Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Holding on to Resolve by Sierra Donovan

We're a week into the new year ... how are those resolutions coming along?

I read a gloomy article last week that said only 8 percent of us keep our New Year's resolutions. In addition, more vaguely, "most of" us fail within the first week.

Can't say I'm any different. I'm often tempted by New Year's resolutions. An unspoiled January is an enticing sight -- kind of like fresh snow with no footprints on it. We haven't stepped outside, so we haven't messed it up ... yet.

But sooner or later, we have to go out that door to get to the car. Snow's gotta get walked on. And in the new year, life's gotta be lived. We can't get through a day without making some marks.

They say most resolutions fail because we give up when we mess up. I think it's because when we mess up -- as we inevitably will -- we lose the initial motivation of that enticing clean slate.

But if a resolution is worth making, it's worth sticking to it. That's true whether the resolution was made in January or September. If the only enticement to keep a resolution is perfection, no wonder we blow it! The best we can do is try to keep our footprints on the walkway where they belong.

So, go ahead. Make some tracks. And if you do mess up?

As long as you're out there, what the heck ... make a snowman.

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Sierra Donovan is a wife, a mother of two and a writer, though not always in that order. Her job and greatest joy is helping people find true love on the printed page. She's a firm believer in old movies, Christmas, chocolate fudge and happy endings. To find out more, feel free to drop by her website.

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Sierra is the author of Meg's Confession and Love on the Air, which was a Holt Medallion finalist. Her next novel, No Christmas Like the Present, is due out in October 2014 from Kensington Books. Her books are available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

7 comments:

  1. I'm much better at keeping resolutions or goals to do with my writing than I am with personal ones, like losing weight. Last year, I kept to my writing schedule planned in January, but let the weight thing slip a little. Once again I start the year on a diet and with a writing schedule. Doing okay with both so far!

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    1. Helen, I know how you feel! I ate healthy snacks at work, trying to avoid feeling hungry when I got home ... then I went face down in the Lays chips and Ranch dip! But tomorrow is another day....

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  2. I love the idea of making resolutions to create big changes in my life, but I don't stick to them. This year, I'm trying something different, creating a theme for 2014 and it is 'Success'. I plan to try some new things this year and succeed at them. Can't wait to see how this goes . . . .

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    1. Good luck, Patricia ... wishing you MUCH success at whatever you tackle!

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  3. Good words to remember, especially when life throws curves and the resolutions get harder to keep!

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  4. I think we set ourselves up for a fall with resolutions. I try to make changes as I see the need throughout the year. I'll make goals at the start of a year for business, and maybe for finances, but that just gives me an easy starting point to keep track.

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  5. Loved this post, Sierra! So true! Why not get messy about it and have some fun. Just keep moving forward, and keep trying. Happy New Year!

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