by Dan Price
The New Year is fast approaching, which is never a bad thing. A New Year can come with positive change and fresh air to reinvigorate the mind, body, and soul. This power of positive change is harvested annually into the New Year's Resolution.
Ah, the New Year's Resolution! Some resolutions are sturdy, like concrete, carved out of wood, and totally unbreakable. These resolutions are forged in fire by rock climbers, winners of decathlons, and survivalist experts. My imagination (not an actual fact) assumes those amazing, over-achieving folks would have resolutions such as scaling Everest, running two marathons back to back, and being able to hold my breath under water for five whole minutes… you know… just in case.
Then, there are the rest of us: the doers, the tryers, and the sometimes trip over our own two feeters. Our resolutions are quite different. Some are switching from ice cream to frozen yogurt. Others aim low and resolve to stub their toe less. But for those who are going big, those folks make sweeping declarations about diet overhaul, a more stringent exercise program, and being better about frequent shopping sprees on Amazon, only to see those declarations fizzle into the ether. We're the underdogs of self-help!
But here's the thing: we don't have to be!
Anything daunting can be overcome with two small words: baby steps. A small step here, another one over there, and you made your goal. And that is impressive, considering the size of a baby's foot! But those small steps add up into a more significant step, and once you get a few big steps towards your goal or new year's resolution, that task/that lousy habit doesn't look so big anymore. You can soon push past anything and stay strong; your body is ensconced with indomitable will. Very cool, right?
And New Year's Resolutions are often misunderstood. This "Oh, I broke my NY resolution. Maybe next year!" mentality never wins the race. No one who ever really achieved anything gave up after the first failure. Look at Robert Kearns, the guy who invented the intermittent windshield wiper. His patent stolen by one of the big three automakers in the US, and he went to court and eventually got his due. I'm just saying perseverance is key!
At this time, I have yet to give much thought about my 2023 resolution, but I am leaning towards removing sweets from my diet, minus the occasional bottle of Coca-Cola to go along with tacos. I don't know how I will do it, but I do know how I will attack it. If I slip and go all in on a king-sized Snickers, tomorrow is another day, and I will get up on the horse rather than wait till next year to try again.
If you are unsure about having a new year's resolution or don't know what to give up/improve upon, here are a few more popular and attainable goals for 2023, according to parade.com:
• Focus on a Passion, Not the Way You Look
• Work out to feel good, not be thinner.
• Stop gossiping.
• Do Random Acts of Kindness
• Read a book a month.
• Go someplace you've never been.
• Clear out the clutter.
• Volunteer.
Where does that leave us? At a metaphorical fork in the road. To resolution or not to resolution? I think the choice is simple… take the resolution. Even if you don't tackle something gigantic like quitting smoking, that random act of kindness is a free activity that can bring someone a lot of joy and will fill their heart just as it does yours.
And if you are going hard with your 2023 resolution, more power to you, and I salute you! It takes a big person to fill those shoes and step up, whether in baby steps or long strides.
To quote Neil Armstrong, "It's one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind." That's you. You're basically Neal Armstrong. Bravo!
So go forth, whichever side of that metaphorical fork in the road you decide to take. But whichever way you go, have fun, be kind and put a little swagger into it.
Have a happy new year, gang!