Skip to main content

Every Day of the Year is a New Day - Happy New 365 New Days!

One is such a big number. It is assigned so much clout: Number one; one of a kind; the one and only; first place; first in line.. On the first day of the first month of a brand new year the importance gets even more magnified. It is the first day of the rest of our LIVES!!!!  Brand new diet, brand new lifestyle, workout routine, project getting off the ground, filing system, morning routine, calendar, brand new YOU. 

So much pressure. Thankfully, wisdom is finally kicking. I’m approaching this new year in a new way. Finally, I realized that striving to implement all of the changes is too lofty, and perhaps even unnecessary, goal. Especially in light of how they’re usually put off for the last month of the previous year in anticipation for this day. This year I’m going to use the New Year transition as a reminder that every day is a New Day with another opportunity to be the best me possible. And when the stress sets in and old habits creep their way back in here and there, I will notice, be mindful, forgive myself my trespasses  and try again tomorrow. 

Until now I’ve been apprehensive about this philosophy. It sounds weak and undisciplined. It sounds too easy. I’ve always been a more “no pain-no gain” sort or gal. But the truth is that whenever I approach anything from an ‘all or nothing’ mentality I inevitably fail. ‘All’ is not possible on a consistent basis. In this dichotomy, when ‘all’ runs out, ‘nothing’ naturally follows and I’m back to square one..... on the following Monday, of course.


This year I am setting moderate goals with some mental deadlines attached, but am resisting the urge to break the mold and shoot for Super Star status. The truth is we are all stars shining light every day in our own way - big or small. Every day offers us a precious opportunity to make new choices. The idea of waking up and appreciating a new day every day, rather than going all-in on the first day of the year sounds more appealing and feels much more achievable. One thing I am going to do is put 52 marbles in a jar and every Monday I’m going to pull one out and put it away. That way I will have a gentle visual reminder that time is ticking away. I am also going to place a marble in a new jar each time I accomplish a goal that I had set for myself as a visual reminder that I am making progress. I’m hopeful that this ritual will keep me focused without added pressure of feeling like I have to get every single thing done as soon as possible. I have no idea how it will turn out, but it will be an interesting experiment. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Did We Get Here?

  People are asking that a lot lately, and unfortunately, the answer just seems to be, “It’s their fault.” The blame game  gives politicians plenty to exploit as they hope to rile us all up to vote this way or that. I see no sense in Republicans or Democrats claiming to know how to effectively govern in tumultuous times. This is a new historical moment. No one has the answers. None of us knows how to deal with global pandemics, artificial intelligence, and disinformation campaigns on the levels we are seeing today. No one. Because we have not been here before. We have, however, throughout the history of civilization, experienced tumultuous times. And we have not, historically, handled them well. It has been our human tendency to become ethnocentric to the detriment of entire peoples and continents. This we have seen again and again, and the rhetoric of politicians and political leaders around the world today is reminiscent of past turbulent times. From the invention of the wheel to the
Post a Comment
Read more

Ages and Stages

Ages and Stages By Jonna Shutowick. M.S. Ed.   School-aged years are far more challenging for some than we give them credit for. Sure, we all know the middle school years are awkward. What parent hasn’t had to tell their child at some point that “none of this will matter soon, you’ll see”? The early bloomers learn this lesson in late elementary school, most learn it by the 9th grade, but there are some still within the “normal range” who do not understand the truth of this until they are nearly 20. That is a huge 10 years! And, of course, this is the reason for social groupings and cliques and anti-bullying campaigns, and the like. The years between ages 10 and 20 see major shifts in emotional growth and, to compound matters, major physical shifts as well. Not everyone matures at the same rate. Nor do our physical, mental, emotional (and, by proxy, moral) abilities mature necessarily in concert with each other. In fact, a challenge in one area often impedes on the others, cre
2 comments
Read more