How About Those New Year's Resolutions?

     
        Last year I said, I wasn't going to make any New Year's Resolutions. I didn't. I tried to be a better person throughout the year. I believe I was successful. My resolution was to make a series of small goals throughout the year and keep them. Did I do that? Did I keep them? Well there is always room for improvement.

      There is something magical with the thought, that tonight at Midnight. Everything is erased and we get a brand new book to write our stories in. Let's think of life this way. Instead of once a year. Every night at midnight, no matter what we did the previous day. We get a brand new blank page to write our stories in.

      Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes in it? ~Lucy Maude Montgomery

      That quote is somewhere in one of my favorite books, Anne of Green Gables. Anne had gotten her bestest friend in the whole entire world, Diana drunk. She mistook the port wine for strawberry cordial. Or did she mistake the strawberry cordial for port wine? Well that is not important. What is important, she made a big mistake and was able to rebound from it. The mistake had consequences. Diana's mother thought she was an evil trouble maker bent on destroying her daughter. For a long time Diana was forbidden from having any contact with Anne. You see, even when we make mistakes there are consequences. When it isn't a mistake and we choose to do something willingly. There are consequences. The good news is that we are able to learn from mistakes or choices and turn our lives around.
 
      We are free to choose our actions, but we are not free to choose the consequences. ~Stephen R. Covey

      In life and everything else choose wisely.

      I am not going to make resolutions. That is so intangible and seems so unworkable. I am going to choose to make small goals. Whether you choose to make small goals or resolutions. If you slip up, try again. If you don't give up. Even if you have a few set backs. You are still working at your goals. Even if you are running slowly, you're still lapping everyone on the couch.

      It also helps if you think of your resolutions, or small goals. If your resolution is to lose weight and exercise. That is rather vague. It seems insurmountable. Break it down into small and doable goals. I will talk to my doctor. Find an exercise plan that he or she approves. Then I will work on losing five pounds. And then I will work on losing five more pounds, and then five more pounds, etc.

     If your goal is to lose weight and exercise. I highly recommend Spark People. I will no longer recommend that other weight loss plan with two W's in their name.

     My small goals, in 2016
      ~ Run, actually run, in three 5ks
      ~ Start training for a half marathon
      ~ Make better food choices everyday of the week

 Make 2016 your year! And be Fabulous!

Vintage Schwinn exercise bicycle. My best and worst friend!
 

PS. I rung in New Years 2014 watching Downton Abbey. I rung in New Years 2015 watching Downton Abbey. Guess what I am going to do New Years 2016? Watch NCIS, well maybe a little. There is a marathon on the USA Network. I guess I will also watch Downton Abbey

New Year's Eve and Resolutions

     I have already decided. I am going to spend this New Year's Eve at home. Quietly reflecting on this past year, 2013. Okay really, I have no life. With no fancy party or parties to attend. I just heard on TV that only 14% of people go to parties, so that means I am in good company.  And I know that going to bed well before midnight, is exactly what will happen.

(Update: I spent last night binge watching Downton Abbey. I love that series. How did I miss out on it for so long? Now I have to watch all three seasons so I will be caught up by Sunday)

       I sort of wish I had somewhere to go. Getting dressed up is one of my favorite things. For some strange reason, on New Years Eve, everyone drinking age is expected to get hammered. I choose not to drink for religious reasons. So that makes most of the New Years parties over priced. I went to one a long time ago. Spending $99 with the promise of a buffet. The Buffet was fettuccini Alfredo, grocery store rolls and broccoli. And the "buffet "was only open for an hour. I just cannot eat $99 worth of pasta, rolls and broccoli in an hour. Turns out the "buffet" was all you could drink alcohol. And that doesn't really appeal to me. I don't find being drunk, falling down drunk, hung over, or vomiting fabulous.

     Every year I make New Year's Resolutions. Doing a pretty good job of keeping them. My grade on keeping resolutions is about 75%. The only resolution where there is trouble is eating more fruit and vegetables. That is one resolution I really want and need to keep.

     I know that many people have given up on making resolutions. In thinking of the many reasons people don't keep their resolutions. Perhaps there is an all or nothing mentality? Or the goals are too hard to obtain or even stick with? If one makes a resolution to eat better and messes up one or two days, all is not lost. Or if you plan to exercise and you miss a day. Then get back in the saddle and do not give up.  It's never failure until you give up. Messing up and then readjusting and trying again is a learning experience.  If we fall down seven times, we must get back up eight.

     Now I know that you all have been waiting with baited breath. To hear my resolutions. Drum roll please.....nah just kidding.  Well here they are.

1) Read the Bible and Pray everyday
2) Eat one fruit and one vegetable a day, conquer my food nemesis
3) Exercise for 30 minutes, six times per week
4) Do my hair and makeup every day working on looking my best and most fabulous
5) Spend an hour a day becoming organized
6) Stay organized once I have become organized
7) Work on piano lessons at least 30 minutes a day six days a week

      Blogging every couple months about my resolutions will keep me accountable. I have a feeling that the whole veggie thing is going to be the hardest. Next hardest is becoming organized. Being a creative soul, it is really hard to put things in their proper place. It will be really hard to read my Bible everyday. Bible reading is just really hard. I can read and comprehend Jane Austin and Charles Dickens really hard books, but Bible reading goes in one ear and out the other. Will be working on concentrating.

     There is just something so wonderful and promising about a brand new year. Making plans to work on your life and improve it. And that is why I find New Year's Resolutions fabulous!

Happy New Year!

**Note: Don't began any exercise or diet program. Or make any health goals without first consulting your doctor.