I recently went out with some good friends for a little happy hour R and R. We try to do this every couple of months because we’ve known each other for several years but don’t get to see each other often. As we were catching up on family, holidays, etc, one of my buddies looked across the table from me and with a big grin said, “You’re number two!”

“Wow, uh, OK.” I said.
“Just remember, you’re number two!” he smiled.

Several times during the evening he would look at me and say, “Remember, you’re number two.” I would smile back and assure him I wouldn’t forget this important bit of information although I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, nor did anyone else apparently. But then, if you knew this very good friend of mine, you would know that it generally isn’t important to know what he’s talking about. With this man, all will be made known eventually and it’s all good, all the time.

The next day I got a text message from him, and I quote, “You’re #2″. I sent him a text back saying that I remembered, but what was he talking about? His text came back almost immediately:

“My second New Year’s resolution.”

I just sat looking at my cell phone for a minute with a smile on my face. Then I sent him a text back telling him that it was one of the coolest things anyone had ever said to me. Now keep in mind, I still have NO idea what this means to him or how this will manifest itself in the future. I only know how it made me feel to read it. It also made me stop for a minute and think about the resolutions we make at the end of every year.

Even if we don’t formally call them resolutions, most of us have an idea of what we want to accomplish in the coming year. Some make a resolution list, some design a new dream board or a prosperity collage. We all have our ways of setting goals for the coming year and keeping them where we can see them. But one thing they have in common, they are usually about us. We want to create more customers or take our business to a new level, take a family vacation, lose weight and take better care of ourselves. All noble goals and all things that we should focus energy on.

But what if this year we added another one very near the top? What if in spot # 2, we put a person’s name and made that someone, as opposed to something, our number two resolution for the new year? Someone that we want to reconnect with but it just doesn’t ever seem to happen because of how busy we get. What if we just pick one person- a child we need to spend more time with, and old friend we need to stay in contact with, a relative we need to reconnect with, and make them a top priority this year?

• Put their name in the number two spot on your list.
• Put their picture on your prosperity board.
• Put their picture on your refrigerator and on your bathroom mirror.

Put them on your calendar, in your computer and smart phone and schedule specific times to call, send an email, send a post card and schedule something like a dinner or happy hour once in awhile. Schedule the time to rekindle and strengthen that relationship.

I think by focusing on that one person you will automatically start being an even better friend to lots of other people you know. But pick one particular person you want to bring closer into your life. And make sure they know that they’re number two!

Whatever you celebrate this holiday season, make it joyful