Cresting 30: 2010: A new beginning patterning life after the Savior

Yikes! Where did 2009 go?It's been said that the older you get, the faster the years fly by. I'm still 30 years-young. What happens when I'm 60? (I don't even want to think about it.)Well, 2009 is saying its last goodbyes, and 2010 is about to welcome us with open arms. But, what if we haven't finished our goals for the fleeting year? If they're anything like mine, you might as well consider the dieting goal a lost cause; Christmas parties abound this season, and diets drown in decadence.OK, we didn't achieve every resolution made last year. But, with every ending comes a new beginning. Besides, isn't this a time to evaluate and move on; make better resolutions?For years, making a list of New Year's resolutions was an arduous task at best; until a Sunday School lesson that changed the way I organized my goals.The lesson was about patterning our lives after our Savior's perfect life; do the things that he would do and walk the paths he would walk.Of course, perfection is practically impossible. Each of us can think of our shortcomings, which only damn our progress towards our ultimate goal — eternal life.But, the lesson wasn't about being perfect, it was about striving for perfection; giving our best effort, and being better than we were yesterday. Or, as the case may be, preparing for the imminent new year.So, in order to pattern our lives after the manner of our Savior's, we need to study his life.Although we do not have a day-to-day account of his life in its entirety, we can learn intricate details about him from the scriptures.In Luke 2:52 we read ...\"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.\"Jesus kept his life simple, focused; and, yet, was a profound man. He organized his life in four areas, and excelled in each of them.Shouldn't we try to do the same?This upcoming year, set just four simple goals for yourself: spiritual, social, physical and mental.If you complete your goals before the year's out, great! You might consider setting a new goal. Resolutions don't need to happen yearly, they can occur as often as needed.During 2009, we may have not accomplished everything we had hoped, but with 2010 just around the corner, it's time for a new beginning.