New Year, New You

​“New Year, New You.” This phrase seems to be everywhere at this time of year, and it compels us to believe that we have to change everything about ourselves at the start of the new year. New Year’s resolutions abound, and we are inundated with advertisements for gym memberships and diet foods. I don’t know about you, but I’ve often felt extremely overwhelmed, wanting to change everything, but knowing that most resolutions have a lifespan of just a few days or weeks.

This year, I’ve decided to take a different approach. Instead of believing that I have change everything, I’ve decided to make a list of things that are truly important and focus more on those things. For instance, I am very active with my church, so my plan is to simply continue. My question then is, is there any area where I can give more or help more? I, also, love working in my yard, but I often have a hard time finding the time to do so, so my question is, is there an hour or two that I am not using wisely (i.e. watching too much TV) that I could spend improving my yard?

This same rule applies with the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association. Our goal every year is to improve and grow, so we are constantly asking questions like, are we doing the best we can? Where can we improve? Once those weak areas have been detected, we work to make them better.

The beginning of a new year is always a great time to take stock of everything and think about the goals that you would like to accomplish. The difficulty, of course, comes with being hard on yourself for falling short of those goals. I’d like to remind you to be easy on yourself. Start small. Start gently. And be kind to yourself. Ask yourself questions throughout the year. Whenever there seems to be a lull in progress or if something seems to have reached a plateau, it might be time to reexamine and see if changes need to be made. I think slow, steady changes resonate and stick much better than a complete overhaul, especially if what is needed is just a slight readjustment as opposed to a complete makeover. And you can start a new goal at any time of the year.

I hope this coming year brings with it happiness, health, and prosperity for you and your family. Enjoy your holiday. Happy New Year!

Note: This blog appeared as an article in the 12/29/16 edition of the Kinney County Post.