I often start resolutions at off times. In the middle of December I started to focus on exercising regularly, eating a healthier diet, and waking up earlier in the mornings.
December is a challenging time to start such a program, what with the fancy foods and strange holiday schedules, and not surprisingly I failed to keep my new commitments. But succeeding is less about being perfect than it is about recovering from setbacks, so I consider it a win that I’ve gotten back on track.
A resolution that tempts me is to play piano every day. I’d also like to write a blog post every day though, and to play with my cats a little each day, and to get back in touch with friends. To draw every day. To clean a bit of my house and garage each day. I can think of another few daily resolutions that appeal to me too.
If I try to do them all, I can’t succeed. More than that, I don’t believe I can even keep picking myself up and trying anew on all of them.
So my real resolution for 2009 is to keep myself from taking on so much. Fewer, better.
I am going to do that blogging every day thing though.
Here’s to a simpler and more wonderful 2009 for us all.
(Photo credit: To the horizon, originally uploaded by cynthiacloskey.)
I think you nailed it with recovering from setbacks more than not breaking a resolution at all. You’re way ahead of me on that part, so kudos for going back to your goals in spite of the holiday distractions!
Hope you had a great New Year’s!
I can relate to so much in your post. Back-to-school time is usually when I start new goals. I have always been poor at setting New Year goals and resolutions. Setting them is almost a sure-fire way to ensure I do NOT do them. So in the last year or two I’ve taken to identifying a theme for the year, stated something like: “This will be a year of _____.” And it’s worked. Your resolution of “a year of fewer, better” is a great theme! (I hope to post about mine today.)
p.s. I, too, have a piano that doesn’t get played!