I once defiantly proclaimed that I disliked New Year's resolutions; I found them to be cheesy and flighty. I found myself unmotivated to keep up with them much past mid-February. So, I made the same two resolutions every January - to lose weight and learn to relax - and found myself an out-of-shape basketcase by the time March blew in like a lion. What do they say again about history repeating itself?
But this year, I'm going to make resolutions that focus more on personal growth - learning from the lessons 2011 taught me - instead of changing who I am or what I look like.
In no particular order, I hope to:
- Teach my children - through example - about the importance of community service. When I was in high school and college, this was an intrinsic part of my life; rarely a week or two went by when I wasn't engaged in helping others in some way. Since becoming an "adult," I've started to help my community by using my treasure (aka money) instead of my time or talents. This year, I'd like to donate more of my time to the organizations and causes that are so important to me.
- Find a passion. Over the years, I've had a lot of them - swimming, dancing, reading, writing, just to name a few. I'd say I'm passionate about exercising, but that's like saying you're passionate about cleaning toilets. Really? Really? No one is passionate about something that mundane, no matter how much you might like to think you are. I'd love to take up piano again, but not only do we not have a piano in our home, we don't have the space or the money for one. Hmmm...
- Deepen my friendships. In the years previous, I'd been accused of preferring a large quantity of friends above having quality friends; in 2011, I realized that - in many ways - that accusation was very much true. I learned who my deepest, dearest, can't-live-without-you friends really were (and who they weren't) and learned that a small circle of best buddies is better than a large gathering of people who are friends in name only.
- Spend less time online. Yeah, I know, this isn't really a "personal growth" type of goal on the surface - it's much more about changing my woebegone ways. But if you look a little deeper, it really is about growing as a person. That's because the Internet (did you know the "I" in Internet should always be upper case? It's true!) takes up way too much of my time: time that would be better spend with my children, husband and friends. I feel like if I could separate myself from my gadgets more often, I'd have more time for things... things like personal growth!
So what are your goals, resolutions, aspirations for 2012?
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Good luck with your resolutions!
I don't know -- I'm passionate about yoga and that's kind of like being passionate about exercise, right? Then again, yoga is also part mental and spiritual in a whatever-you-believe-in kind of way whereas exercise is mostly all physical.
Making room for my heart & soul to find peace... I guess this means, I'm working on turning my worries & dreams over to God.
We share so many thoughts. Though I don't like to call them resolutions because I would rather think of them as "ways of life". I just want to live life without regrets. I hope to also "unplug" more... thinking about giving up social media for lent. But I'm glad I'm in your circle of friends! :)
You can be passionate about living a healthy lifestyle rather than "exercise." I recommend knitting ;-)
And the unplugging thing-- I hear ya on that one.
Happy New Year!
Jeni, you are at the CENTER of the circle!
Jill, I see a differentiation between yoga and the elliptical trainer. The mental part of yoga practice totally makes it passion-worthy (and it's a passion I share, I just don't have enough time for!).
Ali, I love your resolution. Jesus, take the wheel!
I totally agree with stepping away from the Internet... I really, really enjoy a break from technology every now and then. It can be such a distraction from what really matters and deserves our attention.
I always think it's weird when autcorrect makes internet capitalized for me!
I wish I were passionate about working out.
Those are some great resolutions! This year though (which is the opposite of how I usually feel), I am not making any resolutions. Now I'm more of the bent that you used to be, thinking they are cheesy and flighty. Instead of making resolutions only at the beginning of each year and trying to stick to them, I make a "resolution" whenever I feel the need :-)
Focusing on what really matters in my life, is one of my current big "goals" I guess you'd say instead of a resolution. 2011 was the worst and most painful year of my life in some respects, but also the best year of my life in others. 2012 I feel will be the best year of my life to date, so my "goal" is to keep things moving along on that path. Put the negative and evil things (and people) in the past, hold on tight and appreciate what matters (my faith, family, true friends, helping others, happiness, etc.) and help those positive and important things (and people) flourish.