Wrapping up, moving ahead December 31, 2007
Posted by charmingbutsingle in Full of resolve, It's a strategy, Life, Listing is fun and easy, Really. Bad. Habits., Single Girl Cliches, We Get It -- You're Stressed About Getting Old.trackback
So this is resolution time.
And this year, I resolve to live a more balanced life. To save more and spend less. To eat less and exercise more. To listen more and talk less. To be more adventurous and nest less. To pray more and complain less.
To give more and take less.
Which, of course, is why I’m awake at the wee hours of New Year’s Eve morning, blogging and watching Season One of “How I Met Your Mother” when I should be sleeping in preparation for a big night out on the town or at least packing my overnight bag or shaving my legs or figuring out which flats to wear since I’ve ruled out boots given that I may or may not have seriously sprained my ankle, which has been hurting for more than a week now or really anything other than tap tap tapping on this here keyboard.
I also resolve to write shorter sentences.
Not to overdo this resolution thing or to put too fine a point on it, but I have narrowed my broad desires for self improvement in 2008 into three main goals. And not to become the Single Female Blogger version of “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” they are:
- I resolve to pause before buying (or consuming) anything (yes, fatty foods included) and ask myself, “Am I buying this to fill some imaginary void in my life or satisfy some fleeting emotion?” If so, I will put it down.
- I resolve to show gratitude for the kindness showered upon me each day by friends, colleagues, family members, adversaries (real or imagined) and strangers on the street.
- I resolve to stop hiding behind humor, sarcasm, cynicism and electronic devices and to introduce myself to two new people each month.
I’ve thought about these a lot in the past weeks. I’ve pored over my bank statements and studied my cabinets and counted my habits and I believe these goals hit on the three areas of my life that need the most improvement. I overindulge on both things and food. I let pessimism overshadow my good fortune. I hide behind a big personality and avoid reaching out to new people because I am not 100 percent comfortable in my own skin. (Believe it or not, I think the third goal will be the toughest.)
Hundreds of actions correspond with each of these goals and I know I will not succeed 100 percent of the time. But I will no longer let fear of failure and imperfection cause me to consciously (or subconsciously) ruin positive things in my life. As I told a friend who is making major life changes when we were talking the other day, “Sometimes it is easier to mess up the good things than to forgive yourself for your flaws and accept that you are deserving of contentment and happiness.”
Dear God, I think I just wrote a clichéd psychobabble self help essay. But I’m not apologizing this time.
Cheers to you and yours. May 2008 be a year full of balance, gratitude and truthfulness.
Some great goals there, Charming. We’ll be watching you, trying to help you keep in sight of those.
Have a happy new year.
Here Here
I too, can understand how the third goal would be the toughest… you’re very brave to blog all three, and your thoughts. Have a great night and a terrific 2008.
Good for you for not apologizing! AND you included a prayer! (heh)
But the goals are good. They’re general enough to keep you going all year and if you make progress that’s success. It’s not perfectionism that’s the goal but the continued striving…there’s some psychobabble for ya!
Have a great evening and a restful day tomorrow as we kick off 2008!!!
These goals are wonderful and positive! You Go Girl!!
I applaud your ambition, making an effort to in some ways fundamentally change how you view things is difficult. I wish you all the best and look forward to reading about your successes in the new year.
Sounds like you have a really solid plan. Happy New Year and good luck with the resolutions!
good resolutions - i think i might have to borrow some of them!
I would be way to scared to do the third one. I am very far from comfortable in my skin. I don’t know if I could even do it if it were only one person. Although I meet many people that I introduce myself to through my work, which is fine, its more in my personal life that its so hard.Is your resolution including ALL new people?
Good luck to you in your goals for 2008. Wanting/needing more balance in life is one of the things I’m striving for in 2008, as well.
Happy New Year! May 2008 be everytihng you hope for!
Sounds like you have these goals very well thought out. Good luck! Have a great 2008!
Great resolutions! Happy 2008.
Happy 2008 to you. I just want to say that I need to (MAN) up when it comes to getting out of the house more and meeting new people.. Hmmmmm Maybe that is the reason why I am Still Single.. lol You have a great list of Good Resolutions…
G-D Bless
Ne.
May you succeed at your goals and have a wonderful 2008, my friend.
[...] didn’t make progress on the resolution not to overindulge. But I did tell numerous people that I loved them and was glad to be their friend and I also made a [...]
Good Lord, I coulda written this post myself! It’s amazing to find that there really are people out there that go through the same stuff you do. Good luck and Happy New Year!
Great post - I wish you the best of luck with all of your goals for the new year. It seems like you’ve put a lot of thought into what you’d like to change, and it seems like you’re very determined to follow through. Sometimes all we need is a little kick in the ass (like, having to get another calendar… AGAIN) to get moving. : )
Happy New Year!
Great post! #3 I can definitely relate to, being really busy makes it easy to slip on by. I meet people, though they are more like single serving friends.
Best of luck.
Nice resolutions! After spending a particularly drama filled holiday with old firends, I admire you including #2 and focusing on the positive, and not the trying details in your life. Here’s hoping for your success!
[...] think this resolution by Charming, but single is probably easier said than done, but I still like it. I resolve to pause before buying (or [...]
Great post! If only everyone could be as self aware as you.
P.S. I’m glad to see someone else watches How I Met Your Mother.