New Year's Resolutions for the "ERS"

A little work each day to reach your resolutions

If you are anything like me, every year you make resolutions and by the 15th of January (some last until the 1st of February) you are beating yourself up because everything you promised yourself has already fallen by the wayside. So this year, I propose something different. Rather than making a list of impossible absolutes, this is a list of the "ers". Follow me, now. What I'm talking about is taking baby steps, not climbing Mt. Everest. See if you can take some of these steps with me...

I will be healthiER.

I will give up at least one dessert each month. I will park further from the store, even if it is only one space and take those extra steps. I will cut back how much I drink, take a multivitamin and drink my milk. I will eat one less meal each month in a restaurant, taking the opportunity to cook something at home and eat with my family. I will do some form of exercise, even if it is only taking a few extra steps each day.

I will be kindER.

I will do one thing every few days that helps someone else, even if it is only in a small way. I saw a slogan for a local charity that read, "Small acts of kindness can change the world." I'm going to take this for a test drive and see if there is something I can do to make the world I live in a better place, even if only a little better. From complimenting the grocery clerk to thanking my husband when he does the laundry, I will appreciate that I don't live on an island and that I am very fortunate to have what I do.

I will be smartER.

I will read a book that interests me. I will take a class of some sort, be it fitness, yoga or 17th century European history and learn something that I did not know. I will remember that there is a lot that I don't know (or will ever know) and admit that other people may be right (at least some of the time). This even applies to my husband.

I will be happiER.

I will try to remember that the only way to have any sort of control in my life is to control my responses to the things that happen around me. I can plan all I want, but I must remain flexible and adapt. This will make my life easier and make it easier for me to be happy. I will smile more and not be afraid to look ridiculous. I will create space in my life for doing something that is only for me because I am just as important as the people I share my life with.

I will be toughER.

I will stand up for myself when I have to and not give in when it is the easy way out. I will say no when I have to, but I will say yes whenever possible, accepting that life has equal parts of yes and no. I will stand up for what I believe in and not allow myself to complain if I'm not willing to do anything to make the situation better myself.

I will be greenER.

I will do a better job of recycling in my own home, making sure the newspapers, glass and plastics end up in the big green recycle bin outside my door and not in the trash. I will try to make one less trip in the car, combine my errands and participate in carpools to reduce how much gas I personally use.

I will be richER.

I will establish a savings account this year, put money in it and leave it there. All those meals eaten at home should help me here. One of the strategies for quitting smoking is to put the money you would have spent on cigarettes each day in a jar and then buy something special for yourself. This is the same idea, but rather than buy something special, I'm going to remember that my future will be a lot better if I have some money put away.

See? I'm a paragon already... seriously... this does seem like a lot as I'm reading it over again, but I'm trying to remember that I have 12 whole months to do this stuff. A little each day and by the end of next year, hopefully I will have made some progress. Check back this time next year and I'll let you know how I did. Good luck with your resolutions and hopefully you will have a wonderful new year.

 

- Becky Skubish 12/10/2006