Some things just go together nicely like bacon and eggs, Saturdays and SEC football, boiled crawfish and potatoes, and shorts and flip flops. If I could have all four pairs in one day, I’d consider that a great day. There are some things, however, that come together but should probably part ways: peas and carrots, kids and candy, socks and sandals, and liturgical dancers on hover boards. Seriously, I saw the latter on Facebook last night. I didn’t want to watch, but I couldn’t turn away.
As the new year approaches, we all are prepared to turn away from our bad habits and resolve to do better. Resolutions — they start after Thanksgiving, gain momentum around Christmas, and fizzle out by the second week of the new year. It happens every year. We decide to lose weight, so we join a gym, buy workout clothes, and tell everybody we know so that they will hold us accountable. We all do it — smokers who resolve to stop smoking, couch potatoes who resolve to exercise more, and average students who resolve to become Straight-A students. The problem with all of these scenarios is that we set ourselves up for failure, and when things get tough, we give up, and everybody knows it. What we’re left with is regret — regret that we ever made those resolutions, regret that we convinced ourselves that we’d go to the gym after working 12 hours, and regret that we bought two cartons of cigarettes after posting pics of ourselves on Instragram buying Nicorette.
Learn to let go of regret, and you will have enormous capacity to change your life. ~ Norine Dworkin-McDaniel
What we should do each year (and throughout the year), is set realistic goals for ourselves, partner with someone who has similar goals, and rediscover the fire within us that will allow us to become better versions of ourselves.
As I reflect on 2015, I realize that it has been one of the best years of my life. I even tweeted about it yesterday during #satchathack.
I started a few things I wanted to start (like this blog). I eliminated a few distractions, and I packed up all remaining regrets that I carried into the new year. By doing so, I felt liberated–free to chart a course to a brighter future. You can do it too. Start a fire in your soul using your regrets as kindling. Set attainable goals to keep the fire going. Forget about getting burned, but remember how it feels to overcome the flames.
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I like that line ‘ continue adding joy’ and value to life. 🙂 have a great year ahead!
Thanks for stopping by and for commenting, Gilian. Wishing you prosperous new year!
Love the song! You are so right! When it comes to goals and resolutions we are 99% of the time unrealistic. And that needs to change so we can leave at peace with ourselves.
Honey, it’s all about being honest with ourselves. I’m learning to make decisions that I can live with — not decisions that just make others happy. I’m working to let my yea be yea and my nay be nay (without sounding like a jerk).
Well done! Am trying to do the same, as long as I don’t hurt anyone in the process.
Hope 2016 will add more joy and wisdom into your life😊
The holiday season is too great to not embrace! I almost never click on blog links. The one you provided made me laugh out loud [if that’s not Big Daddy Weave the guy hands the guitar to I’d be surprised – a little]. Your good point is well stated, Michelle! Happy New Year, Friends!
Hahaha…glad you clicked on the video. The guy looks like Big Daddy Weave (not sure though). Happy new year, my friend.
Loved this post – really spoke to me about letting go of those ever haunting regrets. And I have to tell you when I saw the link to “Start A Fire” I got excited – love this song. Great anthem for the start of a new year. Looking forward to what else is to come. 🙂 Thank you for sharing
Thanks for taking the time to read and to comment. “Start a Fire” is my anthem for the first few months of the new year. By the way, I look forward to reading your material as well. 🙂
My focus on my writing career the last two years is the fire I started, so I understand exactly what that song is talking about. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for sharing.