The weight loss and fitness blogosphere has been abuzz recently with questions, comments and articles about New Year’s resolutions. Many of them talk about strategies on how you can set yourself up not to fail in the New Year. Suggestions include setting realistic goals, taking baby steps towards your goals. Don’t drastically change everything on January 1st or you’re doomed to fail. They’re all absolutely right but..
But by their nature, aren’t New Year’s resolutions doomed to fail?
Think about it for a second. Most resolutions start with “I won’t do this thing I love ” or “I will do this hard thing I don’t love “. Not a very positive way to start a new decade don’t you think? Really, do you know anyone who’s made a New Year’s resolution and stuck with it even past the first 30 days? And in those rare (and impressive) cases where someone has stuck with their resolution for months ; when they go back to their old activity they are full of excused and apologies. No comments of “I did X for 6 months!” Shouldn’t doing positive things in your life be celebrated?
Poopy on that, is what I say. New Year’s resolutions are there to make you feel bad about your accomplishments so I’m banning them for the next decade. Anyone joining me?
I can hear you all now, but didn’t you just ban TV from your house? Aren’t you making promises to yourself on the beach?
You’re absolutely right.
All these things I’m doing (and more) because of a blog post I read a couple of weeks ago. It’s written by another blogger called Jo on Cranky Fitness who wrote an article simply called Gifts. Go read it too. Just click on the underlined word Gift, it will take you right there. I’ll wait.
Like Jo I was hit by the “thunderbolt”. I also really liked that the approach wasn’t “all or nothing” as resolutions are. Plus, you get to celebrate your success, whatever they may be. I’m fully on board the Gift giving bandwagon. I’ve been thinking about the Gift I would give myself this year. So here it is…
I give myself the gift of speed. I will be a faster runner/biker/swimmer by lowering my bodyweight and continuing to train with purpose and planning.
It’s that simple. I may even add a few more during the year, maybe on a Tuesday. I’m crazy like that.
So what would your gift to yourself be? Give yourself one; I’m sure you’ve earned it.
Happy New Year my friends!
Jo
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