Are you still making “New Year’s Resolutions”? New Year’s Resolutions are so… so… 2 generations ago.  In December I look over the state of my life for the past year like I think most people do.  By December 31st how many of us can say, “ ahhhhhhhhh, my life is right where I hoped I’d be”?  Can I say this out loud… 2020 “SUCKED!” for a whole lot of people. And for some, it didn’t. Hello COVID, and with it came a whole lot of issues: businesses shutting down, financial issues and the stress and strains of isolation, and HOME-SCHOOLING. Parents are appreciating teachers a lot more, I betcha! And of course, there’s the pandemic (aka the end-o-year) weight gain thing.

Raise your hand if you’re already resolving to get to the gym, maybe get a new membership as soon as those doors open? That’s pretty much me every year.  I started off pretty good this year.  I fasted for the first couple of weeks (as I usually do), then I went on the Keto Diet. I gave up sugar , can you believe it! I started losing weight and then… I missed my Little Cesar’s flat crust pizza. Keto crashed and burned with the “I’m not depriving myself; I work too hard” mantra & mindset. It was just an excuse really…  ANYWAYYYY, hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… It’s a horrible cycle. Like the one Cap’t Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Norrington (Pirates of the Caribbean, 3) were on, it was more like a giant gerbil wheel, they were fighting, and striving to get the key “what unlocked the treasure chest containing Davy Jones’ heart.) Until BAMMM Cap’t got knocked in the head (he didnt see that bar coming) and fell off the wheel. While the others kept striving. RESOLUTIONS are just like that! But when we fall off, our “SELF” is impacted (Self-esteem, Self-trust, Self-image.) Man, that type of hurt lasts a lot longer than physically falling off the wheel. RESOLUTIONS have a shelf-life and expiration usually means failure. And failure can lead to SELF-loathing and SELF-abuse. Who needs toxic relationships when you literally beat your own SELF black and blue for these failures… I say we stop and stop NOW making these SELF-promises which we never keep.

Wanna know how to get over that depressing hump as you go into a new year? See and acknowledge where you are and be thankful that you are not as bad off as some other folks. There is LITERALLY always something to be thankful for. Think about it.  If you are reading this, you are alive, that’s one. After that, you can see, and process things. You can move your arms, legs, and can wiggle your toes, pschhhh… how many people woke up ill, incapacitated or even dead. Just saying… Scooch up close and listen to me for a second. If you woke up at all, IT’S A NEW DAY, make it count or don’t - that’s up to you.

Listen every year I heard my Mom, Lenora say… Next year will be better, with cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other. It never mattered if she partied New Year’s Eve away or stayed home depressed… her best day, came the day she died… at least she got an upgrade. Things never changed because she relied on luck instead of doing little things or slightly veering to the left or right to alter her course. Laozi, said “A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.” But have you heard it this way? “A journey of a thousand[ [Chinese] miles start beneath one's feet.” Meaning all you have to do is take a step, get on a roll… walk it out! Um get off you’re a%$ and just do it, make one step (in a different direction.) Stop complaining, over thinking/freaking out and rehearsing failure. STAND UP. If you’ve fallen and can’t get up, get an accountability partner. Even before that, though … you gotta make up your mind. Get serious, for real. Make 1 Intention and add some action steps to accomplish it.  Start and stop as many times as you need to.  If you start over a 100 times, it’s ok. But doing the same old things the same old way and expecting a different outcome is what… INSANITY. Stop the insanity. I want you to take one moment, yes right now… and think about what you are thankful for. Write down all the things that you DO HAVE, and what it would be like without them… and then “give thanks.”

For more information on Accountability Partners see my book 4SELF 101