December 27, 2007
Resolve
Written by Shirley Karr in Jaunty PostThe holiday cookies have been reduced to crumbs, presents wrapped (or stuffed into a gift bag with tissue paper) and then unwrapped, sincere thanks given for the DVD and fountain pen I wanted, a perfunctory thank-you for the socks, and now it’s time to think about the coming new year. You know what I mean.
Resolutions.
Some people get very detailed, with long lists of what to do and how to do it in every major area of their lives such as physical, emotional, spiritual, blah blah blah. I think most of those people tend to give up before the 1040 and Schedule C are due.
One friend chooses a single word and looks for ways to apply it throughout the year. Time meant being punctual for appointments, finding more efficient ways to work, and spending time with her grandkids.
One word. Simple, easy to remember. I like it. With a newborn, I’ve discovered the hard way that we must simplify wherever possible, to figure out what’s really important and what can slide, and then actually let it slide. (Despite what your mother-in-law might say there’s nothing inherently wrong with dust bunnies. Though I do draw the line at cobwebs.)
What do I want to work on in the coming year? Be a good mother and writer is a no-brainer, and get more sleep is a necessity not a resolution. I don’t smoke so I don’t have to quit, and I don’t drink or gamble so I don’t have to cut back. What’s the other of the most popular resolutions?
Oh yeah. Exercise.
Christmas Day we bundled up and drove through lightly falling snow to visit my mom’s husband at the rehab center, where he’s lived since having complications following surgery this spring. A nurse was kind enough to take a family photo for us, my mom and her husband, my husband, myself, and Daniel decked out in a Santa hat and booties enjoying his first Christmas.
My first thought upon seeing the picture was that it’s a “before” photo in an ad for a weight loss program. Granted I had a baby only five months ago and I wasn’t exactly a svelte size six to begin with, but still… I want to be an “after.”
So my word for 2008 is Exercise. Like my friend I’ll look for ways to apply it, such as parking farther from the store entrance to get in a few extra steps, take a hike around the mall before doing any shopping (without stopping for Cinnabons) and maybe even actual workouts here and there. (If I set too strict of a goal my inner demon will sabotage my efforts. “You missed yesterday’s workout so you might as well give up.”)
Do you make resolutions? Long and detailed, or focused on a single task or trait? Do you tend to keep them, or have a horrible track record? And each year by the time spring and summer roll around do you remember what resolutions you set?
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Shana Says:
I do make resolutions. In fact, I’m blogging about this tomorrow. I am a little bit anal, though, so I have to be careful what resolutions I make because come hell or high water I WILL do what I’ve resolved to do. Maybe relaxing a bit should be my resolution this year?
ladydawgfan Says:
After several years of NOT living up to my resolutions, I resolved not to make any more resolutions. However, I might try that word idea this year. It sounds like something that I might actually be able to apply, since it isn’t so much a resolution as a life application.
Now all I have to do is think of a good word . . .
Margo Maguire Says:
I like that one-word resolution idea. Keeps it simple and doable! Maybe I’ll try it.
Robyn DeHart Says:
I try to think more in terms of goals than resolutions since resolutions are notorious for failing. I usually pick a day at the start of the year where I sit down and work on business, personal and spiritual goals and then I *try* to refer back to the list periodically throughout the year - some years are better than others for this.
Shirley Karr Says:
Robyn, our crit group does that, with quarterly checkups to chart progress and adjust as needed. Works for me since I need accountability.
Today I did two 10-minute yoga workouts while baby played on his mat beside me. I feel better already!
Georgie Lee Says:
I may try the one word resolution. It’s creative and takes the pressure off of living up to expectations.
Fedora Says:
The one-word idea sounds great–makes you summarize and really focus! So my one word is prioritize, or maybe priority, meaning I want to pay attention to spending time on what really matters
Ah, big plans… 