Out with the old; in with the new!
The Time is Now: Out with the Old, In with the New
I truly loved my Grandpa Jack. Of all the people in his generation of my family, Grandpa Jack and I shared the closest bond. As a teenager, I would often visit him on my own—driving over with my car, spending hours at his place, just the two of us talking.
Sometimes, on Saturday mornings, I’d join him on his rounds, when he’d go out to collect small payments from people who owed him for a refrigerator or washer and dryer he had bought them. He was generous to a fault—never pushing hard, always happy to accept $5 or $10 at a time. Grandpa Jack was a good businessman, but what I admired most was his optimism and hope.
Every year, between his late November birthday and the first of January, Grandpa Jack would talk about his goals for the coming year.
- “Next year, I’m going to quit smoking.”
- “Next year, I’ll quit drinking—or at least cut back.”
- “Next year, when I go to Vegas, I’m going to win big.”
- And one year, with a big grin, “Next year, I’m going to learn karate!”
I cracked up at that one. Grandpa Jack must have been 72 or 75 years old, and the thought of him learning karate—after years of cigarette smoke, cheap bourbon, and the occasional Las Vegas indulgence—was as charming as it was unrealistic.
The truth is, next year never came for Grandpa Jack’s goals. He never quit smoking or drinking—not until his health no longer permitted it. He never “won big” in Vegas. And the closest he ever came to karate was watching *The Karate Kid* with me one Sunday afternoon.
One of the greatest lessons I learned from Grandpa Jack is that making a resolution without working toward it is a wasted resolution. That’s why, in my own life, I’ve forged my path by committing only to the things I truly believe I can accomplish—things that are meaningful, attainable, and aligned with what I value most.
Admittedly, I haven’t always reached my goals. But when I commit myself to them, I get closer with every day, every week, and every month. Progress may not always be perfect, but it’s forward movement that counts.
The way I see it, we only have so many days on this planet, and it’s important to make every single one somehow matter—especially when it comes to reaching the goals we set for ourselves. Every day, I look at how far I’ve come from the day before, the week before, or even the month before. And while I glance at how much further I still have to go, I stay focused on taking that next step forward.
Grandpa Jack taught me that. In his day, he showed me what not to do. And in my day, I’ve tried to impart this knowledge to my kids, to my grandchildren, and to anyone willing to listen: *Dream big, but take action. “Next year” doesn’t happen unless you start today.*
As we approach the new year, it’s natural to reflect on where we’ve been and where we want to go. But this time, instead of making resolutions that fade by February, set goals you truly believe in—goals that matter to you, goals you can take real steps toward achieving.
Think about it: What’s one dream, one challenge, or one adventure you’ve been putting off? What’s something you’ve always wanted to share, create, or accomplish?
This year, don’t let “next year” slip away. Start small—jot down a list of what you want to achieve or reflect on the stories you want to tell.
Your life is full of moments worth remembering, worth sharing, and worth celebrating. What stories are waiting inside you? What goals, dreams, or memories are you ready to bring into the new year?
If you’d like to explore how to capture your story, reflect on your journey, or set a meaningful goal for the coming year, *The Intrepid Editor Press* is here to help. Let’s work together to bring your story to life in 2025.
Take Care, Be Well, and Keep Yer Dobber Up!
d’Philip
