I wasn't going to blog about New Years Resolutions. I wasn't going to do it. Just like the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, I don't believe in them ( I totally believe in Santa though).
But I went to the gym this morning--this first part of January--and was floored by how many people were there. So many that I had to park WAY, WAY, WAY out in the far reaches of the parking lot. I hate that. When I go to exercise, I don't want to have to walk very far.
But I went to the gym this morning--this first part of January--and was floored by how many people were there. So many that I had to park WAY, WAY, WAY out in the far reaches of the parking lot. I hate that. When I go to exercise, I don't want to have to walk very far.
Just as was expected, the entire place was packed--old people, young people, little kids, babies--darn those babies and their mommy and me swim class. I raised my fist in the air and cried to the heavens above (really it was just the running track above my head), "I HATE you January! I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I always have and I always will!"
Not only am I fighting for a decent parking spot, I'm fighting little old ladies in the dressing room for a locker (ever see an old lady naked--it's not pretty) and there are far more little old men than usual at the swimming pool (little old men have wandering eyes. They tend to sit in the hot tub and just watch us ladies do laps in the pool. Perverts). I went from doing laps in the pool with just a handful of people to now having the whole state of Utah right there in the pool with me.
But here's the thing, come the first part of February, things will be back to normal. No babies. No old ladies. No old men. Just the regulars doing their regular thing. The pool will be mine again. Mine, all mine! Wha-ha-ha!
It happened this way last year and the year before that. Even my pool buddy said, "Give it a few weeks, the New Year resolution group will slowly go away." They always do.
I've noticed many writers posting their New Years Resolutions on their websites and I think that is great. For some people, this kind of thing works. For me, it doesn't.
Not only am I fighting for a decent parking spot, I'm fighting little old ladies in the dressing room for a locker (ever see an old lady naked--it's not pretty) and there are far more little old men than usual at the swimming pool (little old men have wandering eyes. They tend to sit in the hot tub and just watch us ladies do laps in the pool. Perverts). I went from doing laps in the pool with just a handful of people to now having the whole state of Utah right there in the pool with me.
But here's the thing, come the first part of February, things will be back to normal. No babies. No old ladies. No old men. Just the regulars doing their regular thing. The pool will be mine again. Mine, all mine! Wha-ha-ha!
It happened this way last year and the year before that. Even my pool buddy said, "Give it a few weeks, the New Year resolution group will slowly go away." They always do.
I've noticed many writers posting their New Years Resolutions on their websites and I think that is great. For some people, this kind of thing works. For me, it doesn't.
The first reason is doesn't work for me? I have very little self-control. I know myself well enough to freely admit this. I will make the goal and I will break the goal.
The second reason? I can't handle the pressure. If I make a goal, it's all I can think about. It's always in the back of my mind, teasing me, and testing me, and wondering when I will break. And the more determined I am NOT to break, the worse it gets until I finally do (I always do. See reason #1 above).
The third reason? If I fail, I will beat myself up over it and feel like crap--like a failure. I will feel like I let myself down. And who the heck wants to feel like a failure? Not I, that's for sure.
It is so much better, for me, not to set resolutions. Not a one. I don't promise to lose weight. I don't promise to exercise more. I don't promise to read five new books on writing (though I probably will). I refuse to resolve to write several new books this year, or even one for that matter (though I probably will). I won't say that I will write every single day, because more than likely I won't. There will be days I just can't do it. I also won't say that I will be a better blogger either (I'm doing the best I can right now and I think I'm doing an okay job--feel free to say yay or nay in the comments below).
So does this mean I'm going to become a stagnant writer? That I won't grow and learn and become something better this new year? Of course not. I can guarantee you that this time next year, I will be a much better writer than I am today. I will have learned so many new things that it will BLOW MY MIND. I can't wait. It's going to be an awesome year even if I don't make one single goal. You wanna know why? Because I'm going to continue to keep doing what I have always done--work hard, write hard, and keep on learning every single day, just like I did yesterday and the day for that, and just like every day in 2011.
Goals? I don't need no stinkin' goals!
And I bet I will still accomplish stuff. I just won't have that little nagging voice in the back of my head telling me how much I suck because I ate a cookie or skipped a day of writing so I could go on a date with my husband or snuggle with my kids.
I'm pretty sure I will be all right. Past experience tells me I will be just fine.
Are you a resolution kinda person? It's okay to say yes. Just 'cause it doesn't work for me doesn't mean others don't benefit from it. If so, what kinds of things do you do to keep motivated and on the path to achieving your goal? What goals have you made for yourself this year?
The second reason? I can't handle the pressure. If I make a goal, it's all I can think about. It's always in the back of my mind, teasing me, and testing me, and wondering when I will break. And the more determined I am NOT to break, the worse it gets until I finally do (I always do. See reason #1 above).
The third reason? If I fail, I will beat myself up over it and feel like crap--like a failure. I will feel like I let myself down. And who the heck wants to feel like a failure? Not I, that's for sure.
It is so much better, for me, not to set resolutions. Not a one. I don't promise to lose weight. I don't promise to exercise more. I don't promise to read five new books on writing (though I probably will). I refuse to resolve to write several new books this year, or even one for that matter (though I probably will). I won't say that I will write every single day, because more than likely I won't. There will be days I just can't do it. I also won't say that I will be a better blogger either (I'm doing the best I can right now and I think I'm doing an okay job--feel free to say yay or nay in the comments below).
So does this mean I'm going to become a stagnant writer? That I won't grow and learn and become something better this new year? Of course not. I can guarantee you that this time next year, I will be a much better writer than I am today. I will have learned so many new things that it will BLOW MY MIND. I can't wait. It's going to be an awesome year even if I don't make one single goal. You wanna know why? Because I'm going to continue to keep doing what I have always done--work hard, write hard, and keep on learning every single day, just like I did yesterday and the day for that, and just like every day in 2011.
Goals? I don't need no stinkin' goals!
And I bet I will still accomplish stuff. I just won't have that little nagging voice in the back of my head telling me how much I suck because I ate a cookie or skipped a day of writing so I could go on a date with my husband or snuggle with my kids.
I'm pretty sure I will be all right. Past experience tells me I will be just fine.
Are you a resolution kinda person? It's okay to say yes. Just 'cause it doesn't work for me doesn't mean others don't benefit from it. If so, what kinds of things do you do to keep motivated and on the path to achieving your goal? What goals have you made for yourself this year?
