Written with love, by Felicia Zammit-McMann
Ah, the New Year! It’s time for reflecting on the year gone by (usually way too fast), feeling hopeful for the year ahead, and setting resolutions for a better you in the New Year.
I don’t know about you, but I never set resolutions. I feel like they always kind of set you up for disappointment because, more often than not, they are not realistic goals. I’m going to stop worrying about the small stuff (that takes more than a year to master, I’m sure), I’m going to travel more (well, that’s great if you can afford it, but things happen and money gets tight), I’m going to lose 75 pounds and run a marathon (um, ok…great). You start off strong and then, more often than not, fizzle out before the end of January.
Instead of resolutions, I prefer rather to always commit to doing something bigger, and better, and more fun and exciting – no matter if it’s January 1st or June 1st. You should want to do all of the above not because it’s the New Year, but because you should do it for yourself, no matter what the calendar says.
I challenge you to do something different this year:
Make your “resolutions” for two.
Here’s why…
Bleudog Fotography
Say you really do want to lose 75 pounds and run a marathon. Making this resolution together automatically gives you an accountability partner, and it’s always easier to reach a goal when you are accountable to someone else for reaching it. If one or both of you need to shed a few pounds, you now have a cheerleader, coach, and if you are competitive, you can make it into a fun game (though, gals, men lose weight so much faster than women, so you may lose just by default). If one partner is an avid runner and the other isn’t – you now have a coach. If neither of you run, you are learning something new together.
If you want to travel more, work with your partner to make three lists of places to go: one with real “vacation qualities,” say going to Europe or Hawaii; another with weekend getaways; and the other with staycations. Save your money then see how the year starts to progress. If one of you gets a promotion or a super big raise, take a trip on the “big list” – like celebrating a great accomplishment; if things kind of remain the same, pick a trip on the weekend getaway list; if things get tight, do a staycation. By making three lists, you always have a trip to look forward to, no matter what.
If you want to stop worrying about the small stuff, guess what? I bet that’s going to help your partner, too! Work together to communicate through issues that have been trigger points. Communicating better is not only something that will help you this year, but for years to come.
So, I’m interested to know if anyone has made any “resolutions” for two. What were they and how did they go? Do you have any for this year?
