Notice I said making resolutions, not keeping resolutions?
Just before the new year, Nora, age 7-1/2, decided she was going to wake up early every day. She was making a New Year’s Resolution without realizing it.
Why did she want to wake up early? So she could have extra time to do fancy things with her hair.
From a mother’s perspective, this is a terrible idea. I don’t give a shit about your hair, kid; as long as it doesn’t stink or make the county think you’re neglected.
What I care about is that you get enough sleep so you can go to school and function happily, without being a complete train wreck in the evenings. If you’re sacrificing sleep in the name of vanity, we’re in trouble.
Seven-year-olds aren’t the only ones who have a hard time setting goals and resolutions for the right reasons. Grown-ups are just as bad.
So often, our reasons involve how we look to others, not how we feel. We resolve not to act in our own best interests.
That’s why we are so terrible at keeping resolutions, because we’re terrible at making them.
With this in mind, the only resolution I’ve set for this year is to work with whatever comes my way and make it part of my spiritual growth, instead of struggling against it or running from it. It’s not an easy one to keep, that’s for sure.
But at least I know it’s good for me. I’m finally old enough to realize that running from reality or trying to fight it is where all the trouble starts.
As for Nora, her early rising resolution lasted about three days. I was damn glad to see it broken.
If you’ve already broken your resolution for this year, maybe it’s time to look at the reason you made it in the first place. Maybe it’s for the best and a new one would serve you better.
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This week I’m doing the #YourTurnChallenge. One blog post a day for seven days. Today is Day 3.