It’s just a matter of the timing…
As I write this, it is not yet Thanksgiving, and I am already dodging holiday-themed music on the radio. By the time you curl up in a comfy chair with the cat, a cup of hot cider and this edition, you may be happily toe-tapping to Jingle Bell Rock, or any one of seventy-thousand Mariah Carey songs. As I changed the station this November morning, Anna Nalick’s “Breathe (2AM)” synchronistically came on.
Normally I proffer this topic early in the calendar. However, it occurred to me that sharing on the subject BEFORE year’s end might be more useful. If this prompts one to remember a goal of supporting local businesses prior to going into full-on big-screen TV mode, thereby averting that “big box store January bill angst,” one might accomplish two resolutions at once. Another might mind his dietary restriction list (uh, that’d be me). And someone else might get a jump on the volunteering they’ve always intended to do.
Everyone has different methods at resolution time, and a great many involve … The List. My favorite tools: a pad of lined yellow paper and a favorite pen, also yellow (the barrel, not the ink; invisible lists, while certainly easier, are SO self-defeating).
Starting with “Things I’m Afraid Of” helps me see how I often impede my best intentions. An example: my fear of heights kept me not only from trying zip-lining, but also from considering it as even a remote possibility. Once this was discovered by a friendly octogenarian who had recently done it, I was shamed (gently) into giving it a try. I ended up “flying” through, and it was quite liberating.
This process also helps me remember topics misplaced amidst the year’s daily and weekly tumult. Floating up like a Star Trek tri-corder in zero gravity, these thoughts are symbols of missions gone awry. I pluck these objects from the air, take some readings, and reunite each with The List.
There are other items that I mull-over, and ultimately reject, especially if they do not represent the real me. I always have a goal to “write better”; however, “ramble less” likely wouldn’t make the cut, as that is my signature style (Or hadn’t you noticed? And you’d be amazed how much I edit out before YOU are subjected to it!).
Taking this same tack regarding art, I note to improve my skills, while protecting my unique visual style. When I have assignments and projects, I want to enjoy them as the creator that I am. And I would like my whole life to be like that. Resolutions help me aim high.
As a creative type, my top-line goals are pretty simple: 1) Walk through fear; 2) Create daily; 3) Don’t panic; 4) Remain a sci-fi geek; and 5) As Nalick’s song simply states over and over again: “Just breathe.” I list all these things out in my day-timer-minder-trapper-keeper-thingy, and I add new revelations throughout the year.
Resolutions show us our potential and encourage authenticity. They remind us of who and what we want to be, and help us trust that each day is an opportunity. I hope your year wraps up beautifully, and that whatever your resolutions are — whenever you do them — they help you to launch freely into your new year with aplomb. I hope you go do the things you really, really want to do.