BY KIM HUGHES – COUNTY AGENT -FCS
Did you notice I did not say “New Year’s Resolutions?” How many times have you made New Year’s Resolutions, only to fail to meet your high expectations, and then feeling bad about yourself? There must be something “wrong” with you if you can’t follow through on improvements you know you need to make in your life. There is nothing “wrong” with you! If you are like me, you just set your expectations too high and make ones that were impossible to keep. If it was easy, you would already be doing it, right?
Let’s look at the word “intentions.” This means something you intend to do, but does not have the negative connotation as does the word resolutions. It is not as harsh, and indicates you will try to make changes. Over the past year, I have found that this works a lot better for me. One example is that by simply eating healthier and exercising almost daily, usually walking, has led me to lose several pounds. If a piece of cake was offered and I wanted it, I would eat it, and not beat myself up for “failing” to keep promises that I would never eat anything sweet again. This is just not realistic; at least not for me.
Over the holidays, I had a lot of things I wanted to accomplish, but I also knew I would not be able to get them all done. I made my usual list of what to do every day and actually crossed off most of the items for the first day. But after that, plans went downhill! It’s a little hard to burn branches in the rain, and there sure were lots of things in my house I needed to go through. I sometimes wish I was the kind of person that can throw away a pile of magazines and papers that have been there for a year or more, but I just can’t make myself do it! There might be something I really need in there, or some special recipe that I can’t do without!
Some of my jobs are ongoing and I knew I wouldn’t be totally finished, but I did actually get a lot done. Now I am back to work at the Extension Office, still intending to accomplish some of my jobs on weekends. But, you know, I’m not beating myself up for not getting more done. I’ve found it’s better to appreciate accomplishments and not dwell on things left undone.
Happy New Year!
About Author
Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.
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