Re-Resolving

Last week I ate a lot of yummy desserts. I’m not one to say no to cookies, cakes, or cinnamon rolls when they’re in my house displayed on cake stands and festive dishes, drawing my attention to them every time I pass through the kitchen.  My will power is no match for that temptation! That’s why I typically try not to have such delectable confections constantly within reach. But the Christmas season is an exception.

Now, a few days after Christmas, still groggy from all the tasty treats, I’m looking ahead to the new year and considering exercise programs. This is utterly predictable as I was thinking the very same thing last year on this date, and the year before that, and the year before that, and so on. Really, it only makes sense that I would be thinking the very same thing, since it’s such a good and timely idea. What better time to begin a new exercise program than after eating all those cookies, cakes, and cinamon rolls over the Christmas holidays?

Perhaps resolutions get a bad rap because we feel ashamed at having to resolve the same thing on the same day we resolved it last year. I don’t think we should feel bad about it though. It’s good to re-resolve a good resolution. It’s like deciding, once again, to clean that desk drawer that keeps getting messy. Or like re-forgiving someone for the same offense. Have you ever had to do that? Likely it doesn’t mean you didn’t forgive them the first time, or that you didn’t do it thoroughly enough. It means you got re-mad at them. I’ve gotten re-mad at people lots of times, which also means I’ve had the opportunity to experience forgiving them lots of times. Imagine if we all stopped doing exercise and cleaning our desk drawers and forgiving people just because it’s certain to prove repetitive? That really would be a shame.

I want to encourage you to resolve (or re-resolve) to speak kindly to yourself as you take good and healthy steps this year, even if they’re the exact same steps you’ve taken countless times before.

Blessings to you in the coming year!

~Amy