It is three days into 2013 and so far, it's a great year. It might even be the best year yet. Do you know why? I'm going to go ahead and say no, you don't know why. Have no fear, I'm going to tell you.
This year is the best yet because I didn't set myself up for failure from the get go. I didn't start with a list of expectations. I didn't make any "New Year's Resolutions." I woke up Tuesday morning with the same goals I had on Monday, "Wake up. Figure it out from there."
For some reason, we have created this idea that everyone is required to make resolutions to better themselves every year. There's nothing wrong with that idea except for one thing: We set outrageous goals and rarely stick with them for more than a few weeks. Sure, there are the exceptions where people do follow through with their resolutions, but it seems like the majority of people have a difficult time sticking with them.
A lot of times people start the new year wanting to lose weight or be healthier. They want to go to the gym every day and eat healthier. Sounds great, right? Well, yeah, it is, but there's a big problem with it. Going to the gym every day and eating better are things everyone should do, but it's a lifestyle change and if you've ever tried to change your life, it's not easy. In my opinion, I think that's why so many people can't stick with it for more than a few weeks.
Alright, so I didn't make any resolutions. Is it because I lack determination? No. Is it because I'm happy with my life? For the most part, yes, but that's not the reason.
I didn't make any resolutions because I didn't want to set myself up for failure. Instead, I'm enjoying this year with as few expectations of myself as possible. If I would have told myself, "Self, go to the gym at least three times a week and only eat salads for lunch and fruit for snacks," I would have already failed. There's a few other problems with that, too. First, I don't know where my ID is to go to the gym. Second, I can't afford to buy only fruit for snacks. It's just not in my poor college student budget. Third, I like my sweets. But, those reasons aren't that important.
Back to setting myself up to fail. I still plan to attempt to eat better (I think everyone does) and not necessarily go to the gym, but to continue to become more active. Yesterday I went grocery shopping. I am incredibly proud of myself. (No, it was not the first time I went by myself.) I bought ingredients for salads and healthy breakfasts. Dinner is still in the air. But, I did it because I wanted to do it. I didn't buy it because I "had" to buy it. I bought it because it's what I wanted. It's not because I have a list of expectations for myself. It's because I finally realized I have the ability to buy healthy food and if you try, you can stay within your budget (which I did.) I also bought a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream, but it just so happens that the low-fat one was the cheapest.
I did all of this because I chose to be healthy, for this week at least. But, if I go off of my "diet," it's fine. If I don't work out one day, who cares? I've had enough of these expectations and trying to live up to someone's standards and not my own. New Year's resolutions are just another ploy for society to say you're not good enough the way you are. So, I say, "Screw 'em!"
If you have already messed up your resolutions, it's OK. Don't sweat it. Just do me a favor and think about why you made the resolutions you made. Who did you make them for: you or someone else? And, if you did make resolutions and things are going swell after these first three days, don't sweat it if/when you falter. It will be fine. As for me, I'm going to continue eating my fruit and yogurt parfait and buttery bagel. Then, I'm going to continue my resolutionless year.
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