It’s About the Journey: Two Months Into My New Year’s Resolutions

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It’s March.  I am two full months into my New Year’s Resolutions.  See “5 Resolutions I Might Actually Keep” for my full plan of action.  I had 5 specific ways I was going to improve.  I’m realizing now that my resolutions are a journey.  In other words, they are more about the process and less about the destination.  Here are updates about my journey:

  1. I planned to dance more.  Success!  One morning I busted out some stellar moves during breakfast and my three-year-old looked at me with wide eyes and said “Mom, I didn’t know what was happening to you. I thought you were a monster or something!”  I’m embarrassing my children with my dance moves ten years earlier than planned, so I’d call that a success for sure!  And, since money and babysitters were more scarce this year, my husband decided to rock Valentine’s Day for our family by cranking the music, blowing up old birthday balloons he found, and having a family dance party.  The kids haven’t stopped talking about it since. 
  2. I wanted to ask my toddlers more questions and write down their hilarious answers more often.  I fully admit that I haven’t gotten any better with this one.  Time for a March reboot!  At least I know not to ask them what they think about my dance moves.
  3. We decided to host company more often, inspired by an article titled “5 Rules for Hosting a Crappy Dinner Party.”  So far we’ve hosted four somewhat successful dinner parties.  The first ended in my one-year-old vomiting at the table.  Everyone got the flu the next day.  It just doesn’t get much crappier than sending your guests home with the flu.  But it’s only gotten better from there, and our kids have absolutely loved it.  Social interaction is important for parents and for kids.  The kids beg for visitors, and my husband even admitted that this one was one of the best ideas I’ve ever had.  Win!  
  4. I had good intentions to date my husband differently.  I guess we have made a little more effort to binge-watch “Parenthood” on Netflix together more… hmmm.  We’ll keep working on it.
  5. I wanted to take better care of myself because “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”  I started the year doing the Whole 30 diet to reset and break bad habits.  I survived, and have been cooking new recipes and going to the gym more!  The flu was definitely a setback, unless you count being bed-ridden for a day as taking care of myself.  I still haven’t used that now 17-month-old spa gift certificate, but the year is young, right?  

Here’s the point: whether you have succeeded or failed in your New Year’s Resolutions, it is never too late for a reboot!  Once upon a time my husband and I gave up sweets for the month of December.  Worst.  Idea.  Ever.  But it shows that there is never a wrong time to work on self-improvement.  If you’ve neglected your resolutions, you haven’t “failed.”  Choose March to re-boot and be a better you.  But make those resolutions fun and attainable.  

Focus on the journey more than the destination.

Take my dancing for instance.  I could work on improving my moves, but instead I’m going to embrace the silliness!  I should make a target fitness goal, but for now I’m just enjoying the me time at the gym!  Savor the journey, because that’s what life’s all about.

 

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Jolene
Jolene grew up in Luxemburg, WI. After going to college in Stevens Point and working for a year in the Milwaukee area, she moved to De Pere, WI to get married, start a family, and pursue her career. Both the youngest of six, Jolene and her husband always wanted a big family. After struggling to get pregnant, their family was jump-started by having identical twin girls, Eden and Ellie, who are now 5. Then came Jude, who will be 3 in August, and they just welcomed James, Baby #4, in June. Both she and her husband work, and Jolene owns her own company, www.howtoconcerts.com, planning large scale entertainment events across the country. Because she has to travel for work, Jolene has used a breast pump while flying, driving, walking and talking, and has the war stories to prove it. Her keys to success (aka survival) are the members of her support system, starting with her husband and extended family, and ending with good coffee and a sense of humor.