2009 is now history, and for many, where it went is a mystery.

Something I do at each year's end is review the year and note ways to improve. Most recently I used questions from time management guru David Allen's latest e-newsletter. Here is a sampling of the questions he offers for a year-end review and new-year goal setting:

FOR COMPLETING AND REMEMBERING 2009

» What was your best triumph?

» What was he smartest decision you made?

» What was the greatest lesson you learned?

» What are you most happy about completing?

FOR CREATING THE NEW YEAR

» What would you like to be your biggest triumph?

» What would you be most happy about completing?

» What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore?

» What one word would you like to have as your theme?

Doing such a review is important not just for evaluating the year just past, but more importantly for the way each year fits into the bigger picture, or sum of our lives.

Here are three of my own questions for you:

1) What is a dream you have for your life?

2) What steps did you take in 2009 to advance that dream?

3) What steps can you take in 2010 to realize your dream?

More than 30 years ago I read the book “;Silver Boxes: The Gift of Encouragement,”; by Florence Littauer. After all these years, there is a story about the author's mother-in-law that vividly sticks in my mind.

When Littauer asked her mother-in-law what she would have done if she could have done anything, she replied, “;an opera singer.”; But her parents discouraged her by saying that studying opera was a waste of time and she could make more money in a different field.

Here is the story in the author's words: “;In Mother Littauer's last years her brilliant mind faded, her memory left her, and her ability to articulate ceased. When we went to visit her, we found her beautiful but silent. To see this woman whom we remembered as dynamic and powerful sitting silently and staring beyond us gave us an eerie feeling.

“;I asked he nurse who cared for her, 'Does Mother ever talk?'

“;She replied, 'Oh no, she never says a word.'

“;As we discussed the tragedy of a once brilliant mind gone dead, the nurse made an interesting comment, 'It's the strangest thing. She can't talk, but every so often she sings opera.'

“;The nurse, who knew nothing of mother's repressed desires, marveled at how she could stand and sing when she couldn't say a word.

“;The night before Mother died, the nurse later told us, she stood by her chair after dinner and began to sing. She put on a moving performance, and the nurse clapped in approval as Mother bowed and smiled. The next morning when the nurse went in, Mother was lying with her hands folded across her chest with a smile on her face.

“;Mother had talent that was never developed, a music box that was never allowed to play, a career that was never begun.

“;Mother died with the music still in her.”;

In Mother Littauer's case her song was unsung due to lack of encouragement and support. As a time management consultant, I see cases, my own included, where songs are not sung due to lack of planning and focus, misplaced priorities and/or poor time use.

What better time than January to set the stage so you can sing the song within you?

See you in two weeks!

Ruth Wong owns Organization Plus. Her column runs the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Contact her by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).