A Resolution for Life

Since 2012 arrived I have been reading about New Year’s resolutions. Some are making big changes, others are taking baby steps, while many are opting to not make any resolutions whatsoever since they always end up breaking them within the first couple months of the year. I think resolutions are like diets; they never work. Diets are die with a “t.” Resolutions don’t fall far behind. People make these life-altering decisions to change who they are and how they conduct themselves are their core. Of course they’re doomed for failure.

A resolution should not be about how you can change you this year but instead, I think, we should ask ourselves, “What one small change can I make within myself that will make me a better me, for the rest of my life?” A new year is a time to reflect back upon one’s life so far and to plan for the future. We need to be realistic and live in the present moment but why is everyone only planning for the next few months? Or, at the most, only the next year? Socrates said,

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

I couldn’t agree more.

After examining my life I decided to make one small change in my life that could and would greatly impact the rest of my life. I decided to give up 30 minutes of television per day. I DVR every show I watch so I really don’t have to cut any shows out of my repertoire if I don’t want to, but I did. I am by far not a couch potato but an article came out last year stating that “…each additional hour spent in front of the TV increased the risk of dying from heart disease by 18 percent and the overall risk of death by 11 percent.” I read the article on CNN Health. Of course, we are a society that loves to veg-out in front of the TV. But trust me, there are many other things you can do to relax.

So what, pray tell, will I do with those extra thirty minutes I now have every day? Here is a partial list of the many things that I can do to help make me a better me and also impact the world around me.

1. Play with my son/take him to the park
2. Exercise
3. Blog
4. Write or journal
5. Have coffee with a friend, face-to-face
6. Volunteer
7. Clean up
8. Call and catch up with friends
9. Meditate
10. Study/Take a class on-line
11. Read a book
12. Use your camera; see the world through a new lens
13. Go for a walk
14. Do yoga
15. Surf the net and see what new things you can discover
16. Do something you’ve been putting off
17. Begin learning a new language

It’s amazing what you can do by freeing up just 30 minutes in your day. What could you do with an extra 30 minutes?

Present & Peaceful
Scarlet Mom