Last year, I learned that less than 50% of us make New Year’s Resolutions.  So in January, I gently nudged my dear readers to try a little to make simple painless changes, maybe, if they felt like it.  Well, you are all still dear to me, but I’m not being gentle with the topic of Resolutions this year. 

     The celebration of the New Year is not our only opportunity to make positive changes.  We can wake up any morning and say “today is the day”.  The New Year is the most publicized opportunity, though, and there are lots of available resources to help us make and keep our resolutions.  Health club memberships are discounted, as is exercise equipment to purchase.  Programs abound for weight loss and smoking cessation, healthy recipes populate the media and grocery stores run specials on the foods we are supposed to be eating.  Professional organizers send you information about goal-setting, paper management or National GO (Get Organized) Month. 🙂

      I think you are fabulous just the way you are, don’t get me wrong.  You are wonderful and fully evolved, and I do not think you need to be different.  However, we all need to realize is that Change is going to happen, no matter what.  Things change every day, every minute of our life.  And we can either be carried along with a wave, or we can start swimming.  Change happens, no matter what, but we can guide the change if we are willing to make the effort. 

Many years ago (original posting 2012!) I watched a great motivational video of Matt Cutts, previously a bigwig at Google, https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/about-me/ .  He spent 2011 completing 30-day challenges, trying new things for 30 days.  Turns out, “30 days is just the right time to start a new good habit or get rid of an old, bad habit”.  His last line really resonated most with me, “The next 30 days are going to pass, whether you like it or not”.   We might as well do something great with them!

So, two words for you:  Change and Choice.  I encourage you to think make and keep Resolutions this year.  If you don’t want to get rid of any habits, think about 12 habits you wish you had.  Change is inevitable, but we can choose our focus, and make this a positive experience.  You get to choose.

So what is it going to be?  Knowing that change will happen anyway, how will you choose to guide your change and your life in the new year? Here are some tips:

• If you are new to the Resolution idea, try choosing one good habit from each of these areas:  personal, family, home, spiritual and financial.
• Keep language is positive.  I am taking on new things instead of focusing on the negative. 
• Make choices for yourself, not for others.
• Make it public.  Letting others in on your resolutions makes you more accountable for keeping them.  I will publish mine next week, after I have added action points for myself. 
• Throw in a couple of “gimmes”. Some easy goals that will take maybe an hour or 2, and then you can feel good crossing them off your list.  Organizing your desk drawers, cleaning out the pantry, making a long delayed doctor’s appointment, etc. 

      You can do this, friend, I know you can!  And you will be so happy when you do!  Happy New Year!