We’re three weeks into the new year, and if you’ve given up on your New Year’s Resolution, it is fine to restart or even reevaluate the goal you had in mind.
modify and adjust
Sometimes, it is necessary to make adjustments or modify the goal or strategy used to reach it. (The farmers’ market has done this with its winter fundraiser this year.) There are other times when you realize that your goal or motivation wasn’t really worth it or wasn’t realistic. Make a change. Find a resolution that pushes you but still fits into your life. Try these on for size:
Literary Goal
Check in with the DeSoto Public Library and sign up for their 12 books in 12 months program. Each month they provide you with a display of books that match the theme for the month. (I’m reading a book called Blue Heaven right now as a result of this resolution.)
Cut Something Out
If you’re trying to give something up, try giving it up in stages. For example, if you typically eat a meal from a fast food restaurant twice a week, cut it down to once a week for a couple of months, then down to twice a month, then down to…you get the idea. Small, incremental changes can make a difference.
Feed Your Sense of Adventure
You might consider changing up your resolution to include some adventure. Perhaps you want to hike part of the Ozark Highland Trail or thru hike the Ozark Trail (230 miles) or the A.T. (2,190 miles, give or take). Those can seem pretty daunting, but the scenery on the first two is gorgeous. I’m not even up for the A.T., but I’d like to hike a few sections of it before I expire. You could try a different park or hike each month throughout the year. You can find online suggestions like this one or make them up as you go. Obviously, this is less appealing when it is cold outside, but I once woke up in a pup tent on Valentine’s Day with ice in my sleeping bag. It was a great trip, and one of my first experiences backpacking part of the Ozark Highland Trail.
Feed Your Gut
One final option that you might consider is trying a new recipe or unfamiliar ingredient once a month. If you’re not familiar with jicama, perhaps this is the time to give it a go! You could include your kids or grandkids in this one too, making if fun for those kids that aren’t adventurous eaters.
Regardless of what you decide, feel free to make adjustments along the way. If you fall off the wagon, don’t let it run over you!
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