New Year's Resolutions
Around this time of year, a lot of people are thinking about their New Year's resolutions. We all have something about ourselves that we'd like to change or make better. Well, I hope we all do. I know I do. It's easy to make resolutions. It's easy to make lists of things we want to do- lose ten pounds, visit a foreign country, live in the moment, be happier, exercise three times a week, quit that bad habit, eat better. But really all we're doing is weighing ourselves down. I'm anti-New-Year's-resolutions. And I'll tell you why.
You can make resolutions any day you want. Why do we all wait for a new year? Why not live in the moment now? Why do you have to wait until January 1st to do that? As for exercising three times a week, or whatever it is... that's a bit unrealistic. That's like going from zero to sixty in a second. You can't expect yourself to go from sedentary to a ten-miler in a week, or even a month. You have to take it slow, make small goals. You have to say to yourself, "Okay, today I'm going to try to run a quarter mile." Once you make it that far, you amp it up to a half mile, then three quarters of a mile, and then a mile. It might take you a month to get that far but isn't that better than going out on January 2nd, trying to run a mile flat out, failing, and then marking yourself off as a failure and never trying again? Change takes time, and you have to give yourself time to make the changes you want to see in your life. Don't make New Year's resolutions, make changes. And make them now.
Another good suggestion I heard recently is to set big, general goals. You don't have to promise to go to the gym five times a week, or completely cut junk food out of your diet. Instead, promise that you'll take better care of yourself. It will be easier, more rewarding, less stressful, and ultimately more successful.
If your New Year's resolution is to be a better person... well, that can seem like a monumental goal to try to reach. But if you take it one step at a time- smiling more or saying hello to people on the street, saying "please" and "thank you", giving people the benefit of the doubt- you might be amazed that in a few weeks, being a better person comes easier to you than it ever had before. You just have to take it one step at a time, and don't beat yourself up when you don't do it perfectly. If you don't succeed, try try again.
Day Thirty-Nine Song Recommendation: "Don't Carry It All" by the Decemberists. Happy last day of December! (Also known as New Year's Eve).
-SE Wagner
You can make resolutions any day you want. Why do we all wait for a new year? Why not live in the moment now? Why do you have to wait until January 1st to do that? As for exercising three times a week, or whatever it is... that's a bit unrealistic. That's like going from zero to sixty in a second. You can't expect yourself to go from sedentary to a ten-miler in a week, or even a month. You have to take it slow, make small goals. You have to say to yourself, "Okay, today I'm going to try to run a quarter mile." Once you make it that far, you amp it up to a half mile, then three quarters of a mile, and then a mile. It might take you a month to get that far but isn't that better than going out on January 2nd, trying to run a mile flat out, failing, and then marking yourself off as a failure and never trying again? Change takes time, and you have to give yourself time to make the changes you want to see in your life. Don't make New Year's resolutions, make changes. And make them now.
Another good suggestion I heard recently is to set big, general goals. You don't have to promise to go to the gym five times a week, or completely cut junk food out of your diet. Instead, promise that you'll take better care of yourself. It will be easier, more rewarding, less stressful, and ultimately more successful.
If your New Year's resolution is to be a better person... well, that can seem like a monumental goal to try to reach. But if you take it one step at a time- smiling more or saying hello to people on the street, saying "please" and "thank you", giving people the benefit of the doubt- you might be amazed that in a few weeks, being a better person comes easier to you than it ever had before. You just have to take it one step at a time, and don't beat yourself up when you don't do it perfectly. If you don't succeed, try try again.
Day Thirty-Nine Song Recommendation: "Don't Carry It All" by the Decemberists. Happy last day of December! (Also known as New Year's Eve).
-SE Wagner
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