You Say You Want a Resolution

res·o·lu·tion

ˌrezəˈlo͞oSHən/

noun

1. 1.

   a firm decision to do or not to do something.

   "she kept her resolution not to see Anne any more"

   synonyms:

   intention, resolve, decision, intent, aim, plan; More
2. 2.

   the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter.

   "the peaceful resolution of all disputes"

   synonyms:

   solution to, answer to, end to, ending to, settlement of, conclusion to

Yep...it's THAT time of year folks.  Time to make grandiose promises that we won't keep that will only serve to make us feel like failures on 12/31/14.  Why do we do that to ourselves?  Because it's TRADITION.

Well...that's a tradition I can do without thank you very much.  As you can see, no where in the above definition does it say... 

3.  a promise made in the emotion of the moment (i.e. the turning from one year to another) that is so big and so impossible you toss it aside by the 6th day of the New Year.

Doesn't say that at all now does it?

Every New Year's Day I'm filled with the promise of new resolutions made only to be thwarted by leftover cake, well meaning relatives or just plain stress of life.  I've had some success in my 52 years around the sun.  One year I promised to wear my seat belt while driving (before it was the law) and I followed through.  The next year I promised to wear it whether I was driving or a passenger and I followed through yet again.  Yay me!

I quit smoking as the result of a New Year's resolution.

I quit drinking as the result of a New Year's resolution.

Other than that, my track record sucks.  I have vowed to lose weight every New Year's since I hit puberty.  Let's be clear, it's only been in the last 10 years that I actually needed to lose weight, but I vowed every year regardless, only to think myself a failure when it didn't happen.

What a waste of precious time and energy.  Ugh!

So this year I'm going about this a little bit differently.  We'll call it Sherry Resolutions 2.0.

1. I resolve to practice eating cleaner and staying away from sugar as much as possible.
2. I resolve to practice meditation and/or yoga every day in order to get more in touch with my spirituality.  As an added benefit, I won't feel like such a fraud when I sign my posts, "Namaste".
3. I resolve to practice kindness at all times...even when angry, or frustrated or depressed...there is never an excuse to be unkind.
4. I resolve to practice approaching life from a place of love.  Love for every one and every thing in the universe. That includes me.
5. On a more practical note, I resolve to floss every day and not every other day the way I do now.

And that's it.  Note the use of the word practice (except for the flossing thing...I really need to do this).  Practice not perfection.  I can practice these things every day or as much as I'm able and it will all be okay.  I will be a better person this year because at least I TRIED.

Happy New Year everyone!

Namaste