I don’t do New Year’s resolutions anymore. I haven’t for years. I’m skipping them this year too. Making resolutions every year is so, well, so 25 years ago! I’ve pretty much been making the same ones for years and years anyway, so what’s the point? Perhaps you’ve made the same ones once or twice yourself: lose weight, exercise more, eat less junk food, get more sleep, be more disciplined with my writing (among other things), get organized, blah, blah, blah…
Don’t get me wrong, I still very much care about these things, and I do still plan to work on all of them, plus a whole lot of other things. Also, I do greatly admire people who make and follow through with their New Year’s resolutions. Some people are very motivated by them. I’m just not one of those people.
I much prefer considering each day as a fresh start.
Sometimes even each hour.
(Does anyone remember that brick wall image from Weight Watchers® where you could ‘build’ your wall as you made it through each hour of the day?)
My three guide words from last year.
And it’s funny, this year I am not even choosing those three guide words to ‘live by’. I decided I just don’t want to. I still like my chosen words from previous years. I don’t want new ones.
Maybe I have an accountability problem or something.
I’m done with resolutions. I’m done with guide words for now too.
This does not mean I don’t have goals. I do.
Goals feel less restrictive, more open-ended, offer more possibility and are way more forgiving, don’t you think? So again, yes, I have goals. Lots of them.
And this year I can’t wait to share my goals for my memoir. Those will be coming soon. And my mind keeps filling with ideas for new posts. Thank goodness for this safe place to share my thoughts and yours as well.
But for now, I’ll just say again, thank you for reading and following Nancy’s Point in 2015.
I’m happy and grateful to have you along for the ‘ride’ in 2016!
Onward…
Do you do New Year’s resolutions?
Do you have guide words? (Share your post link if you posted about them or any New Year’s type post for that matter).
What’s one goal you have for the New Year?
Eileen@womaninthehat
Sunday 10th of January 2016
I feel the same way. I never make resolutions. I always have goals.
Nancy
Monday 11th of January 2016
Eileen, Well you know what they say about like minds... Good luck with your goals in 2016. I think I know what one of them might be. xx
Linda
Saturday 9th of January 2016
Loved your new book and loved this blog! No resolutions for me. They have never added anything but misguided guilt for me. Even guide words are too much! Like you, I believe I was a pretty good person before before cancer, and the best way for me to live is to start each day with new goals for that day. Or like Beth said, every hour! It's much more honest for me and positive instead of punitive. Keep writing and I'll keep reading. Thank you, and Happy 2016 and today.✌️❤️ Linda
Nancy
Sunday 10th of January 2016
Linda, Your comment made my day. Thank you!
Beth L. Gainer
Friday 8th of January 2016
Hi Nancy,
I really enjoyed this post! I also don't do New Year's resolutions (I don't remember if I ever did). I think resetting each day (or even each hour) is a great concept. I also have goals, but I have to be careful to avoid being the Type A goal-driven person I tend to be. I evaluate and re-evaluate my goals throughout each year and the trick is keeping it from becoming an obsession. My post on my guide words this year was a surprise because I didn't originally set out to write a post on those. They emerged while I was writing about my dad's broken hip.
Anyway, I'm wishing you a great 2016, and I can't wait to read the posts you write this year. :)
Nancy
Saturday 9th of January 2016
Beth, I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I don't have those worries about being a Type A goal-driven person. ha. I guess we all approach the resolution, goal setting, guide word choosing or whatever thing a bit differently motivation-wise. And how we feel about them changes from year to year too. Wishing you all the best in 2016, too, and I look forward to reading more of your great posts. Thank you for being such a loyal supporter of my writing. It means a lot.
brandie
Thursday 7th of January 2016
I completely understand! Some years I want goals, some years guide words, and some years absolutely nothing! I never set resolutions .... They seem so big and vague and I never know how to evaluate them. I did set goals last year (for the first time in a while) and it helped me stay on task - a concrete list i could look at to remember what I wanted to do. Since my brain is a sieve, I definitely needed that. But i know it's not for everyone. Its not even for people who do usually like it sometimes. I day, whatever works for you, is perfect! :)
Nancy
Friday 8th of January 2016
Brandie, I sort of fluctuate from year to year, too, I guess. I read your post about your goals from last year and how you met them, or not. I was very impressed. Personally, I still like the idea of every single day being a fresh start goal-wise because we're always a work in progress, right? Thanks for reading and commenting. I remember one of your goals was to blog more often and comment on blogs more often! :)
Rebecca
Wednesday 6th of January 2016
Hi Nancy! As you know, I don't do resolutions. I don't even have guide words although those sound way better. I am not a rebel...OK maybe a little bit. I've been struggling with things that remind me of being a "good student" of life or becoming what society expects me to be. I do however have goals and most of them are long-term. I can share a couple: 1) letting go of some level of control and 2) writing. Ah! And there's this thing that I am obsessing about called "skydiving" -- not sure if I'll ever do it but I will start with indoor skydiving this year to see if it would be something I would want to do. I mean, I really want to do it but my mind goes crazy. I feel terrible talking about it because it puts me on a spot. Maybe that's another reason I don't like resolutions.
I like what Scott said. In a way I also feel I have nothing to prove.
As always, I look forward to reading more of your posts. xx
Nancy
Friday 8th of January 2016
Rebecca, I sort of figured you were not a resolution kind of gal and btw, I think being a bit of a rebel is a good thing. Thank you for sharing a couple of your goals. Those sound like good ones to me, especially that writing one 'cuz I do love your writing. Good for you for thinking about skydiving, that is something I would never even consider! I'm too much of a coward. And too old. ha. I look forward to reading more of your posts this year too. xx