A New Approach to a New Year

Take a trip back in time with me.

Let’s go back to December 29, 2019. What were you doing? Planning your outfit for the super-swanky New Year’s Eve party? Booking your family’s travels for the coming year? Looking forward seeing friends and family? Figuring out what your resolutions were going to be?

Boy, 2020 came along and smacked us but good, didn’t it?

True confession time. I used to make grand, sweeping New Year’s resolutions, and I ALWAYS failed to keep them. Always. 100% of the time. Every. Single. Year.

Because of the way my depression works, the failure of those resolutions meant (in my depression-twisted brain) that I was a failure. I couldn’t lose weight? I was obviously a loser. I couldn’t organize my mess? It was because I was a mess. My insistence on making these grandiose resolutions caused me a whole lot of anguish over the years.

This year, I’m taking the hints that 2020 served up in such a subtle manner and re-working my resolutions. I’m making one or two small resolutions. I’m giving myself the leeway to change or abandon a resolution if it doesn’t work. Here are some ideas that I’m kicking around. I haven’t decided on any yet, and if I’m honest with myself (and you, Gentle Reader), I might not make any resolutions for 2021. Crazy, I know, but I’m a wild and crazy gal!

Try vegetable gardening again
I’m not much of a gardener but growing vegetable for our table appeals to me. I might just have to have another go at it!

Walk around the block every day
I do exercise at home – yoga, tai chi, and strengthening exercises – but I hate cardio. So walking around the block seems to be a quick and gentle way to get back into it.

Drink less caffeine
I will admit that I’m addicted to caffeine. I get horrible headaches when I go cold turkey. But I think I can cut out that last cup in the late morning without too much difficulty.

Start organizing but go slowly
I’m trying to figure out how to break down organization into segments rather than trying to attack it all at once. Stay tuned!

Write a letter a month to a friend
I tend to isolate myself when I’m depressed, and this last year has taken its toll on me. I also tend to be a people-pleaser. Why not use my people-pleasing propensity to make someone else feel special? (Besides, I have a fountain pen and ink obsession, so I might as well use them, right?)

I’ve got several other ideas kicking around, too – turn off all screens an hour before bedtime, spend 10 minutes every morning simply sitting still, be nicer, be healthier, be better. However, the more I think about resolutions, the more I find myself getting caught up in the Resolution Race again, so I think I will limit myself to choosing two of the ones listed above. I will also show myself some grace if I fall off the wagon while getting right back on again.

In fact, that’s my wish for everyone in 2021. A little grace. A little forgiveness. Nothing overwhelming. Just a little happiness the whole year through.

Happy 2021, friends!