Starting 2023 as a duo!

Bob's New Years thoughts

I'm writing this on January 2nd. 

If everyone has followed tradition, most have made their New Year's resolutions. 

If tradition keeps, by now, most have already broken at least one. 

I have never been a huge fan of the New Year's revolution, I just don't get it. I mean, why is that the one day of the year, we as a society have deemed it, THE DAY, to make major changes in our lives. 

While the thought of stopping smoking, drinking or cussing, may all indeed be admirable. Doing so while under the influence of several adult-like beverages, seems to me to be absurd. 

Perhaps, that is why most people fail to be successful at reaching their desired goals or even coming close. 

Of course, some do succeed, and lose a whopping 100 pounds or actually start using that gym membership they've had sitting dormant for years. 

The resolution may be better served through if we as a society were to adopt a habit of setting realistic goals for ourselves, any day of the year, not just one day out of the year. 

We create our traditions, perhaps with the best of intentions, and we follow traditions, sometimes with little knowledge of why or how they came about. 

How many people do you think are aware, that the New Year's revolution, originated with the ancient Babylonians, who were seeking favor from their God's, in the coming year? 

To just do something, because that's what everyone else does, just seems so grade school to me!

Celia's Response 

I am one of those people who has previously made a New Year resolution…and FAILED. I think it was 2018-22 that I really tried to work on my RBF aka resting bitch face. In 2023 and I still haven’t mastered that ability. I can’t help it!

But in all seriousness. At the end of November, I made a commitment to myself that I was going to make some changes in my life. I found that I was emotionally and mentally exhausted. Most of the exhaustion came from the face you must put on each day that says “I’m happy” when inside I felt like shit.

Sometimes you must face the truth and figure out what’s not working and why.

I am a goal-oriented person vs a resolution person. I committed to myself that I was going to make sure to walk at least 5 miles a day in the month of December. The truth is when the pandemic hit, I stopped running, biking, and swimming. I started working, working, and working. Races were canceled. I was exhausted from working all the time and frankly emotionally spent.

Every time I would try to go for a run, I was disappointed. It felt like a failure each time. For me, there are two things I know I need for my mental health. Exercise and music.

So where to start?

First: identify the things in my life that need to change.

Second: make small goals each month and then identify the steps needed to achieve those goals.

I bought a new planner designed to assist in goal-making and staying organized. I love lists! I’m a sucker for organization.

I will share my goals for 2023…maybe you can relate.

Long-term goal: Learn how and when to say no.

Long-term goal: Block out / reduce forms of cheap dopamine.  

Long-term goal: Be better to me.

The reality is my long-term goals are more of a long-term endeavor to maintain calmness and happiness in my life. It’s the short-term goals, with more immediate gratification.   

Here are my short-term goals for January

Short-term goal: Walk Juno every day (unless it’s too cold). Juno let herself go over the past two years. The COVID 20 I assume....or someone who gives her table food *cough* your husband.

I really enjoy our walks together. They are quiet. I also like quiet. There are too many distractions on any given day. Texts, calls, emails, zoom, teams, the list goes on. I listen to people talk all day long....my brain needs a break. Although not a resolution, I am holding strong with not having any group message with more than 3 people. I mute them, erase them, or simply leave the conversation (Apple better figure out how to do that with non-apple group messages.) 

Short-term goal: Walk 6 miles each day. I started traveling for work 2 years ago and I’m surprised I haven’t acquired some type of pressure ulcer on my backside for as much as I’m in my car.

Short-term goal: Drink less. Originally, I was going to do the whole dry January thing, but the truth is, I like wine, and what’s supposed to happen in February? So rather than go from one extreme to another, I’m going to work on a middle ground. An example would be to be more mindful of when, where, and how much.

In the end, we are each responsible for ourselves. I often seek Bob’s thoughts and guidance on personal things. (That’s friendship, sending your issues to a dude who could literally copy and paste what I share with him and spread it to the world with just his eyes, and knowing he would never hurt me.)

Cheers to 2023! I hope this year continues to bring growth and happiness. You never know when it will be your time to cross that rainbow bridge, so I am going to focus on being my best self for myself, and the rest seems to fall into place.  

Sorry, I have no interesting historical facts.....Bob's just showing off.