I'll Never Make Another Resolution

I used to make New Year’s resolutions but a few years back, I stopped. I realized that I never really fulfilled what I was resolute about, so was I really resolute? I really hadn’t resolved to do anything. I look at like a time of renewal. Like everything has expired and I need to decide if I want to renew or not, kind of like a magazine subscription. Did I get anything out of this practice? Do I want to renew that contract?

If it required a new year in order for me to change something or do something better, was I really ready to make that change? I have to look at this practically. Is there a bad habit that I need to give up? Is there a good habit I need to take up? Is there a way of living or treating others that I should adopt?

I have to think that many us fail miserably at accomplishing a resolution, otherwise, most of us would be perfect by now. I can’t think of a time in my life when a resolution stuck with me for longer than a month. Anything that I fully committed to was not done by making a top of the year statement – it was done because I recognized a need for change.

Several years ago, I wanted to be more fit, in better shape. I knew it would take me letting go of about 1.5 hours a day and committing to a strenuous workout routine and a change in diet. I was married, at the time, to a law enforcement officer who was fanatical about working out. He jogged 60 miles a week, lifted free weights and performed hundreds of crunches and push-ups every single day. While part of my motivation was for self-improvement, mostly it was a need to keep up – to keep up with a partner who found this type of behavior important, important enough to permanently alter his lifestyle. I made the changes I thought necessary and I stuck with them. These changes were made when I was ready.

I still live a healthy lifestyle. I try and walk every day and eat a balanced diet. But the extreme with which I initially dove into fitness, ultimately proved too extreme after a few years. I altered, once again, to fit my lifestyle. Rolling with the punches, changing as necessary, doing what is best for you or your family. These things all must be considered prior to making severe changes to which you may not even stick. I won’t be buying another elliptical machine. The last treadmill was the last treadmill. The hills around my home are my gym membership. Living to see grandchildren is my motivation.