Making resolutions, or not

For those of you who already have your list of resolutions or goals drawn up for 2010, here are some tips from Real Simple on how to stick with them.

If you're not into making resolutions, might I suggest the resolution generator? The generator has told me that this year I will be a leader, jump rope, get married and learn to say hello in five languages. Sounds like a well-rounded year, if you ask me.

I like New Year's resolutions that are more vague concepts than specific goals. And I've got a great concept this year, thanks to one of my bestest friends, Noodles in Chicago and her blog, Patches & Paws. And that concept is a word of the year that works in lieu of a resolution.

Noodles found the notion for the word of the year at the blog of Christine Kane. Christine explains the notion as such:

Let’s say you are one of the many people who would normally choose “Get Organized.” You look around to see clutter and crap all over your life. You’re tired of the chaos. So, you think, “I need to get organized. That should be my Resolution this year.”

But then you read this blog. You decide to try it.

You sit with your clutter. You spend a few days pondering words that will inspire you. You realize in an “Ah-Ha!” moment that you tend to cling to lots of things. You’re scared to let go. So you choose the word “Release” because it inspires you in a bigger way than “Get organized.”

So, every time you approach your clutter you remind yourself of that word. “Release,” you say softly. You start to let the clutter go. Eventually, you realize that you’re still holding on to lots more than just physical clutter. You realize that you hold onto resentment at old relationships. “Release,” you remind yourself. You realize that holding on is affecting your diet and health. “Release” applies to some of the extra weight you’ve gained as well. Throughout the year, you can see clearly how much you hold on. “Release” is your touchstone. It grows you throughout the year. It becomes your guiding force, not your harsh standard.

Your clutter became your teacher simply because you shifted your intent towards it. This wouldn’t have happened if you’d opted only to “Get Organized.”

I've got a word of the year that will be my mantra this year, which I'll tell you about in my next post. Who else is on board?

By the way, hello in five languages: Ciào, Namaste, Malo, Hola and Guten Tag. (Italian and Hindi because I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love right now ... Samoan because I have a friend living and teaching there ... Spanish because it was the language I chose to learn in school ... and German, the language of half of my ancestry.) There. One resolution acheived. I think I'll go jump rope now.