When it comes to New Year’s Resolutions- I don’t do them. What I do instead this time of year is count my blessings.
My husband and I make a toast and muse about what was awesome about the year.
For me, it just does not feel right to start new projects or make a list of new goals this time of year. It is usually rainy, dark, and cold.
My first impulse to start any resolutions (if I have them) is when the first sign of spring comes, usually sometime toward the end of February. Those beautiful wild blue Oregon Iris are the first to pop up out of the ground and say hello- my heart smiles, I get a surge of energy, and I am driven in a direction of new growth.
Do you make resolutions this time of year?
If so, please share!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I rarely if ever make resolutions this time of year, either. It’s a stressful enough season, and dark and cold to boot…who needs another bout of depressing reflections on ways to improve? It’s all about snuggling in and getting through the darkest part of the year, for me. Counting your blessings and consciously cultivating a feeling of gratitude, definitely helps!
Nancy, welcome to authentic mama! I agree!
There was a little snow today up here on the mountain, time to snuggle in with a good book!
And let’s not forget, a long night of darkness… hopefully my kids will catch on and sleep in (normally early risers)- and I will be able to get much needed catch up sleep!
Angie– I’ve missed so much!
But– no, I just look at the New Year as a fresh start– and this year more than ever I am looking at it that way!
Yule is the celebration of the returning of the light- and a time to look to the rebirth of nature. Why bog ourselves down with promises and visions that we know will be difficult at best to stick to! I think we should resolve daily to make changes for the better in our lives, and to leave things that aren’t productive in our lives behind! Every day is the start of a New Year– or a new 365 day cycle anyway!
Hey nice post here. I don’t do New Years Resolutions as well. I make daily intentions instead. I resonate with this post. I think the universe doesn’t recognize a New Year in the traditional sense, so the natural flow of success is beyond a calendar.
Hi Baker, Welcome to the blog!
I am glad you resonate with the post:)
I guess I am not alone when it comes to Anti- New Years resolutions!
Blessings!
Hi Angie,
Happy New Year! It is so great to see you blogging again. I caught up on all the posts that I missed in December. Just follow your heart and write whatever you feel inspired to write. You have to be true to who you are which I know you know.
As for your question, I do not make resolutions. I find that the best thing is to be in tuned to what my heart and soul are telling me and go accordingly.
Love and hugs to you! You were missed!
Nadia, love and hugs to you as well!
You are a wellspring of inspiration for me! Thank you so much!
I have missed writing as well! Both comments and blog posts.
ah yes, being in tune, isn’t that what we all aspire to- and hopefully can maintain as much as possible! The beautiful harmony of life:)
Happy new year and many blessings!
I don’t usually make resolutions for the new year . Somehow, I seem to stick to improvements when I don’t put a date on them.
I have had enough time off this holiday season to relax and recall the little things I love to do when I have time to relish. It seems like it has been almost a decade! I found myself writing letters to friends old and new all day long- handmade envelopes, wax stamp and all.
Everyone loves to receive tangible, unexpected and heart lifting mail. As I have gotten older I have noticed that my sweet side has diminished greatly from when I was a young girl. I have come to the conclusion that I do not have time.
So, I have decided this year to have a resolution! I will make time to let those dear to me know they are special once again and support the good old fashioned postal service.
I hope your new year is filled with good health, light and love!
Also, thank you for such a wonderful and inspiring blog.
Welcome Nishaan!
this is so timely! I was just going through some of the old letters my Grandmother used to send me, as well as some poetry books she hand wrote. These are the most precious things to me, if my house was burning I would grab these (I keep them at the top of my closet in one box).
these are not replaceable. My Grandmother loved to write poetry as well as send letters. I keep a letter that she wrote to me next to my night stand (sent Jan 23rd, 1986) it is a picture of a ship on the ocean (I love the ocean) and inside she wrote in part;
I just pray “God will give you a surprise blessing today”
The blessing was the letters she sent to me. So amazing to receive via USPS, when I least expected them, but just when I needed them.
Your new years resolution is amazing! With our digital age we sometimes forget about the importance of the hand-written cards, letters and scrap books. People may pass on, but the written word lives forever, published or not! It is amazing how writing live on, diaries found years and years down the road, somehow the hand written word has a way of being passed down, found (look at Ann Frank- and the many other diaries and journals found), living on.
This is why I keep a hand written journal for my kids, and I write them letters even though they are not yet old enough to read them.
This is so wonderful you are doing this! The people you bless will benefit for years to come. The fact that sending an email is so much easier, makes the hand written letters that much more special.
Many blessing to you!
i set resolutions at the end of December, specifically 31th