photo © 2008 Doug Belshaw | more info (via: Wylio)
It’s January again, a season of resolutions and goals and oh, who am I kidding? If we let it, January – with all its fresh starts and expectations – can be a season of stress, frustration and even disappointment.
I mean, who really follows through on their New Year’s plans?
Lose 25 pounds.
Floss every day.
Read 100 classic books this year.
Make crafts and cookies with my children every day.
Clean my house from top to bottom each week.
Never touch another piece of chocolate again!
Okay, so maybe you aren’t quite that unrealistic with your goals (I hope not!). But I just have to ask: What are you doing to make your goals for 2011 attainable?
When I sat down to make my list of goals for this year, I filled both sides of a piece of paper. And the margins. What can I say? I have a lot of room for improvement!
But looking at that list and thinking about the steps I’ll need to take to meet each one is so overwhelming!
To read the rest of my guest post, head on over to Alli-n-Son’s blog!
As a perfectionist, resolutions are something I am always making. As a contrarian, I refuse to write any of them down in January. As a mother of three, I must to bring my lofty ideals back into into the real world, and make things attainable, as you mentioned. Last year I wrote this article called “Great Moms Do the Attainable” which can be found here. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1376077/great_moms_do_the_attainable_how_to.html
Many times I fall down flat and have to rise again. Focusing on what’s realistic and learning to laugh at myself helps keep me going forward, as do encouraging friends.
Realistic is the key, especially in this phase of life!
I decided to re-participate in a few different things this year! Hopefully I won’t fail so miserably this time. LoL
Mary, here’s what popped into my mind when I read your post. It’s an excerpt from the book, Living Life as a Thank You: The Transformative Power of Daily Gratitudes, pg. 71:
We are perfect in our imperfections; that is the secret paradox of life. What makes us perfect is the ability to grow, and we can only grow if we are not yet perfect. As long as we have some imperfections, we are participating in God’s creation.
I just wanted to share. :)
and PS, I’m not really making any resolutions these days. If it matters enough for attention, I figure I should just do the next right thing towards making whatever needs to be done a reality. That way I stay accountable in the moment and I don’t give myself and excuse to wait “until” some magic time/moment to get crackin’ on my goal.
Oh, Paula, I love that! Thank you for sharing!!
healthy is my word choice for the year 2011.
health
I was so honored to have you as a guest! You are welcome anytime.
Awww, thank you!