It’s January. Do you do the New Year’s Resolution thing? They’re not in style anymore, I know. We’re a world of cynics certain that by January 31—or sooner—we’ll have forgotten the gym, the scale, the promise to “unplug.”
Call me old-fashioned, but I still think of January as a time to reflect and reset. Coming into 2018, I made a few resolutions. I’d like to call them “goals”—because first of all, that’s more fashionable, and secondly, because that would be more prudent: making them achievable, realistic, measurable, and all that. But the truth of the matter is, coming into the new year, I had no idea how I would fit any of the things I’ve resolved to do into a schedule that won’t budge.
But I knew I needed to, and so I have.
What are my resolutions/goals for this year? And what steps have I taken to make them happen?
- To love my Bible. A few years ago, I made it my focus to establish a habit to open my Bible first and daily. I read the Bible in a year that year and the year following, and I’ve worked through various reading plans since then using a Bible app. I’m glad I did. But this year my goal is to chew a little longer on each morsel and get back into a real Bible with real pages I can mark up and allow to mark me.I’ve printed out a copy of this reading plan—with a little variation on how I’ll journal with it—and tucked it in the front of my new Inspire NLT version Bible. (It’s just so beautiful!) I’m also reading Tim Keller’s fantastic book on prayer.
- To make writing a priority and a daily habit. I had this planner professionally printed in bound book form. I’m sitting down at the end of a week to think through my weekly writing goals. And I sketched out my bigger-picture goals for the first quarter of the year. Little by little, day by day, I’m writing/editing/plotting consistently.
- To nourish creativity. I’ve harbored dreams of delving into other creative endeavors for a long time. I dabble in drawing and watercolors, and while encouraging my kids in creative expression with pastels and colored pencils, have discovered a love for those as well. I’ve decided this is the year those deferred dreams will become a reality. I have gathered together a few basic art supplies, and I’m drawing or painting something in a sketchbook almost every day.
- To exercise. I saved this one for almost-last for a couple of reasons. First, it’s usually the first thing on everyone’s list of resolutions. And while it’s important to me, it’s not as important as the things I’ve already listed. I feel like the health of my spirit and my soul need to come before that of my body. Second, I’ve been exercising and eating pretty well. I just want to step things up a bit. As part of my new regimen, I bought an exercise ball and I’m using it to do squats. Long, long ago—two children and a pre-mid-life body ago—when I’d see the inside of a gym, I saw positive results with squats and the Smith machine. The exercise ball helps me achieve similar results. Who knows? Maybe I’ll uncover that body I had 15 years ago!
- To blog again. Yes, it’s been a long while, but I’m back. So glad to pick up our conversation again.
That’s it! I’m trying to keep it simple and go easy on myself. Those who know me well know that, in itself, is a struggle for me.
How about you? Do you make resolutions or goals in January? Would you share one or two?
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