Be Free For Me Blog

Let’s face it… this is the time of year that we all start making up lists of the things that we are or are not going to do for the coming year. A list of resolutions that we coulda, woulda and shoulda been doing for the past 12 months, but needed the fresh clean start of a shiny New Year to get the motivation to begin.

In the past most of the resolutions I made were doomed for failure. But this year is going to be different. This year I am actually going to make resolutions that I can keep.

Resolutions that are fated for failure are ones that are typically super specific… I WILL run 4 miles every day; I WILL loose those extra 10 pounds by the first day of summer; I WILL eat only 1600 calories a day; I WILL have lunch with different friends at least once a month; or I WILL save $50 every week.

This year I decided to make my New Year’s resolution ones that are qualitative in nature, and not quantitative. Resolutions that let me enjoy the journey of becoming a healthier and happier person – both physically and mentally. My rule: No menial counting allowed with my resolutions this year.

I figured that by recognizing and then repeating all the little things along the course of the day that make me a better person –  a person that is in good health and more content – all the super-specific aspirations will inevitably and naturally fall right behind.

When I rejoice at a beautiful spring day, I’ll walk a little bit longer to enjoy the day even more; When someone in the office makes a gluten-free birthday cake for a co-worker I’ll join the festivities and enjoy a small slice… calories and all; and when a friend calls me, even on my craziest of days, and asks to go out that night to “catch up” I’ll join her and enjoy every moment.

So this year instead of counting calories, miles, or how much I have saved in the bank, I’ll be counting my blessings and all the little things that make every day of the year as shiny and bright… and promising… as the day before.

 “We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.” 

~Ellen Goodman

For my New Year’s (and my birthday – December 31!) resolutions this year I decided not to set unrealistic promises of things that I am, or I am not, going to do. Instead I have decided to follow the advice of American journalist, Ellen Goodman and try to find ways to better myself – to reinvent myself. 

Instead of having New Year resolutions, I am having New Year reinventions.

My first step was to reexamine the potential of what I am capable of; the possibility of what I can be.

I decided that instead of running the Boston Marathon, something that has been reappearing on my “must-do list” after my celiac diagnosis lifestyle change, I have instead committed to make a conscience effort to put exercise and physical activity daily into my busy schedule. A daily walk will be good for my soul too.

And while taking that daily walk I can listen to podcasts on the latest news about the gluten free market, celiac disease and food allergies. A much better alternative to making the impossible resolution to read the piles and piles of periodicals, and e-newsletters that accumulates on my desk and inbox. Recycle bin here I come!

Rather than promising to enroll in cooking classes – something that is nearly impossible to do considering my more than crazy schedule, I am instead going to expand my family’s daily menu offerings to include many, many innovative, interesting, ethnic, allergy free and gluten free recipes. My own kitchen will become my very own classroom!

It’s exciting to think about the possibility and potential of promises I can keep.

What are your reinventions for the New Year?