Official New Year's Resolutions

"Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past." ~Henry Ward Beecher


I suppose it is time I tackle that official New Year's Resolution list. Even if just for fun.

The thing about New Year's resolutions, where in the world did this idea come from?  Why do we torture ourselves with setting such high expectations?

Regardless.. I am a BIG fan of making lists, so clearly, I engage in this activity.

For fun, I thought I would google search "How to Make a New Year's Resolution."  The first thing that popped up was ehow.com

Allow me to present the instructions on how to make a proper New Year's Resolution (brought to you by ehow.com)

1.  Be realistic by setting achievable goals. Winning the lottery, for example, is out of your grasp.


2.Describe your resolutions in specific terms. Instead of "I don't want to be lazy," opt for "I want to exercise regularly" or "I will cut down on my television watching."


3.Break down large goals into smaller ones. For instance, commit to losing weight by resolving to join a gym and improve your eating habits.


4.Find alternatives to a behavior that you want to change, and make this part of your resolution plan. So you want to quit smoking but you smoked to relax yourself? What other forms of relaxation are available to you?

5.Above all, aim for things that are truly important to you, not what you think you ought to do or what others expect of you.

Here are 4 more:

1. Be sure that you keep your list of New Year's resolutions short and realistic. By doing this, you will be far more likely to keep your New Year's Resolutions and not feel overwhelmed by them.



2.Be sure that you begin your list of New Year's resolutions with a small goal. For example, a New Year's resolution to make new friends is a small goal. As the year progresses, you can change, evaluate and increase your goals to fit your situation and the direction of your life.


3.Be sure that you are persistent. Persistence is important and will enable you to remain focused on your New Year's resolutions. In doing so, you are more likely to successfully keep your New Year's resolutions.


4. Be sure that you have patience with yourself. Remember that keeping your New Year's resolutions will take you some time. After all, even Rome took longer than one day to build!

Okay, I think we all have the tools now for a proper New Year's Resolution.

Soooo... here it goes:

Nicole's New Year's Resolutions for 2011

1. Most important one of the year - practice Trust. I will make a promise to myself to learn to be more trusting of the process, of advice, of the universe.

2. Get back into my exercise routine at the Y. Head back to my Body Jam and Zumba classes. *Perhaps talk to my personal trainer about weights 2 x a week (start that one in Feb.)

3. Find a few free lance writing projects.

4. Study arabic at least once a week.

5.  Pray daily.

6. Continue to write daily on my blog.

7. Reopen my personal journal (leather book here) and begin the more personal items for private writing.

8. Declutter - sell my dining room furniture, the twin bed, and the desk. Donate items in storage.

9. Stick to my Mediterranean diet plan the cardiologist gave me.

10. Find a new volunteer opportunity.

11. Show compassion. (Better yet, learn to be compassionate.)

12. Listen more.

13. Turn my sunroom into a ZEN room. Practice meditation.

14. Smile, breathe, go slowly.

15. Try to come off at least one of the BP meds by practicing healthier behaviors.

16. Make new friends.

17. Make that BIG move with grace and a positive attitude.

18. Learn to save money, and actually do it.

19. Find a new place of worship.

20. Finally - use the 8/8/8 rule - 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours for Nicole, 8 hours for work.

What about you? Share your top 3 New Year's Resolutions.