Resolutions

Things That Went right Today:

1) Got a lizard for my 9 year old son. This could be interesting. Crickets!!! hmmm
2) Fun time shopping with my daughter and sons
3) Making apple cake for dessert later. Yum!

It's almost a New year which means it's time for New Year's resolutions of course. But what exactly is a resolution? The dictionary offers a rather lengthy explanation, but I found a few points particularly interesting

 From The Webster's online dictionary (excerpts):Definition of RESOLUTION

 - the act or process of resolving - the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones - the act of solving - the act of determining

 - something that is resolved resolution to mend my ways> - firmness of resolve

1. Synonyms: award, call, conclusion, deliverance,determination, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement),opinion, decision, verdict, courage

I had always thought of resolutions simply as goals for the new year. I suppose they are that at their base, but I think we can make them a richer experience by using the above definitions. It's important not only to set goals, but to understand WHY we are setting them. To solve a problem? Improve a skill? Help others? Until we understand and internalize the long term affects we are striving for, it is difficult to figure out where to start and how to arrive at the ultimate destinations. We need vibrant visions out ahead of us to generate the energy and excitement we need to follow through. "I want to lose ten pounds" is good...but "I want to lose ten pounds so I can fit into my sexy red dress for a Valentine's dance, improve my cholesterol count, and have more energy to play with my 4 year old son"...that's better. More complete. Focused on positive benefits rather than the difficulty of the weight loss process. Take it even further in your mind and really picture yourself dancing at the dance and getting down on the floor playing with the children. The more clear and vital that vision becomes, the more power it will have to change behavior and break through old patterns and habits. We might even set different goals altogether if we take the time to understand what is truly motivating our hearts and spirits currently. What we deeply want and need out of life. Who we most desire to become. It's also very important to make our resolutions realistic and attainable in baby steps. When goals are too long term or gigantic in scope, we are more likely to burn out in the first lap rather than finish the race. So it is wise to break broader outcomes into smaller achievable pieces that we can tackle one at a time. I love checking off the boxes and congratulating myself for many small successes along the way. It helps me keep pressing forward and feeling proud of how far I have come, as opposed to becoming discouraged by the work I still have ahead of me. Ponder the above ideas and how they could apply to your resolutions for the coming year. See if anything new makes sense when considered in a different context. I'm still working on my goals list. Trying to make it manageable. I have a tendency to want to charge in and do everything at once so I have to pace myself.

I'm grateful today for the lessons I have learned from the joys and trials of 2010, and for the hope and anticipation I feel for all the upcoming year could bring for my family. Each new year feels like a bit of a rebirth. An opportunity to start over, reflect on our strengths and blessings and determine where our lives could use some fine tuning. It's a beautiful gift this life we have been given to live.  I believe that we should never stop dreaming and reaching to make the next year even more fulfilling and wonderful than the last.