What New Years Resolutions

 I have seen over the last few days a LOT of people making a LOT of New Year's Eve Resolutions.  Let's take a look at this word, "resolution".  What exactly does it mean?  And why do we make them.  And most importantly, why do we not keep them.

The word 'resolution' means, "A firm decision to do or not to do something."  We make these every year and by the end of the the month, we are back to our old habits again.  We have good intentions, eat right, exercise more, stop smoking, save more, spend less, do this, do that. Why can't we stick to them?

Personally, I think it is because we set ourselves up for failure.  We set our goals so high there is no way to reach it.  Lose 100 pounds in 6 months, stop smoking in 2 weeks, save 10,000.00 this month.  Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but you get it.  If we have manageable goals, lose 5 pounds this month, not have a cigarette TODAY, and so on, make our goals more manageable, we can reach our goals.  

Now I haven't made a resolution in years.  Mainly, because 1. I am too lazy to stick to it and 2.  I am too lazy to stick to it.  However, this year I have a few.  Having a heart attack tends to make you WANT to live a little healthier, just so you stick around and irritate the people around you.  So, I resolve to not smoking, eating better and getting more exercise.  

Another reason I feel that we cannot stick to our resolutions is we have the "I want it now" mentality.  Making changes does not happen overnight.   Yes, I want to not smoke NOW!  I want to be skinny NOW.  I want to be able to run a 5K marathon NOW!    The reality is it isn't going to happen NOW.  It is going to take a life time to make these changes.  The reality is it's not a 'diet', it's a lifestyle change. Meaning, you do it for your life time.  Not just until....... 

You are going to screw up and smoke a cigarette.  You are going to eat that fat laden steak.  You are not going to run today.  Acknowledge that you messed up and start over. Don't give up.  Life is a learning game.  We make mistakes, we learn from them and move on.  Don't beat yourself up over making a mistake.  We are not perfect.  Don't expect yourself to be perfect.  And, if someone expects you to be perfect, boot them out of your life.  Those people are the ones that will bring you down.  Surround yourself with people who love and support you.  Who knows you are going to make mistakes, but doesn't make you feel less than who you are.

Is this not the cutest pup you have ever seen?  Okay, even I have seen puppies cuter than this one, but this one is mine.  My hubby brought her home last night from my nephew's house.  She is half blue healer and half Boston Terrier.  The runt of the bunch.   And, she needs a name!  Suggest me a name for this bundle of energy and have a happy, positive, New Year! 

The Page Family