CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Air Force, family, fitness and education - these four pillars define many people's lives, and they also reflect many New Year's resolutions.
What will you make of your resolution this year? I challenge you to make a difference by making it last longer than to the end of this month.
Challenge yourself to rededicate yourself to the Air Force and your fellow Airmen. We can all be better leaders and followers, or even better doers. Even the smallest changes can make a big impact ... from the attitude you bring to work, to trying to make your people's jobs easier or making your supervisor's job easier. A small, consistent effort can make a huge difference.
Challenge yourself to refocus on your family and friends as well. Rededicating ourselves to our job and our families shouldn't be mutually exclusive. When at work, do just that ... work. When you get home, focus on your family and friends.
It is important for all of us to have balance in our lives, and a great way to do that is to recharge ourselves by spending quality time with family and friends. After all, the Air Force usually recruits individuals, but often retains families. If your family isn't happy, chances are you'll end up leaving the Air Force.
Aside from relationships, one of the most common New Year's resolutions is to improve your fitness level. For many, this lasts until the end of January or maybe the middle of February. Make this year different, and make it last until next January. If you can do that, it will likely become a lifetime resolution.
Finally, almost all of us can enhance our personal development in the form of education. Many of us have education goals we have yet to achieve, whether it's a Community College of the Air Force, bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree.
Additionally, many of us have professional military education goals we have yet to achieve. None of these things will happen without some hard work and personal sacrifice, but they all can be instrumental to our success, either in or out of the Air Force.
What will this year bring? To be sure, there will be many challenges. While it's much easier to write about or talk about the above New Year's resolutions, just a little extra effort or focus in any of these areas can have a huge effect on your career, family, fitness and education.
Best of luck with each of your resolutions, and have a great new year.