It's 2012. What does that mean to me? I quickly scan the list in my mind. Well, it means that in September, Colette will start kindergarten and Alexander will begin second grade. Colette will turn 5 and in December, Alexander turns 8! My delusional husband will turn 40 this September, whether he believes it will actually happen or not. And in October I will turn... well, whatever. Something that ends with a 2. Who's counting?
That's a lot for the last three months of the year. But what about NOW? Zach asked me the other night if I have any resolutions for the new year. I knew the question was coming, at some point, and even though I was aware of this, I didn't have an answer at the ready. Do I have any resolutions?
Well, of course I do... pretty much the same ones I have every year. Read more, eat healthier, have more date nights (with my husband, that is) and exercise more so that I can finally lose those stupid 15 or so pounds that I've wanted to lose since before Zach and I even met. Those are my standbys. But when exactly do they stop counting as resolutions and become more, say, vague hopes? And isn't saying that just pretty much giving up? Am I just deluding myself over and over again?
Resolutions used to be kind of fun. Maybe they still are for some people, I don't know. Maybe I've become old at heart and jaded that any of the resolutions will ever actually pan out. ;) Maybe I need to change my resolutions... or perhaps I just need to change how I look at them. Perhaps they don't have to be so insurmountable if you just take small steps at a time instead of attempting a huge life change all at once.
The other day, I brought up the whole notion of New Year's resolutions to Alexander. We talked about what resolve is, what resolutions are, and examples of some typical New Year's resolutions. Afterward, I asked him what his New Year's resolution might be and I waited with bated breath to hear the answer. His blue eyes glazed over a bit, looking past me. "I don't know," he said finally. "Hey, can I have a cookie?"
Well. Maybe I'll ask him another day.
Maybe they are just re-delusions by this point, but perhaps baby steps really are the way to go. Viewing instituting life changes as all-or-nothing is probably the key to failure, or at least to starting things off on the wrong foot.
That's ok. I can do baby steps. Here's a perfect example: I hear that those little snack baggies are perfect for 100-calorie snacks. You can pack it full and rest assured that you'll only consume 100 calories. Here is my first one:
So I'm excited about that. Now I mean business!
Yep. Baby steps.
