This December, consider starting a wish jar. Regardless of how far you are into the month, take a decorative jar or a pretty vase and have everyone who passes through write down their wishes, hopes or goals for the year.

Let everyone know their notes can be serious and goal-oriented, or more for fun, such as saying they will learn one new recipe each week over the next year. Keep it easy and rule-free: family and friends can add as many or as few ideas as they would like to include.

Tuck the jar away and one year later, you can retrieve the jar and read the notes to see how far everyone has progressed. You might be surprised at who took the challenge seriously.