Why resolutions can help us move forward

Do you make resolutions for the new year? Are they always the same-get healthier, go to the gym, lose weight, save more? I find the review of the year and setting of goals for the next to be very helpful. I try to set at least one goal in different areas, which I then break down into more manageable chunks over the course of the year. I try to have goals for physical, spiritual, and mental health, financial goals, and relationship goals.

I need my resolutions to be very specific. They may carry over for a number of years until they become habits or they may last only a month or two. For example, I read uplifting material every morning when I get up. It took many years to get this established as a habit. Now, I find I need it to start my day right, so, while it is no longer a separate resolution, it is part of my standard routine.  I have increased this reading to about thirty minutes each morning.

One year, I made a resolution to stop piling stuff up on the bathroom counter. I am a clutterer and it was just too easy to make piles of things on the counter. That year, I managed to break that habit. Although I still make little piles, I also put them away more quickly than I used to. I no longer focus on that goal, but it does stay at the back of my mind. I set other goals about the house to try to give at least a little order to my day.

A few years ago, rather than eat better, I set a goal to eat more real food. I have always cooked most of the food, but now, even less comes from any kind of package. Most of the produce is fresh with just a little frozen. This change has meant that I spend less money for food and more time to prepare it. It is fresher and healthier. We occasionally try something different, like Hello Fresh, and enjoy the challenge of something different. However, hubby is not terribly fond of exotic flavors, so that is an occasional treat.

When I quit working at the dance studio, I recognized that I required a regular workout routine in order to feel good. Over the years, I have also realized that this helps me to maintain my mental health as well. What the routine is changes, but trying to work out at least 5 days each week does not.

My current workout goals are: MWF-weights followed by dance, yoga, and pilates routines; TTS-full body workout routines also followed by dance, yoga, and pilates routines. These all work on strength, cardio, and flexibility. As a result, in many ways, I am stronger and more flexible than twenty years ago. 

I do not wait until January 1 to make a change or set a goal. During the course of the year, if I see an area where I would like to make a change, I try to work on it. However, as the year changes over, I find it helpful to assess my progress and which resolutions should continue, which need some tweaking, and which need to be discarded.

I find the process of self-assessment and review very helpful. If I am honest with myself, I can see where I have made progress, where I need to focus, and can move forward in an optimistic frame of mind. As a result, the years only keep getting better. May 2016 be your best year yet.

Holiday season reflections

The end of the year is often a time of reflection. We think about those we love as we try to determine what would be a perfect present. We attend holiday parties-and try not to gain too much weight as we enjoy holiday treats. Many of us spend time considering what we have accomplished and what we plan for the upcoming year.

How did I do? Well, I continued to write and finished two books and have much done on a couple more. Did I finish all I hoped? No, not even close, but I truly enjoyed the journey.

We managed to accomplish a few things around the house. i am pleased at those and excited for some remodeling that is coming soon. Once again, not everything got accomplished, but progress was made.

I offer a great deal of service at church. I am doing the best I can, but as in other areas of my life, I cannot do all I would like. However, I am pleased at the effort and growth. Service offers much opportunity to grow.

I taught a lesson at the beginning of this month about examining our lives and finding areas in which we can simplify. for us this year, I chose not to send out Christmas cards to people who are also friends on Facebook. Although I love cards, trying to get them done can get stressful. So, we sent very few this year.

Holiday traditions can become overwhelming. For years, we have received new sleepware on Christmas Eve. However, we both have all that we need. So now, we simply wrap something we already have and open that on Christmas Eve. We've modified the tradition to fit our current situation.

Some years, we try to visit many family members. Other years, we stay home or visit only one. This year, we are doing some visiting, but we are keeping the visits short. It is not that we do not want to see everyone, we are simply trying to simplify our lives.

I see people complaining about the commercialization of Christmas and the need to put Christ back into Christmas. This is not a new complaint. Since the Catholic church co-opted the pagan solstice celebrations, Christmas celebrations have been only peripherally been about worship. They started as big parties and continue in that tradition. This tradition is why the Puritans banned the celebration-it wasn't about worship at all. The secular tradition is an important to the history of Christmas as the religious is. Given the dichotomy of our world, that is probably as it should be.

Any celebration that causes us to reflect on the blessings in our lives is truly reason to celebrate. I love Christmas music and am grateful that every year, more is written and performed. I love it, from medieval to modern, classical to big band to rock and almost everything in between. For me, it is an affirmation of my belief in a Savior and the hope that brings for the future. However, I also appreciate the other seasonal celebrations as well. 

I love that we can celebrate Thanksgiving as a prelude to a holiday which causes me to feel so well-blessed. Life is a wonderful blessing, even with all of its challenges, messiness, and difficulties. At this season, I am grateful to look back on the journey as I plan for where I would like to head in the coming year. I plan to finalize a few resolutions to work on in the coming year before the end of the month. I do this each year as I take stock, but do not limit my ability to make changes in my life only to this changing of year. As I see an opportunity to make a change, I try to start then. Resolutions to me are goals that help me see the direction I would like to take.

I hope your holiday season is full of love and fun and that 2016 is your best year yet.