It’s a new year, which means new resolutions. Every year it’s the same thing…”I’m going to lose weight”, “I’m going to eat clean”, “I’m making a lifestyle change”. And every year we(almost everyone) falls off the bandwagon. Let’s be honest, how many of us have actually made it all year, or even 6 months…heck past January?
This year my resolution has changed. No more will I make this resolution about ME but about US. When I say “us” I mean my family, my people, my unit. I want to set goals that impact my family as a whole and be something that is actually doable.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about doing the impossible and defying the odds but why do we set ourselves up for disappointment year after year just to press repeat again next December 31st? I commend those who go through with it and change their lives for the best but for the rest of us lets switch it up; let’s do something else that could be life changing that doesn’t include ridiculous weight goals.
How about we teach our children how to be better human beings. Maybe we focus on teaching our young teens how to love themselves: the body God gave them, the talents they possess, and the confidence needed to pursue their goals. Our elementary kids could be taught about hard work and patience. Or maybe you have toddlers and infants like myself and want to start smaller.
The possibilities are endless and these are just a few ideas, but for myself I’ve decided to start changing my family from the inside out. This year my resolutions will be the following:
1) Teach my children how to love and take care of others. I want my children to grow up with compassion for others in need and help where they can. I want to teach them that helping or taking care of someone doesn’t mean just putting money into a donation box, it means going out and physically taking care of others in need. Things I plan to do include asking someone on the side of the road if there is something we can get them that they need (i.e. food, blanket, toothbrush, socks, etc.) then retrieving some items for them. Or helping out a neighbor that may be too old to do basic things like lifting boxes or pulling weeds. These are all things that are easy yet help people out in a big way. I want my children to learn that giving to others needs to come from the heart not the wallet.
2) Learning to how control my patience level. Notice that I didn’t say “learn more patience” because lets me honest…that’s not possible! Your patience level is the level you have. You aren’t going to magically gain anymore but you can learn how to manage it and cope with your emotions when you feel like you’re going to lose it. My husband for example lost all patience with our 3 (soon to be 4-year-old) the other day and started screaming. My son is not phased at all by it which instead made my husband even more mad. I don’t want our children to grow up with memories of mom and dad always yelling at them, nor do I want to create the same in them of always yelling to get their point across. Instead, a good solution would be for my husband to turn to me with some type of signal letting me know he can’t handle the situation anymore or he’s going to lose it. He can walk away in order to cool down. Our kids may notice him walk out but what they won’t notice is him yelling.
My list isn’t long because I want to completely focus on these two things. Make a list that is concise and reachable. I think we all need to look towards the next year and really decide what things could better ourselves, family, and the world as a whole.
Cheers to all the mothers out there! Here’s to hoping that everyone’s 2017 will be full of blessings, growth and lots of love.
With love,
Jackie
