Hope for Change

No, this isn't a post dedicated to our newly elected president.

I've just been thinking a lot lately about my goals for the year, otherwise known as my "New Years Resolutions". I think resolutions get a bad rap. It seems as though everyone makes them and no one sticks to them, so people decide not to make them at all.

A "fitness expert" on The Today Show said that resolutions are pointless. His argument is that Jan. 1st isn't any different than any other day of the year. What makes us think we're going to magically change our lives and habits to fulfill our goals?

I disagree with him. I think there is something "magical" about New Years...or whatever time you resolve to make significant changes in your life. It's HOPE that makes everything seem so possible. It's the hope of looking better that makes you start to like what you see in the mirror after only 3 days into your resolutions, even though you probably are worse off than ever due to holiday binging. It's hope that gets us out of bed at 5am to go to the gym. It's hope that gets us signed up for a new class.

It's the HOPE for change.

The hard part, I'm learning yet again, is when the actions have been in place for a while, the hope fades and you are simply waiting for, well...change!

That's where I find myself now. I've done well with sticking to my resolutions. I've stuck to my Weight Watchers points, hit the gym 5 times a week, have whitened my teeth, gotten a new hair style & color (yes...I will post a pic, but it is seriously not pleasant!), taken better care of my skin, etc...

Yet when I look in the mirror, I look the same. The pounds are coming off very slowly, my teeth are only a slight shade whiter, my hair...well, I won't even go there! Now that I've put into practice many of my resolutions for weeks now, the hope has faded.

This is the toughest part. Battling through without the overwhelming excitement of hope, trying to get to the CHANGE part.

I think this applies to so many other things in life, though.

Relationships.
Jobs.
Walk with God.

Staying on course, working hard and doing what you know is right, even when there isn't an immediate reward or "high" and you just don't feel like it.

So I guess if there are any of you out there feeling like me, let's just resolve again to stick with it. Regardless of what we do or don't do, 6 months from now will come. Would I rather feel good and know that I have worked hard come June, or look back at the past few months and utter under my breath, "well, maybe next year."

I'm not trying to be some type of motivational speaker. I think I'm writing this to get myself amped up again. To remind myself that good things take time, especially if you want them to last. And to remind myself of all of the truly wonderful things I do have in my life!

One of Hayden's new books is "Goofy's Big Race". I secretly despise Goofy, but that is another post entirely. Anyway, he does make a valid point throughout the book.

"Slow & steady, steady & slow. That's the only way to go."

Goofy, I can't stand you. But I think in this case, you just might be right.