Photo: paulwoolrich on Flickr
As much as I hate them, I make them: New Year’s Resolutions.
I guess I struggle with living in a once-I’ve-screwed-it-up-it-can-never-be-perfect-again state of mind… the downfall of all perfectionists. See, after starting a new project or launching into some new commitment, there’s a constant drive to keep up with it flawlessly until the inevitable moment of failure.
It’s at that moment of failure that we find out what we’re really made of. The failure part is inevitable.
Failure is good, in fact. If you ask the most successful people of this world if they’ve ever failed, they will undoubtedly say their biggest successes came from figuring out what happened with their biggest failures.
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely. [Henry Ford]
In that moment of failure, we have to look at what went wrong and learn from it. What is keeping us from achieving that goal? Why didn’t it work? What can we do differently to obtain a different, more successful, outcome?
So here are my New Year’s Resolutions:
1) I will be a more attentive wife and mother
I am going to deliberately make time for my husband and my son every day no matter how many ideas I have or how many things I want to achieve. No matter how many chores need doing and no matter how tired I am, my number one commitment is to my family. Morning cuddles come before Twitter and maybe even before coffee. Dinner conversation comes before blogging. Good bye kisses will be given with love and patience and not the stress that comes with being just a few minutes late.
2) I’m going to be more helpful
This applies to real life and my blogs. I want to spend more time focused on other people and their needs and how I can help. I want to make a point of stopping and helping when I see someone struggling with their groceries. I want to look for ways to encourage people I care about. I want to write more about business and my knowledge and wealth of experience in my field so small business owners can benefit. This requires me to dig in and look at ways in which I am, indeed, knowledgeable. I find it hard to see sometimes.
3) I’m going to treat my body well
Let’s face it: I’m not 20 anymore. When I don’t get enough sleep, don’t drink enough water, eat on the go and sit at the computer regularly, the only thing that suffers is my health. I love the overall sense of wellbeing I get from sports and exercise. I love the clarity and peace that comes when I eat healthy foods. I love sleeping too 
I don’t love drinking water but I do love that I’m less snippy when properly irrigated. I’m not going to put a specific goal to it, but I will live each day with the intention of drinking plenty of water, eating a colourful assortment of fruits & veggies, and moving a little more… even if it’s a round of hula hooping with the Wii Fit.
That’s it. Not so difficult, right? Wrong. I will, at some point, fail at each one. I will become angry and irritable with my family members. I will likely begin focusing too much on the things that would make me happy at the expense of the people around me. I will also likely eat at McDonald’s or drink Coca-cola during the year ahead. But this year, I’m going to keep moving towards the future with good intentions and a spirit of courage.
I want to be known as someone who runs a good race.
What are your New Year’s Resolutions and what will you do with your failures?
I basically could say ditto to everything you just wrote. As a self-diagnosed perfectionist, I never make resolutions because I don’t want to fail. I guess failure leads to success right! My new year’s resolution is to learn how to have balance. I will become a first-time mommy in 2009 and it will require much balance, which may not include staying at the office 14 hours a days, seven days a week! Good luck to you.
How exciting Krista! When are you due? Yes, motherhood is an adjustment. I didn’t adjust as well or as quickly as others do, but my son is an absolute delight. But, yes, balance is definitely key
So many more things to juggle and so many more things to consider in decision-making.
I tend not to make resolutions. But like most people I suppose it would be more exercise. We’re already eating pretty healthy just need to setup up the movement part. Being stuck in front of a screen for 10hrs+ a day isn’t fun. With boarding, the gym membership i have now, hopefully things will go good!
Michelle, great resolutions!
I especially love the one about making time for loved. So many of my resolutions this year have been self centered… thanks for taking my blinders off a bit so to speak… I’m going to re-think mine a bit.