Resolutions ~ To make or not to make...that is the question

I am sitting here at 11:46 pm on December 30th thinking about why do we make New Year's Resolutions. I am sure you all know what a New Year's Resolution is and the meaning. Well, I googled it and here is what popped up. A New Year's resolution is a decision to do or not do something to accomplish a personal goal or break a habit. It comes at a time when people look back at the past year and make an effort to improve themselves as the new year begins. So, what does this mean to me? What does it mean to you?

Honestly, I have never understood why we make New Year's Resolutions to only break them. I have made a few in my life only to break them, so I stopped making them. I would make my resolutions to study more, watch what I eat, eat less chocolate (hard for me), to loose weight, to exercise/exercise more, eat better, and save money. That is just a few of mine I made in the past. I never kept any of them. My intentions were good and I had planned on keeping them, BUT I didn't.

I read the meaning above again and it is a wonderful gesture. Here are some key words/points I am taking from it. We set goals throughout the year for this or that and some will keep and make those goals, others won't. Go back and read - to accomplish a personal goal OR break a habit. To accomplish a personal goal, what does this mean? For me, setting a personal goal is to start with small goals. For example: I decided to start back to college and started with one class. The next semester I took two classes and the next, three. I cannot set a goal and go at it full force. I truly set myself up for failure if I do that. Are you like that?

What about a bad habit? Do you have any that you would like to work on and/or get rid of? I have a few that I would like to work on and some to definitely get kick to the curb. I get on kicks of unhealthy food and drinks that I consume. Some of you might say, "how is that a bad habit?" I do not eat the healthy foods I need to, I want all the bad stuff...bring me comfort food!!! 'HI, my name is Tonya, I am a chocoholic!' None of this is good for me (especially the older I get). I LOVE breakfast food and believe I HAVE TO have it every single morning. I am talking about biscuits, sausage, eggs, and GRAVY! Anyone hungry? I LOVE french toast and sausage and waffles! Yes, everything BAD, but OH SO GOOD!!! You know what I mean. (wink wink) Then if I could just eat chocolate for the rest of the day, I would probably be the happiest female in the world. Oh, and don't forget the sweet tea!! Hey, I am southern born and raised. What are some of the bad habits you would like to work on? I know these are obvious, but it might help at least one reader checking out my blog.

We don't necessarily have to make New Year's Resolutions to accomplish goals or kick bad habits. I want to challenge you (and myself) to really reflect over this past year of 2020 to see what we would like to see change. Is there something you have been wanting to achieve, but just didn't have the initiative, this drive to put it in motion? Oh boy have I been there on more than one occasion. Sometimes our goals might cost some money. Remember, set small goals at a time. If you can, save the money needed as you can. Set realistic goals, that is a very important step to remember and to begin with. I feel it is the same for kicking a bad habit, small steps in the beginning and work your way to telling it to kick rocks!

2020 has not been a good year for most everyone I know. I challenge you to set REALISTIC goals and a game plan to kick that bad habit. If you would like to share with me of making New Year's Resolutions, I would LOVE to hear them.

Here are a few examples of the way I see New Year's Resolutions.

Weight loss: start a goal of making the 10 lb mark. Once that goal is met, set another for another 10 lbs. So on and so forth.

Reading the Bible: I suggest beginning in the New Testament with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Psalms and Provides are great to read next. This is especially if you are just beginning to read the Bible. I haven't read the Bible from front to cover because the old testament is difficult to read. That might just be me. I would love to read the entire Bible and have set it as a goal before. I crashed and burned that goal.

Exercise: If you are just beginning after being a couch potato (like me), small steps at a time. Begin walking for 15-20 minutes, 3 days a week. Then challenge yourself to increase the speed, time, and days of the week. This works for any type of exercise.

Learn something new: it is always exciting to learn something new. Set a goal to learn something new in 2021. What you may ask. Learn to paint, swim, ride a bike, basket weave, cook, dance, yoga....the sky is the limit!

Helping others: donate your time to help in a soup kitchen, cook for someone who is sick and can't cook for themselves or their family. Offer to walk someones dog that isn't physically able to do it. Go grocery shopping for someone who can't go. Just offer your time to help someone in need.

Need to quit smoking: small steps remember. I am not a smoker, but I remember when my mom quit cold turkey. She never picked up another cigarette all over a bet with my daddy. I don't suggest quitting cold turkey, it was hard.

Challenge:

Reflect over 2020. I mean really think back to the beginning and work your way to today. Write down some goals you would like to set then mark them in order and begin with number 1. Do the same for kicking that bad habit. Some of you may want to do both. That would be AWESOME! Just make two separate list. Put those thinking caps on and get to work on those goals! Let us party like it is 1999! I am ready to see 2020 in the rear view mirror, what about you?

It comes at a time when people look back at the past year and make an effort to improve themselves as the new year begins.