Definition:– A resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something. The act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc. The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.
So….. come the first day of the new year did you all succumb to making the “traditional” New Year’s Resolutions for yourselves??
Hmmmm???
Did you swear never to drink that much again (or quit altogether!), lose weight, quit smoking, exercise more, get a new hair style, be nicer to your mother-in-law (or daughter-in-law!), help out at the animal shelter, get a better job, eat more nutritionally balanced meals, take up doing crossword puzzles to improve your brain functionality?????
Sound familiar? Do I detect a sense of deja vu here – like you haven’t just re-cycled this stuff from last year??? Did you cross any resolutions off last years list at all? Of what use are resolutions anyway and why do we feel we have to wait until the first day of the new year to implement all these changes we wish for in our lives? Do we have a time limit for these things to be completed or even started??
It’s like this…I want to lose 10 kilos. Really, I do! I resolve that over the next 10 years I will lose 10 kilos! There!! Is that really a resolution? Or have I put in this ridiculous time frame because I’m just lazy and I also have no resolution to actually start exercising and because of that it’s gonna take me at least the next 10 years to lose the weight!
Now, I’m not trying to rain on anyone’s parade or be “bah-humbug” – it’s just that….(here we go, I’m now pulling out the soap box and will proceed to stand upon it!! lol) – are we setting ourselves up for failure if we make a list of all the stuff we resolve to do and not put a reasonable “to be completed” date stamp on each one? Mind you – a sure fire way to fail is to have a goal of losing 10 kilos by February 1st, 2011!! That just ain’t gonna happen now is it??!!
I don’t personally believe in “New Year’s Resolutions” but I think setting personal goals are a really good idea! This is what my “resolution” list would look like……(to be read with tongue firmly in cheek!)
1. Lose 15 kilos (ok, I weighed myself again and discovered 10 kilos was a little on the low side…lol) – preferably before I am 60 and my cholesterol reaches 9.3. Start Date – NOT the 1st January, 2011!!
2. Plan more enticing and exciting ways to serve salad. Note to self: canned vegetables are not considered useful in aiding weight loss due to their high levels of sugar…even though they taste nice! I intend to be able to do 12 different things with lettuce by 28th March, 2011.
3. Attempt to eat lettuce. Without vomiting. By the 28th March, 2011. (Not sure how I’ll go with this one peeps!! I absolutely loathe and detest lettuce!!!!! Sorry to all the Lactuca sativa lovers out there!).
4. Get a new hairstyle. Oh no – wait!! I did that last year! Cross that one off…..he he.
5. Sell more beads. Well I can’t buy my own, now can I???? So that resolution will be up to you guys! Now don’t make me beg! Start date: Tomorrow!!
6. If I can’t sell more beads – get a real job! By 20th December 2015…..Yes – I AM being realistic here!
7. No more white Tim Tams! I promise by 31st October, 2011 – no more! Of course, in the meantime, I may eat as many as can be stuffed in my mouth in the one sitting…… (NOT THAT I WOULD – OK!!!!!)
8. Ok, Ok – I will start exercising! In June, 2011. It’s nice and cool then. And I will exercise in July and August as well – because it’s cool then too. Then I will stop my exercise routine in preparation for the hot weather which will last from September right through until May the following year. See – I have a plan and I am organised!!
9. I don’t like crossword puzzles – can I do Sudoku instead?? I will do at least one per day. Start date: That’ll be now ‘cos I already do that! he he
10. I will learn to meditate. Starting from next week.
11. I will “encourage” my son to wash up every second night (at least!). This will leave me more time to meditate in the lounge chair in front of the telly. Starting from next week too.
12. I will try a different brand of tea other than Bushells. Nothing fancy though. And definitely not one of those chamomile and pansy petal blendy things that smells like crushed dandelions and parrot droppings! (Please don’t take offense if you happen to like this sort of fancy tea!). Start date – April 1st, 2011.
13. De-clutter. Or finish de-cluttering, should I say. Start date: Ummmm – I’ll have to get back to you on that!
And I think that will do it, don’t you?? See – I’ve allowed myself to ease into things, not too much pressure! Except for maybe the de-cluttering….I’m stressing out just thinking about that one! As my hubby says “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!!”
On that note I will leave you to ponder my musings – silly though they may be. I came across this piece on the interweb-net-thingy and it sums up my feelings on the whole resolution thing. Hope you enjoy it!
Dear Lord
So far this year I’ve done well.
I haven’t gossiped, I haven’t lost my temper, I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I’m going to get out of bed, and from then on I’m probably going to need a lot more help.
Amen
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