How Are Those New Year's Resolutions Going?

There are many things in life that I just never really got. New Year’s resolutions are one of those things. Growing up, no one in my family did anything like that. That is a long story for another day, but if you knew me, you’d know.

I can remember in elementary school the teacher talking about them and explaining them. I think we might have even had to write one down, but that was a long time ago, so I may be remembering incorrectly. The whole idea of it to me just seemed silly.

I have always believed, why wait until an arbitrary day to make a change if it’s something I want to do? Every day is a day to grow, and those days are limited, to say the least.

Back when I was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer is when I decided to do better with my health. Did I jump straight into it completely? Of course not! I did try to be more conscious of making better choices, though.

I did decide to get much more serious about exercise. That waited until I recovered from surgery. I wanted to allow myself some time to grieve the fact that my body failed me in a way. Knowing what I know now… I am very fortunate it wasn’t worse.

I didn’t want to get started and then have to step back while I recovered and didn’t know what further treatment I would need after the surgery.

The point is many of the people who have made New Year’s resolutions have likely already fallen off that bandwagon by now. We all owe it to ourselves to take care of ourselves now. To grow as a person now. Not wait until another day.

For me, change is a more gradual process. It’s not a matter of one day waking up and deciding to exercise or quit drinking. I feel like a New Year’s resolution would just set me up for failure, and I feel that’s exactly what it does for most people. We have all seen the people who show up January first with all new workout clothes, and that only lasts a week or two.

A better way to look at it would be to think about the whys. Why do I want to lose weight? To look better. Maybe to be healthier. Why do I want to quit drinking? Because it’s poison and awful for me. I just chose these examples because they are common ones. Drinking is something I can give or take. Sure, I enjoy a good drink or a cold beer, but life is the same without it. I have been trying to be reasonably healthy but still enjoy unhealthy food for well over a decade now.

I wish you success with your changes if you are actually serious about them.