Our New Years Eve was spent with good people, we ate Chinese food, played games, and relaxed. Loralai went to sleep around 9:30pm, and I was not far behind her and fell asleep around 10:30pm. We normally go bowling, but unfortunately we left it a tad late to book and missed out on the 5 pin lanes. But Loralai and I were both awaken by the sound of people celebrating outside, and Todd came upstairs and we rang in the new year together with a kiss, and then back to sleep Loralai and I went! But even though this new years was not rung in celebrating with drinks and friends, it was exactly how it should have been celebrated, in my nice warm home, with my family!
So I am very optimistic about changes coming this year! I read an article that made a lot of sense in terms of why most people who set a resolution based on a calendar date often fail. Here is a clip from the
article:
Resolutions fail because they don’t emerge from true breakthroughs—they’re calendar-driven obligations; and they often address the symptoms, not the cause of our unhappiness.
Some resolutions are smart for our physical and emotional health and well-being. Quitting smoking, losing weight, managing stress better—there are all healthy things.
But if we don’t address what underlies our needs to light up, order double bacon cheeseburgers, and worry ourselves into frenzies, will it really help to vow on one arbitrary day to give up everything that helps us pretend we’re fine?
It’s almost like we set ourselves up for failure to avoid addressing the messy stuff.
So this year I am not setting any resolutions, but I am taking a deeper look and figuring out what it will take for me to be happier, and then changing factors in my life to obtain that happiness! There are already a list of things that if I do them will certainly make me happier, but I have to ensure that I am ready, and have all my ducks in order to ensure that the change is for the long haul not the short one, and that is where I think the difference lies!
So although I am not unrealistic in knowing that disappointment and problems will certainly arise during this 2012 year, I will have the choice about how I will view to handle them, and I am very much hoping to choose joy! I am not saying that this wont be hard, but it will be worth it in the end! Of course I am not going to say that I thought of this concept all on my own, I was inspired by the article, and by a blog that that I follow called Lil blue boo, she is facing one of the biggest hurdles that someone can face (young family, she thought she was pregnant, turns out it was a tumour growing in her uterus, had to have a hysterectomy, and now is dealing with chemo) her strength and attitude is something that we should all be inspired by, so if you have a few minutes to read something, her blog is the one to read! I already consciously try not to be judgemental, sometimes this is hard because unconsciously we all tend to do it, but that is why I have for a few years now made a conscious effort not to. I also try and look at situations from all angles, since every story has multi-sides. I work in HR so this mindset sort of comes hand in hand with a good HR professional, but if you also take it home to your personal life it certainly comes in handy as well! Although sometimes you get your spouse asking you why you are never just on their side, and it is not because your not, it is because you do not believe in your heart of hearts that their side is the only side, so lets take a look at a different angle or just be open minded.
So I am thankful for the wonderful people and things in my life, I am thankful for all the hurt and disappointment that happened in 2011 because it made me stronger, and most of all I am hopeful that because of these people, things, and strength, I will be able to enter 2012 a better person. Although maybe contrary to the article, I do believe that a new year does provide a new start, it is what you do with that new start that is the difference.
So make 2012 the year that you...
Happy new year everyone!
