I'm willing to bet you will hear the word “resolution” to thepoint of exhaustion by the time the end of this month rolls around.But you won't hear me bashing the tradition. I've always been abeliever that setting a goal is the first step you take towardscompleting it. So you'll get nothing but smiles from me when asked,“What's your New Year's resolution?”

For me, measuring true success in goal setting has always meantknowing where the finish line is, no matter what month. Irediscovered that a few months ago, literally, when I completed myfirst triathlon. The course — which consisted of a six-mile kayak,a 5.5 mile run, and an 18-mile bike ride — was an intimidatinghalf-day trek for someone who once winced at running a 5K charityrace.

I immersed myself for several months in training and planningfor the big race. When the day finally came, I pushed my kayak intothe chilly, early-morning rapids of the Little Miami River, a bitnervous but ready for what faced me. Three hours and 11 minuteslater, I crossed the finish line on my bike and flopped to theground in exhaustion amidst cheering from complete strangers.