365 days of joy and bliss

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do you make resolutions for the new year?

do you take inspiration from others who do?

i liked the idea of 365 days of joy and bliss but, only the idea.  because, like i've said and before, i believe we have to take the less joyful bits in order to appreciate the bliss.  it can't be blissful all the time. most the time would be nice though.

some people say they don't make resolutions.

some people say they do but, it's obvious they don't take themselves too seriously.

some people say what they'll do and do what they say.

i try for the later which, i've realized, leads to my procrastinating making a list of what i resolve to do. 

procrastination is my arch-enemy.  is that possible?  probably not.  how about,  "i resent procrastination" even though i'm so dang good at it.  i resent it because i feel so awesome when my actions and my choices are deliberate.  i can't be deliberate when i'm procrastinating.  i procrastinate this no more.

it's an amazing feeling to set the goal, work toward the goal and achieve the goal.  even if it's only something really small like, wash my face every night (yes, that's a goal).  when this happens, not only do you feel accomplished and worthwhile, you also learn to trust yourself.  

there's a flip side though.  if you set a goal and then you don't give your all to the work required in order to achieve the goal, you'll definitely feel defeated and not worthy of whatever the result might have been to begin with.  self-defeating behavior.  a lot of people don't set goals because they are either too lazy to actually do the work or, they don't feel worthy of possibilities that might result from their achievement. (or, they think they're perfect).

this is just me thinking out loud (by the way).

i continue.  i feel confident in my ability to set realistic goals for myself but even still, i see now there have been times i've set goals that really weren't important to me just for the sake of setting goals.  

for example, last year i said i wanted to dedicate one night a week to family night.  i had this idea of how it would be based on what i thought it should be but, it didn't end up being that way at all.  we spend a great deal of time together as a family as is. we eat together nearly every night and listen to brooklyn talk. isn't that enough? we have several family nights every week. we just don't call them "family night."  a designated time was not necessary or wanted, even. 

this year, i don't really feel like saying, "i'll do this, this or that."  but, i actually feel like 2010 was quite phenomenal partly because i thought about some goals that were important to me and wrote them down which helped me to stick to them.  things that made me push myself and be more aware of my actions, choices, efforts etc.

this year, i want to continue.  continue to push myself by learning new things.  continue to pay attention to the way my actions make me feel and how my choices affect myself and those around me. continue to not always go with the option that is most comfortable or easiest.  continue to be aware that each choice has a consequence and each moment matters.  small changes are the best changes.  sometimes, the tiniest efforts can have the most impact.  remember, it's not at all about me most of the time.  i know this.

and so, i'm committing to goals for this year too.  because it's important to me. i'll write down specifics when i find the time.  in the meantime, i know that some of my goals will be related to my health and fitness.  some to just myself.  some to my family and some to our finances. the normal stuff i guess.  mostly, i want to be open to learning, to listening and to growing.  i will continue to look for and find inspiration in my life.

these are the things that are important to me.

and, i might run another marathon. if i can find someone to do it with me.  any takers?