article that talks about the resolutions of Ben Franklin (one the
founding fathers of USA) and thought some of you may benefit from his experience.
What is interesting in Franklin's experience is that his resolutions are more likes
principles than goals. They are 13 and they are the same every year, he just try to
get better at them. How Franklin achieved his resolutions? he simply works on
a single resolution per week, in doing so, he makes his way through the list 4 times
a year. Here below the list, hope you will appreciate it, more importantly, hope we
can stick on it (and on our personal year's resolutions) the same way Franklin did.
By the way, the experience mentioned earlier, helped Franklin see how far short
he fells in the list areas in the short-run, but in his old age, he enjoyed seeing how
the practice of these principles had given him a successful life.

1. Temperance
Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. Silence
Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order
Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution
Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality
Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, i.e., waste nothing.

6. Industry
Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. Sincerity.
Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice
Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation
Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness
Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.

11. Tranquillity
Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. Chastity
Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness,
or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

13. Humility
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.