I've come to the realization that resolutions are merely wishes unless there is a detailed plan involved to actually make them likely to succeed. I'd like this year's resolutions to be more than wishful thought, so I've been reflecting upon what I'm really willing to resolve to do - meaning what I am willing to tell the world on what goal or desire that I'm ready to effect some detailed, day-to-day plan.
What I really need to do to make my life better is to reduce stress, to find more joy, to be at peace with what 'is' rather than to be anxious about what 'might be'.
I need a plan. I think I'll start with changing my attitude about what I can control. Then I need to change my expectations about what is realistic. I am making a list of what create my anxiety - like clutter, like flabby thighs, um . . . hurricanes and tsunamis are on the list, and so is post-Christmas credit card bills.
There things I can control and some I have limited or no control over. I'll start with praying. I've heard that "giving it" to God helps. I've been too much of a control freak to trouble God with this stuff. My friends say it's about time I walk my faith in this matter. Perhaps God has a perspective about the things that I worry about. I think I'll put this on my prayer page for a few weeks or months and see what happens!
Ultimately, what I'd like to be able to do is to let go of the things I have no control over and quietly and without resentment do what I can with the time and energy I have to reasonably have some effect on the things I can control.
It's just a thought, but this making resolutions thing is pretty much the process of developing wisdom with age. Why can't we be this smart is our youth?
And when does our youth end? I thought I was pretty wise at 14...at 26...at 37...at 50. Will I look back when I am 80 and wonder how I could have been so out of it at 67? If we go by amassed wisdom to gage age, some of the girls with whom I attended grade school were pretty old--and some of us at my age are pretty young (which is definitely not a compliment!) Each of us must stumble down our own road; but, I came to believe at age 37 that much of wisdom lay in simplification. I'm still trying to apply that to my life. Good luck in your quest!
I'm slowly working my way that same direction. The word "simplify" must be one of the most used words in my vocabulary these days.
Give it up, sissy.....and see if you don't enjoy the simpler life.