I first read this a little bit ago, and then today, as I was listening to NPR, I heard a quote from a scientist working in the early 1900s. It was something to the effect of, If you expect the world to be a better place, the world will be a better place. I rather like this.
The cold and dark create my reflective time as well. Resolutions can absolutely wait until I am planting my garden (both physically and spiritually). I love the thought of selecting a saying, a mantra perhaps, for 2025. Maybe this could be the base for an annual piece of creative art…
I found I've been very contemplative the last few months. Brain on overdrive but I have had moments of inspiration and accomplishment. I cleaned the office on New Years Day and actually felt motivated to start a fast and doing well. We'll see. No real routines for me. Loved the hibernation article! Did not know! I am a big list maker though...daily, weekly, annual and stick to chipping away at it. That works for me. Most things I get to.
I agree that January is a bad time for stuff like diets, but I make about 200 resolutions each year at around the time of the New Year and usually successfully complete over 50% by the end of the year. I'm a huge fan of that approach - I've been doing it for decades and find it really inspires me to do more things each year than I would otherwise do. Thing is, I don't have to start any of them in January. I make the list in January, but regularly refer to it and it prompts me to do things over the course of the year. They aren't all unpleasant resolutions. In fact several of them are things like play certain games, watch films, read books, do crafting. One year I had a resolution to spend a day being utterly lazy as one of my 100+ things I wanted to do over they year. They do have to be quantifyable, so I can tick them off the list when I've achieved one. In fact, I've already ticked off one as completed - I've played Munchkin Quest and playing that was one of my 2025 resolutions.
Your resolutions sound like fun! Unfortunately, I'm strongly affected by the seasons, and in the dead of winter, I often struggle to be functional. I have to save all my energy for the things that *have* to be done. So even a long-term to do list like you make is probably beyond me in early January.
Oh yes, me too. I don't find writing lists to take too much of my energy though. I won't be going jogging or swimming until later in the year, even if they are listed, but actually I quite enjoy writing in January.
I am firmly anti-resolution myself. There is something about the practice that calls to the conformity of "you are never enough." In this year of enough-ness, I don't want to buy into another energy-taxing cycle!
I drew a tarot card with regard to the over-riding theme of this year and got the Ace of Cups. Also, the year adds up to 7 and 9 - the first being a lucky number and the second referring to the completion of a cycle.
I first read this a little bit ago, and then today, as I was listening to NPR, I heard a quote from a scientist working in the early 1900s. It was something to the effect of, If you expect the world to be a better place, the world will be a better place. I rather like this.
The cold and dark create my reflective time as well. Resolutions can absolutely wait until I am planting my garden (both physically and spiritually). I love the thought of selecting a saying, a mantra perhaps, for 2025. Maybe this could be the base for an annual piece of creative art…
Ooooh, I like that idea!
I found I've been very contemplative the last few months. Brain on overdrive but I have had moments of inspiration and accomplishment. I cleaned the office on New Years Day and actually felt motivated to start a fast and doing well. We'll see. No real routines for me. Loved the hibernation article! Did not know! I am a big list maker though...daily, weekly, annual and stick to chipping away at it. That works for me. Most things I get to.
I agree that January is a bad time for stuff like diets, but I make about 200 resolutions each year at around the time of the New Year and usually successfully complete over 50% by the end of the year. I'm a huge fan of that approach - I've been doing it for decades and find it really inspires me to do more things each year than I would otherwise do. Thing is, I don't have to start any of them in January. I make the list in January, but regularly refer to it and it prompts me to do things over the course of the year. They aren't all unpleasant resolutions. In fact several of them are things like play certain games, watch films, read books, do crafting. One year I had a resolution to spend a day being utterly lazy as one of my 100+ things I wanted to do over they year. They do have to be quantifyable, so I can tick them off the list when I've achieved one. In fact, I've already ticked off one as completed - I've played Munchkin Quest and playing that was one of my 2025 resolutions.
Your resolutions sound like fun! Unfortunately, I'm strongly affected by the seasons, and in the dead of winter, I often struggle to be functional. I have to save all my energy for the things that *have* to be done. So even a long-term to do list like you make is probably beyond me in early January.
Oh yes, me too. I don't find writing lists to take too much of my energy though. I won't be going jogging or swimming until later in the year, even if they are listed, but actually I quite enjoy writing in January.
I am firmly anti-resolution myself. There is something about the practice that calls to the conformity of "you are never enough." In this year of enough-ness, I don't want to buy into another energy-taxing cycle!
Oh yes, well said!
I drew a tarot card with regard to the over-riding theme of this year and got the Ace of Cups. Also, the year adds up to 7 and 9 - the first being a lucky number and the second referring to the completion of a cycle.
I love doing divination at New Year's. That seems such an appropriate activity for that liminal moment.
I love the saying by Kahlil.Gibran. It's very pertinent.