The classic December disarray has slowed into the January blues. The weather gets colder, the decorations are placed away and somehow the resolution we’ve been planning since November- eathealthier,workoutoutmore,drinkless,callmom,begrateful,keepjournal,doyoga – have escaped us. We are creatures of habit, after all. I just spent the last 3 months not caring about my carb intake so perhaps setting strict macronutrient goals for myself was a reach after all.
This particular New Year rang in a little bit different for me. I celebrated from my local hospital after emergency surgery from wisdom teeth extraction complications (not an ideal NYE but I’ve been telling people I think the holiday is overrated /anyway/ so I’ve caught a handful of karmic chaos). Luckily for me, I was still able to be surrounded by my family. Not just on new year’s but the 4 days and 5 long nights in the hospital I was showered with love and well wishes. I felt really lucky, in moments of despair and pain, to have hands to hold. A grand reminder that during the holidays, our health and happiness are important and must be tended to with care.
While in the hospital, I got to thinking…how will I have a banner year if the first few days are stuck being poked and prodded by nurses and doctors? Resolutions, for whatever reason, tend to evoke this 365 days of unending effort. By the time December 31, 2019 rolls around – I’ll have something to REALLY be proud of. (Sort of like the diet you have to start on a Monday). After this sick stint I was thinking about calling it all off and just looking forward to the resolutions I can make in 2020. Perhaps that’s dramatic.
To understand my future "resolutions", and what I believe the key to creating achievable resolutions might be, I had to reflect on my resolutions from the year prior.
Flow 218 times in 365 - did not achieve…but definitely did MORE yoga
Presence throughout my daily life - interesting foundation but what really am I trying to say?
More calls to mom - definitely achieved (!!)
12 letters in 12 months - achieved(!!)
To begin, 3 and 4 are measurable, specific and attainable: three key features to goal and resolution writing. While number 1 has the makings of a good/fun/fresh/cute goal – attainable? Maybe not. Number 2 “presences throughout my daily life” is something I work on in a multitude of ways, but upon reflecting I know that my good habits tend to fall by the wayside during times of stress. Additionally, it’s vague and doesn’t give me a way to feel that at the end of the year – yes, I was more present.
Resolutions are exciting, new year and fresh opportunity to face the world – but if we have a goal in mind, we must wake up each day in 2019 with persistence and the knowledge that every day will by no means be perfect. This is why I believe it's important to consider our resolutions our "intentions." I set intentions monthly, look at them daily & have seen massive shifts in achievement since beginning this.
The amended version of my 2018 resolutions have become my 2019 intentions:
Yoga related
Continue flowing, take classes outside your comfort zone
Make moves to YTT -> plan for it, save for it
Presence in life
Reduce social media consumption (delete apps, set time limits)
Grateful journal
Dedicate Friday afternoons to being outside
I am continuing to call my mom and write letters, and have other, more personal intentions set for myself this year. Writing this just reminded me of how many things there are I want to do and learn, see and experience. All of this begins by the manifestation of intention.
Let’s resolve to go easy on ourselves this year and intend to live a life we are proud to share with the world.