New Years, Schmoo Nears—A Resolutions Rant

January 7, 2011 By Lisa D.

Why is it that the second a New Year rolls around, everyone is all up-in-arms about improving their life and creating some ridiculous checklist advocating for change, condemning the previous year as a failure and vowing “this year will be different.” Why the hell do we do that to ourselves? No wonder we’re a depressed society. We fail every year, and set ourselves up for failure every time.

I won’t make a list of “resolutions” – as if I’m resolving to fixing “that thing” that’s wrong with me I’ve overlooked the year(s) prior. I vow to create an unresolutions list. (Unresolutions? Anti-resolutions? Hmm. Have to think on the term, here.)

I believe in the goal to become a better person. I believe that there are healthy ways to attain such goals. I do not, however, feel that it should be every January 1^st simply because a new year has begun. If you want to change, change when YOU are ready. March 19^th? October 2^nd? In other words, when you’re damn good and ready to begin the aforementioned change.

You know, maybe, just maybe, instead of “resolutions” we should have “reflections” – why don’t we look back on the previous year with fondness for what we’ve achieved instead of what we’ve failed?

Here’s mine:

In 2010, with six kids and a jam-packed minivan, we successfully traveled thirteen states for our summer trip, and attended a blogging conference while having one awesomesauce vacation.
In 2010, my children played a myriad of sports, and my oldest son had a perfect football season – they were undefeated. It was his first tackle football season ever.
In 2010, my middle son and I were cleared health-wise for not having cancer. (Talk about something to celebrate!)
In 2010, I survived many times flying parentally solo while my husband had to travel away for Army business.
In 2009, I successfully lost 30 lbs. In 2010, I lost 10 more, taking my total lost to 40lbs. I took my fitness and health by the balls and wrangled that sucker in a full-nelson to the ground. 2011 will be a year I will be in the best health/fitness-level of my life.
In 2010, I was more successful in writing/blogging than any previous year.
In 2010, I was asked to join Momicillin. It’s been happily ever after ever since.

As for 2011 and my anti-resolutions? It’s pretty simple – love my children, love my husband, my family and friends, and to not take anyone or anything for granted. It’s always worked for me, why change it now?

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About Lisa D.

Once upon a time, Lisa was born and raised in New York, a land where there was a corner deli, Italian restaurant, and Dunkin Donuts with delicious coffee on every corner. And, despite horrific traffic, accents and expletives a-plenty, life seemed to make sense. Enter an Army husband, six kids (b. 1995, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2008) and three states later, her family of eight are living the military life in the (very) deep south far from anything familiar, let alone making sense. Once a business management major, Lisa now uses her management skills to keep soccer practices, doctors appointments and juggling six kids' schedules in order, all while trying to cram their big family into small Army housing. You can find her regularly McGyvering things back together using shoelaces and bubble gum with a breastfed baby on her hip, all while baking from scratch and pretending her hair color isn't from a bottle. She finds sanity in gardening, baking cookies, working out so she can ~~eat~~ bake more cookies, playing with her family, and writing about her parenting (mis)adventures. Lisa can also be found at www.CrazyAdventuresinParenting.com seeking sanity in the bottom of her coffee cup.