Are you planning changes in the New Year?
by Dr. Leah
Filed under Single Dads
We just can’t get that fired up to make a whole bunch of New Year’s resolutions. That’s because we’ve made resolutions up the wazoo for years, and, frankly, we never quite stuck to them past the first or second week of January.
So, we’ve altered our thinking about New Year’s resolutions. We like to think of them as “intentions.”
When International Single Mom’s recently proposed “New Month Resolutions” — versus those hefty New Year’s long-term goals — we enthusiastically nodded our heads.
Oh, yes, we like her intention to “make monthly goals I can achieve and see results on immediately.”
(Disclaimer: Sometimes even a month is a bit long. We might start with a week or even a day. One of us is trying to get more exercise. One day at a time might work the best. Don’t you agree?)
Here’s what else International Single Mom shared:
“I will be making a new resolutions on the first of the month of every month for a year. Inspired by the movie Julie and Julia to give this blog a bit more direction, and ready to get more direction in my life this is my plan for the next year. Every first, I will post a resolution for the month. It may be the same as the previous month, but I only have to commit for a month.”
On another note, a single dad wrote us this week on the topic of New Year’s resolutions.
He came up with a great idea: forget personal “resolutions.”
Instead, sit down with your kids and talk about the New Year. Try to create some shared family intentions. Decide together what you can realistically hope to “resolve” in the New Year — and how to stick to the intentions you make as a family.
We love this idea!
We’re wondering: Do you strive for new beginnings or changes in your life in the New Year?
Do you make personal New Year’s resolutions? Or, not?
Does the idea of a sit down with your kids to create shared intentions for your family resonate with you?
Other New Year’s ideas are welcome!
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Twitter @ aljolynn
I’ve always had a hard time with new year’s resolutions not because I couldn’t complete them but because it’s a bit unrealistic to me.
I took an approach much like Single International Mom – just setup goals for myself each month, quarter or whatever timeline I felt was necessary.
Though I do have a goal for the year 2010 – for my son and I to be back in Seattle closer to my parents and be independent (no assistance from the government or family). I see good things for this goal.
Anyway, I like to think back on the year and what I’ve accomplished, mistakes I’ve made, lessons I’ve learned, and the really, really happy moments.
Restless Mama´s last blog ..How do you holiday?
Twitter @ http://internationalsinglemom.blogspot.com/
This post just made my day. I’m honored that you are reading my posts, let alone referring to them on your blog. I’m glowing with happiness after a rough day.
PS- Love the new look!
Samantha´s last blog ..Connected…
I have many resolutions for the new year, first and foremost is to get a physical for the first time in a long time and work towards more balance when it comes to making time for working out. It’s looking like I will also be moving closer to my kids’ school this year and taking on a ton of work related challenges.
Most of all I’m looking forward to another year of helping my kids with schoolwork, spors, life in general, and watching them grow.
Happy New Year, Steve! Getting in better shape is likely on many of our resolution/intention lists. Sounds like moving and other work challenges will make for a busy 2010. Keep us posted on what’s going on with you.
Twitter @ newsingledad
The concept of “resolutions” is a difficult one, but I think the new year, especially this year, both because it’s a new decade, (ok, it’s not really, but it’s a new number in the tens place), and because of the abysmal year that was 2009, it’s a good time to just decide that things are going to be better.
With that said, I have a lot of work to do to help that along. So making lists, following through, spending less time avoiding what I need to do, and more time doing it, and crossing things off the list is important. 2009 was perhaps the worst year of my life. I’ve decided that 2010 will be better, even if for no other reason than “I SAY SO”.
I’m not committing to making this or that different, just deciding that all these things that have been difficult still need to get done, and now is the time to do them. Since there’s no hard and fast, “I Will Do X this year” the potential for failure is reduced. The only absolute is, things are going to be better.
Face it, we all know what it takes to make things better in our own lives. Our list of things we should be doing, when we’re doing those other things, and for me, it’s time to start getting them done.
I’m not at all certain that they will actually GET done, but making the effort to do things different is a good start, and if nothing else, it feels good to look forward, write things down, face the future, even if it looks bleak, because really, I don’t want another 2009, do you?
Newsingledad´s last blog ..The first day
Twitter @ BigLittleWolf
I do not make resolutions. I choose a verb – one that will inspire, motivate, provoke thought that feels necessary in ways that I need to evolve. I find it kinder and more practical. Resolutions typically have little to do with internal change or self-awareness. When I select a verb, I do so with great thought, and call upon it when I feel myself floundering in a situation, in too much emotion, in too many conflicting requirements for my time.
These verbs layer, one over the other as the years pass. They don’t give way; they strengthen me.
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Coffee, teeth, journal, run!
Mine usually take shape in September because I’m a teacher. However, it is seductive to try to make change in the new year.