Why Resolutions Are Like Diets #happynewyear

Happy New Year.

You haven’t heard from me in a while, and that wasn’t an accident.

I needed a little break. So a break I took. 

As many people do, I spent the first few days weeks of the new year thinking about how 2017 may be different – or better – than 2016. But before I go on and on about how I’m going to be a better person, and blah blah blah, I took some time to think and reflect on some of last year’s successes. 2016 wasn’t that bad, at least not for me.

Between sending my eldest off to JK, to celebrating the 40th wedding anniversaries of both my parents AND my in-laws (that's 80 years combined, folks!), to watching our not-so-baby-anymore learn to walk and talk. Our family took the time to play tourist in Toronto, we finished a budget reno and we enjoyed some time on the beach. I was honoured last year for my volunteer work, both through the City of Vaughan and Markham Stouffville Hospital, and I played a role in the groundbreaking of the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, too. I can honestly say that I love my job and have met hundreds of people last year, learned about new businesses and community initiatives.

It was a busy year. It was a good year. 

In a word, blessed. 

But, in fine Julia form, there’s always room for improvement.

Improvement how? What else can I possibly fit in?

Me.

I’m going to fit in me.

And this is where the resolutions come in. 

I don’t really believe in resolutions. To me, resolutions are like diets. You say you’re going to do something, you stick with it for a week or two, maybe three and then you give up. In fact, this is the week where most people have already given up on their New Year's Resolutions. I'm just starting mine.

I think in order to change anything, you need to live it and believe it. You need to change your lifestyle. Like a diet, this doesn't happen overnight. You need to make a conscious effort and promise to yourself. Re-program, if you will. 

So my non-resolution lifestyle change is to focus a bit more on myself. Take care of myself and be the best "me", so I can be the best mom, wife, producer out there. Kinda like the mask on the airplane thing. I need to put my mask on first.

Am I being selfish? Maybe. But maybe we all need to be a little bit more selfish sometimes. Especially moms.

So what's involved in this change? I’m going to sleep more, be a bit more lazy, take some time off when I need to, take care of my health, my hair, my soul. I'm going to write more, knit more, dance more, cook more and be silly more. I might even work out more. Or period. And none of it because I have to. 

But I have to. We all have to.

Happy New Year everyone.