New Years Resolutions
I am not a big believer in New Years Resolutions. Actually I’m lying, I love setting resolutions. I love looking ahead at a new year, new possibilities. It’s like a clean slate where you can wipe away the destruction of the previous year and enter into this space that is filled with optimism and hope.
My 2019 Resolutions!
Laugh Every Day. I will take the time to enjoy laughing at myself, laughing with my friends and laughing at the many qualities that parenting gives. I will laugh when I am having the best of times and then I will remind myself on the bad days to just let go of the stresses and make room for a little laughter.
Experience Everything. I need to bring perspective into my world. My life is pretty awesome and I have a lot to be thankful for. I am going to appreciate all that is in front of me. I am going to experience everything as best as I can, both the good and the bad. Even the bad moments deserve the experience. A lot of lessons can come from allowing the bad moments to be experiences also. But more importantly, I want to take the time to really experience the little moments, the relationships, the sunsets, the deep breaths and my favorite rap song.
Have no regrets. I don’t want to spend my year regretting what I should have done or could have done. I also don’t want to spend time thinking about what I shouldn’t have done or said. This is me and this is my life. And no one is in control of my life but me. I need to take ownership of the person I am and the person I am becoming.
Those are my resolutions. They are simple and I am hoping they will help me grow into a better version of myself over the next 12 months. I hope that they will help me slow down as I speed up. I hope that they will help me find my breath when I’m going hard. And I hope that they will help me set a good example to my minis on how to be the best version of yourself, even when you don’t always do the right thing or the best thing.
If you are someone who likes to look ahead and set resolutions, look at what is right, not what is wrong. When you reflect back on your 2018, don't look at your failures, or the things that didn’t get accomplish, don’t set resolutions based on shortfalls. Instead, build off of the person you already are. The best way to do this is to take a peak backwards. Look back on the year that has passed and reflect on everything that went right. Give yourself high fives and a lot of them. High five yourself for going to the gym on those days when all you wanted to do was stay in bed or be home with a glass of wine. Give yourself a high five for being a friend when someone really needed you, even if it meant sacrificing time with your family. Start throwing high fives for opportunities you took and relationships you mended, for forgiving and forgetting, for late nights and early mornings. And especially give yourself a double high five for all that is right with your partners and kids. Don’t spend time thinking about what you could have done or should have done.
Resolutions should be about becoming a better version of who you are, not in comparison to someone else or someone else’s resolutions. Enjoy the little things and find happiness in them. Hand write letters, walk with friends, get outside and spend time with people that matter. Make your resolutions reflect the person you are and the spark that will light you into the new year. Your resolutions should set you up for successes, not failures.
So as the New Year settles in, take a deep breath and honor the person that you are today. Build your resolutions on the positive aspects of the person you are, not the person you wish you could be. This is the time when our minds and our bodies are tired of the over indulgences and temptations. They are ready to get a clean slate and start fresh. Fill that space with the person that smiles and bring the best you into 2019.