Spot of T - ‘Resolve to Absolve’
Congratulations, you made it through another year! Here we are, in 2020. For many, last year may have been a bumpy road on this journey of life, myself included. First and foremost, pat yourself on the back for getting through the fog of 2019 and into the hopefully sunny skies of this new year.
You have undoubtedly considered making some new year’s resolutions. Most people do. It’s a new beginning, right? A clean slate. What have you resolved? To exercise more? To lose weight? To quit smoking? All noble resolutions. The problem with resolutions like that, however, is that they are open ended. In my experience, people have much more success if they shave their goals down a bit. Never is a long time.
Maybe a better resolution would be to go one week without eating between meals or one week without smoking. Too daunting? Then make it one day. And at the end of a successful day, celebrate your small victory! Again, pat yourself on the back. You did it! OK, now how about one more day? You can do it! Start small and build on it. And take each day as a victory. Celebrate, because you are awesome!
Resolutions do not have to be so profound as those listed above. Here’s one we can all relate to: Limit your time on social media. Limit your time in front of the TV. Put down the electronics and look around. You have a family or friends around you. Here’s a novel thought – have a conversation with them IN PERSON.
We have all been guilty of texting someone who is literally in the next room, and yes, I am in that group as well. Getting up, taking a few steps, is a much better idea. I have recently renewed my desire to get my goal number of steps on my Fitbit. This has made a big difference in the way I do things. Each time I hit a certain number of steps, it is a small victory. Any victory, no matter the size, is still a victory.
By the way, a resolution can be anything. even just getting through the day. If you are going through a tough time, perhaps the most you can muster is to make your bed in the morning and survive the day. That’s ok. We all have those times in our lives. Keep your chin up. It may feel like you are in a perpetual winter, but I promise, the flowers will bloom again. One step at a time, one day at a time. Each day you hang in there is yet another victory.
I remember one year I decided to give up procrastination. Sound easy? Trust me, it was a tough one! But it did inspire me to get more done. Taken one day at a time, it is indeed a noble effort. There were no dishes left in the sink, there was much less clutter lying around the house. Dirty clothes went directly in the hamper, and my daily tasks got done. From that experience, I did pick up some good habits. I am more likely to face chores and to-do lists with more fervor. I learned to take pride in each accomplishment, to savor the joy of completed tasks.
Do I have my lazy days? You better believe it! But I can easily justify them by making my goal for the day to relax. Yes, that is a very valid and noble resolution!
Ultimately, resolutions are very personal and should not be made as a result of pressure from anyone else, or from a feeling that you are not good enough. You ARE good enough, just the way you are. I realize that sounds a bit like Mr. Rogers, but that man had it 100% right. So, in this time of soul searching and a quest for self-improvement, just keep that in mind.