Unresolved
I won't be making any New Year's resolutions this year. Truth be told, it's been years since I have made one. No, I haven't reached that elusive plane of perfection. Still plenty of room for improvement here. But it won't be starting on New Year's Day. Tempted to join me? Here's 5 reasons not to make New Year's resolutions.
1. It's a bad time to tackle anything new.
We're still celebrating the season. Why not enjoy it? Resolutions can really distract from the festivities. I had a friend who resolved to stop smoking. Fifteen minutes before the clock struck midnight, she left her guests to party on, went into her bedroom, smoked her last cigarette and cried. Happy New Year? To her credit, she did kick the habit. But did she have to miss her own party to do it?
2. It let's you off the hook.
You decide to lose a few pounds and start a diet. You go out with some friends a few days later and kill any diet progress that's been made. The resolution has been broken and you can't take that back. Why not forget about it and try again next year.
3. It's depressing.
Just coming up with resolutions can be depressing. When I was younger I couldn't stop at just one. So I'd produce a staggering list of areas that needed improvement and resolve to fix them all. Overwhelmed by this tower of imperfection, I just gave up before I started.
4. There is no magic in the day.
Everyone likes an easy fix. A weight loss pill that requires no diet or exercise? Ooh, take my credit card now. A get rich scheme that will end my financial woes. Hang on, I haven't put the card away yet. It's easy to think that New Year's has some magical power that will take the work out of our resolutions. Buying into that can be the first step towards failure.
5. Remember Mr. Rogers
When my daughter was young, she watched Mr. Rogers everyday. Her favorite part? When he told the watching children "I love you just the way you are." We find it easier to accept the imperfections of family and friends than to tolerate our own. So why not resolve to give yourself the gift of acceptance this year. That's the kind of resolution you can live with.
1. It's a bad time to tackle anything new.
We're still celebrating the season. Why not enjoy it? Resolutions can really distract from the festivities. I had a friend who resolved to stop smoking. Fifteen minutes before the clock struck midnight, she left her guests to party on, went into her bedroom, smoked her last cigarette and cried. Happy New Year? To her credit, she did kick the habit. But did she have to miss her own party to do it?
2. It let's you off the hook.
You decide to lose a few pounds and start a diet. You go out with some friends a few days later and kill any diet progress that's been made. The resolution has been broken and you can't take that back. Why not forget about it and try again next year.
3. It's depressing.
Just coming up with resolutions can be depressing. When I was younger I couldn't stop at just one. So I'd produce a staggering list of areas that needed improvement and resolve to fix them all. Overwhelmed by this tower of imperfection, I just gave up before I started.
4. There is no magic in the day.
Everyone likes an easy fix. A weight loss pill that requires no diet or exercise? Ooh, take my credit card now. A get rich scheme that will end my financial woes. Hang on, I haven't put the card away yet. It's easy to think that New Year's has some magical power that will take the work out of our resolutions. Buying into that can be the first step towards failure.
5. Remember Mr. Rogers
When my daughter was young, she watched Mr. Rogers everyday. Her favorite part? When he told the watching children "I love you just the way you are." We find it easier to accept the imperfections of family and friends than to tolerate our own. So why not resolve to give yourself the gift of acceptance this year. That's the kind of resolution you can live with.
I only made one resolution last year, to get out from under some of the myspace and facebook apps I had been playing. Until this month I had succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. Oh well, at least it's only one app, even if it is 5 times over. ~ Calico Contemplations
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