A New Year, But The Same Old You

People face the New Year with high hopes of losing weight, exercising more and making other improvements in their lives. Frequently it results in disappointment a few weeks later when they fall back into the old bad habits. The resolution to totally avoid sugar or to lift weights every day just seems too hard to keep going. Discouraged, they berate themselves for lack of willpower. Rather than achieving a significant weight loss or developing Arnold Schwartzenegger muscles, most end up feeling like a failure.

This New Year, let’s try a resolution that might be easier to keep and helps us feel like a winner. Let’s resolve to spend ten minutes a day being nice to ourselves. All too often, we focus on the negatives and what is wrong with our lives. The start of a new year is a good time to look at what is good in life and to enjoy the things that make us feel good.

That doesn’t mean to pig out on junk food or to become a couch potato. There are plenty of activities that feel good while still being good for us. Start by making a list of things that feel good. Think of easy-to-do things that you like but seldom fit into your busy schedule. Make the list a long one, so there are plenty of choices to fit your mood or the occasion. This makes the resolution easier to keep on a daily basis.

Here are some starter ideas:
• Play a soothing song and really listen to the music and words
• Call an old friend to catch up on their news
• Soak in a bubble bath or whirlpool tub
• Light a candle and dim the lights to enjoy the flicker and glow of the flame
• Turn off the TV to romp with the kids (or a pet); tickle and chase and bounce around until everyone is breathless
• Pull out some old letters to read once again
• Call a new friend to develop a friendship
• Find a quiet spot to read a book
• Sing a song in the shower
• Take a walk to a favorite spot
• Take a ten minute nap
• Get out momentos from the prom or other special occasion to savor the memories of special times
• Make a list of the good things that have happened to you lately

Force yourself to take that ten minutes a day to do something from your list. Be nice to yourself. Put a star on your calendar or some other visible reminder that you’ve met your goal for that day. Keep it up for three weeks so it will become a habit.

Perhaps you will be so encouraged by that success that you will even feel like taking on a new resolution to lose weight or quit smoking. Maybe the craving for sugar or cigarettes won’t be so strong if you have something positive and nurturing occurring daily. It’s time to be nice to yourself.

Story ID:	1412
Written by:	Virginia Allain (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Organization:	none
Story type:	Musings, Essays and Such
Location:	Weslaco TX USA
Year:	2003
Person:	Making Resolutions