January - Looking forward to the New Year

New Year Priorities: Planning a route toward Accomplishing Professional Development Goals

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time for planning a route for gaining professional and personal goals that allow for growth, learning and active involvement and service. This month, I will describe my goals and the resources i use to increase my skills, knowledge and remain active, in the fields of public health, nutrition and in the culinary field.

Identifying Goals for this year:

I have prioritized my goals into four primary categories based on my professional interests, skills, knowledge and licensing/certification requirements:

• Providing resources for creating achievable, personal health and wellness objectives.

• Participating in community nutrition education and culinary mentorship programs.

• Exploring new avenues for personal and professional growth and education.

  
  

Resources for Meeting Professional Development Goals:

There are many resources I use to meet my professional goals. Whether you're retired or actively involved in working in your field or need to find ways to satisfy your professional licensing and education requirements, you may want to consider the following resources and methods of maintaining and developing your professional skills and knowledge.

• Joining Your Professional Organizations - many people seeking professional development opportunities fail to explore the continuing education opportunities that are free to members who join the organization for a yearly fee.
  

• Seeking on-line and Virtual continuing education (CEU) opportunities - I recently learned that one of my professional organizations produces a series of Youtube videos that can provide professional education credits by completing a questionnaire available to organization members. Some organizations offer virtual and Zoom workshops that are available to non-members for a one-time fee.

  
  

• Attending conferences that offer CEU opportunities - I recently learned my professional conferences offer numerous opportunities to gain CEUs by attending workshops, either virtually or in-person. Conferences are often the best way to network, learn the latest industry or professional trends and tips, and to gain many CEUs at one time.

  
  

This Month's Garden Update:

Fall to Winter vegetables are growing well, and we are hopeful for a good harvest of daikon radish, bell radishes, carrots, bulb onions, and garlic when the time is right. Our neighbors and friends are sharing citrus fruits from their backyard trees. And almost all the annual flowers are gone from our plot, with some moved to the shelter of our home patio.

Thank you for visiting this month's blog, and please keep an eye out for my upcoming monthly blogs. Also, don't forget to share your suggestions, garden updates and experiences with this month's recipe - Our father, Elverso's Black-eyed Peas. This was a New Year's traditional dish in our household. It is also a tradition among many African Americans, and it is believed to guarantee prosperity in the New Year.