It’s mid-January! The time of year when our resolutions do not seem quite as exciting as they were two weeks ago! We are back to work, the holiday hype is over, and keeping those promises to ourselves do not seem as important (or easy) as they did when we made them!
If you are dating a quality guy or gal, you have some built-in help in keeping your resolutions going strong. If you don’t, but you have at least one good friend or solid family member, you have someone to give you those necessary nudges. You just have to let your person, or people, know that you need and want their help – and you need to let them know how they can help you.
Resolution Regret
Do you ever suffer from resolution regret? I do! Somewhere around Christmas, I start thinking, “Man, I’ve been eating too much junk food! I am looking forward to getting healthy and feeling great!” Then, I get out a piece of paper and start jotting down mini-goals like drinking more water, exercising two hours a day, and eating fewer carbs. Of course, it’s Christmas time, so I have to wait until the first of the year to get started, right? Resolutions always sound better before the start date. ~smile~ Sadly, when party time is over and I need to get to work, I often think of excuses for putting off my resolutions. Is that true for you too?
This year, I have resolved to get healthy and to be punctual. The punctuality resolution is going fairly well because I have not had too many occasions to be late yet, but opportunities to test myself are coming quickly. When making plans to hang out, a friend of mine once asked me if we were meeting at the actual time discussed or if we were at Heather Standard Time (i.e., anywhere from five to fifteen minutes late). Ouch.
Even now, I am waiting for a friend to pick me up for dinner and a movie. I really wanted to finish writing this post before leaving, but I knew if I did not get ready first she would have to wait while I moussed my hair and applied makeup to my face. So, I am happy to report that I am completely ready and I will just have to finish this post when I get home tonight. It is not how I am used to running my life, but I believe it is a better way – the more mature, adult way. ~smile~ However, since we are going to IHOP for dinner, I am sure my resolve to become more healthy will be tested. Some days, I do regret that resolution, but I know it is a need in my life. The mature me will see it through – with help from my family and friends, that is. ~wink~
Connecting through Resolutions
Eric and I are excitedly awaiting the arrival of our Wii U (thanks to the abundant generosity of one of our dear family members)! We both need to get in better shape and eat more wholesome foods. Eric is doing fairly well. I make him a lot of salads to carry to work and he eats them – even without dressing! Sadly, making a salad is not the same as eating a salad. So, even though I buy, smell, and chop a lot of great veggies, I am not in the habit of actually eating them. All this to say, I am looking forward to connecting more with Eric this year as we play our Wii U together and as we go on a collective journey toward better health and wellness. He is such a great partner to have because he is as excited as I am to feel better and he is willing to eat almost anything I put in front of him without complaining! ~smile~ There was one time he could not eat the meal I prepared; but, in retrospect, I don’t suppose that rendition of Hawaiian Tuna was very appetizing, even for the most adventurous diner (and admittedly, even I gagged at the completed dish).
Depending on your resolutions, you and your sweetie may struggle to stay on the same page. If your goal is to work out and eat better, but your sweetie resolves to have more fun and go out to eat more, you will have to work harder at following through with your pursuits. Maybe you and your sweetie could run together in the morning and then find one new restaurant with healthy options to try each week. It may take some creativity, but you and your sweetie can grow closer as you support each other’s resolutions.
Sharing in the Victory
This year, we challenge you to not only be a cheerleader for your sweetheart, but a teammate. Don’t just pat him or her on the back when there is success, but be a part of the success. If your sweetie is trying to write a thesis or dissertation, offer to proof read, help find sources, or just be available as a sounding board for ideas. Help make his or her environment one that invites creativity and a clear mind. Within reason, be understanding of late work nights and date postponements. This is a way you can be on your sweetie’s team and not just on the sidelines cheering. Cheerleaders care about the team, but only a teammate can truly know what another teammate is going through. Share in the joys. Share in the frustrations. Share in the victories!
This week, go on a date and talk about the resolutions and goals you started with this year. Find out how motivated your sweetie is at this point and do what you can to inspire him or her to keep on keeping on. Share your resolutions and goals for the year as well. Then, brainstorm ways you can be on each other’s team.
This is life. This is sharing life together.
How are your new year’s resolutions going so far? How can you and your sweetie inspire each other to stay the course this year?