I’m not bothering with resolutions this year — I have enough pressure in my life. It’s not that I don’t have things I’d like to accomplish
lose 10 pounds, get into shape, eat more veggies and fewer chips, keep blogging, finish projects inside and out, organize the house, donate or pitch half of what I own (I wouldn’t miss it), join the libarary and read books again, cultivate my clients, improve my professional skills instead of just going through the motions, make more money, save more money, give more, take less, be a better wife, sister, daughter, friend, neighbor, person
it’s more a matter of being overwhelmed by them. I don’t want to do one more than the other — I want to do them all.
But I get tired even thinking about them. And I wonder, too, why some of them even matter. I’ve been 10 pounds lighter — it’s nice wearing a smaller size, but it didn’t transform my life. I’ve been in better shape — it’s nice seeing more muscles and less flab, but I didn’t really feel different (and it takes up a lot of time). I’ve eaten better — perhaps I was healthier but I wasn’t happier. I’ve had years where I’ve read 25 books — it’s fun but I can’t remember any of them now.
I think it really comes down to this: You either self-improve or self-destruct — even if you don’t consciously do anything self-destrutive. If you’re not moving forward, you’re sliding backward by default. There really is no standing still, now is there — the relentless spinning of the world and passage of time see to that.
So with that in mind, maybe I’ll approach 2008 a little differently. Instead of a dizzying list of must-dos breathing down my neck and making me feel inadequate when I can’t accomplish every one, I’ll strive to do just one thing: Keep Moving Forward. To each day be able to point to something I did that improved some aspect of my life or someone else’s.
I bet if I can accomplish just that, if I can look back a year from now on 365 little steps forward, 2008 as a whole will have been a rousing success. Even better, odds are that many days will see bigger steps, giant steps even — books read, projects finished, 5-mile walks taken, clients satisfied, minds and bodies and spirits enriched.
It’s kind of exciting to think about — I don’t have to move mountains; I just have to move one step forward. (Oh, and hope for not many days like this one…)
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success
is more important than any other one thing.
~ Abraham Lincoln
Writing by Ear 
nicol lischka said,
Friday, January 4, 2008 at 10:55 am
Wow! How could you say it any better than that? I would like to know your name so that I could share this with others on my facebook & myspace pages. Would that be alright with you? I am a singer/sonwriter and have three teenage boys and I can’t wait to message each one of them with your blog. I have you bookmarked now and will be checking back for more of your inspiration.
Thank you for your gift today!
nicol
http://www.myspace.com/nicollischka
WritingbyEar said,
Friday, January 4, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words, Nicol. My name is Christine Hollinger. I’m so flattered that you like my blog. As soon as I get over this darn flu bug, I’ll be back to blogging more regularly.
Best to you!
Christine