"The world stands aside to let him pass who knows where he is going" - David Starr Jordan.

The year was ushered in with great jubilation as is always the tradition. It is always exciting seeing a new year and the excitement is understandable. But once the euphoria is gone, the question should be, "What next?" Most people forget to ask this question and are over engaged with eating and jubilating. This is not supposed to be so. The New Year is another opportunity to start again, to make a fresh attempt at life.

Dearest, you have to take heed of an aimless life this year. You cannot afford to live the year without an aim or a goal as you wish to call it. If you have being living without an aspirations in the past years, this year should be an exception. You cannot afford to live 365 days of the year without aiming at something meaningful. You cannot afford to get to the end of the year and not be able to point at something important that you have achieved this year. I don't know if there is any word worst than disaster, but that will describe your inability to achieve anything worthwhile in the year.

The man without a purpose never leaves his mark upon the world. He has no individuality; he is absorbed in the mass, lost in the crowd, weak, wavering, incompetent. His outlines of individuality and angles of character have been worn off, planed down to suit the common thought until he has, as a man, been lost in the throng of humanity. Beloved, I won't want you to fit into this description at all that is why this clarion call is coming to you. Most people are lost and it is very pitiable that they don't realize it until when it is too late.

Somebody said, "The man who succeeds above his fellows is the one who early in life clearly discerns his object, and towards that object habitually directs his powers. Even genius itself is but fine observation strengthened by fixity of purpose. Every man who observes vigilantly and resolves steadfastly grows unconsciously into genius." Another said, "If you don't have any overall major purpose, you are wasting the better portion of your life. The wear and tear of living isn't worth it unless you are going somewhere."

Do you have a picture of what you want to do this year? Do you have a major purpose in life? If December 31st 2006 arrives, what will you say you achieved in 2006? When people are taking stock of the year 2006, what will you say about your achievements? Will you congratulate yourself or be ashamed of your accomplishments in the year 2006? The choice is yours! My only plea is that you shouldn't allow any moment of the year to fritter away. It holds a lot of promises for those who have something to live for every day of the year.

Let me close by sharing this quote with you: "No man is fit to win, who has not sat down alone to think; and who has not come forth with purpose in his eyes, with white cheeks, set lips and clenched palms, able to say: 'I am resolved what to do.'"

Are you resolved on what to do this year? Are you still basking in the euphoria of the New Year? You still think the year is young for you to start out? Common! Wake up and do something!

It is a challenge for you to succeed this year and it is my prayer that you will succeed. I want to be part of those that will rejoice with you at the end of the year.

This is to your sucess.

Adebola A. Oni