I usually am one of these people who loves to set New Year’s resolutions and goals. I can’t remember a year that I haven’t set at least a goal or two each January. Run a marathon, finish professional designation exams, lose 10 lbs, read 30 books… you know, pretty typical stuff.
But this year, I’m just not feeling it.
I accomplished a lot in 2012, and mostly in the latter half of the year because the first half of the year was just wedding, wedding, wedding. I’m sort of … phew… still recovering from last year.
So I don’t have any specific goals set for 2013, and I’m ok with that.
However, something that I’ve been working on and definitely want to spend more time practicing (because it is a habit) in 2013 is being mindful about everything I do. Mindful of what I eat, mindful of how I spend my time, mindful of how I spend my money, mindful of how I treat people. (Even being mindful when I blog! No TV on in the background, no checking Twitter every couple of minutes.) In today’s uber-connected world, it’s easy to be one distracted, ADD mess from sunup to sundown. I’m absentminded enough as-is without distractions (due to the ongoing running dialog in my head), so once you throw in smart phones bleeping and pinging and TV’s blaring at me, and I’m an I-left-cereal-in-the-fridge-and-milk-in-the-cabinet mess.
The other part to this is that when I find myself constantly responding to external stimuli (regardless of how important or necessary they are… ooh! 28 signs your childhood is over, hahahaha… oh wait…) I realize that I’m letting the external world dictate my Chase world. Not ok.
Yes, sometimes the external world needs to dictate my world. Callie tells me when she has to go out. I have to be at work at a certain time. I have to wait for the light to turn green before I can cross the street. But the more autonomy I have over the things I do have control over, things I can choose, the better I think I will be as a person and the more focus I will have toward meeting my goals, whatever my goals end up being. Interestingly enough, I also feel more at peace when I feel like I’m the captain of my ship. So much goes along with this: Saying no to obligations that don’t meet my needs or schedule. Choosing healthy food over junk food. Going to bed when I’m tired, regardless of the time. Seeking out and spending time with people who lift me up, not people who bring me down.
So I guess you might call this my New Year’s Theme: Mindful.
What’s your theme of 2013?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This is perfect! Very similar to my approach to 2013. I’d like to think of my theme for 2013 as self-betterment. I just want to be a better me.
I like this! My theme for this year is no rushing, which requires preparation. So, in one word, my theme for this year is preparation. For work, for the house, for everything else. I’m going to try to wake up earlier in the morning so I’m not scrambling to get ready, I’m going to stick to the lists I make and try to do everything in advance. I would have commented on this post in advance if I could have
“…easy to be one distracted, ADD mess from sunup to sundown.”
Yes. It really is.
Thanks for the reminder!
-Brock