New Years Resolutions in Dec.
This year, I’m going to make some resolutions that count! That resolution that I’ve been making every year, for the past 10 years, to lose 10 pounds, hasn’t happened yet, so I’m going to forget all those “shoulds”. Saying “I should”, over and over, for 10 years, when it keeps on not happening, is a bit guillt laden, and it’s getting old.
This year, I’m going to try it a different way, and I invite you all to join me. I’m going to get at the root cause of all the things that keep happening that “shouldn’t”. Why do I keep gaining weight? Why can’t I seem to lose it?
My favorite excuses are: I don’t have time to go to the gym; I’m too exhausted, by the time I get time to get out and exercise; I don’t know how; It’s boring when I’m alone; I don’t have room in my house to exercise to a video.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been making these same excuses, for 10 years, and more. Maybe there’s something to them.
What are the answers? I found some good ones in a few magazines, and created one of the best ones, myself, or maybe I didn’t create it, but simply realized that it fills one of my biggest needs. The need for time to stop and take stock.
Some people need to take that time, every morning, to make a list of what they think they really need to do, that day. If you do that, do you then really take the time to prioritize that list? Do you take the time to reward yourself, after you’ve checked off each item, as you get it done? Make sure that you resolve to do that, too. It needs to be scheduled in, just like everything else, or it won’t happen. And keep in mind, that a list just keeps growing, so you have to keep prioritizing, each time you add an item.
One of the other great tips that I just read, is making a fitness date, with a buddy. I then read that it actually works better if it’s someone that you don’t know very well, because then you’re less likely to blow off the date. Making sure that you really enjoy your fitness activity helps too.
What I really love to do, for exercise is belly dance. I’ve been trying to get belly dancing back into my life, for 5 years. I’ve finally found a couple teachers willing to trade lessons, for massage. One of them could only come once every other week, and I wanted a bit more, so I had to look for one more teacher.
My next problem was space. I definitely don’t have the space, for dancing, in my home, so I had to rent some. Where better, then a dance school?
One of the Moms of my Mothers Club knows a woman who owns a dance school, and recommended that I call her. Happily, that owner was willing to rent her space to me, for massage, too.
This bartering of services is something that anyone can do. It’s probably going to be easiest if you deal with people who sell their own services.
I read an article, once, about a woman who had her whole house built, furnished, and decorated, for massage. I’ve given massage, in trade for a beautiful handmade piece of jewelry, and am trying to find someone to give me Yoga lessons, for massage, too.
I’ve also come across women who’ve said that they’re open to professionally organizing my home, for me, in trade for massage, or professionally doing our yearly family portrait, but I’ve digressed.
The topic was New Years Resolutions, and how to really make them count.
It’s ok to write down a huge list of resolutions that you’ve written down before, because you knew that they were things that you “should” do, but then I want you to burn it, and start over with something completely different.
The difference is what do you really WANT to bring into your life? I wanted a fun way to exercise, with a real human being, as opposed to with a video, in a home where I really don’t have a comfy space, for doing the type of dance that I love. I put that out to people on line, to get some ideas, as to how to do that, and found my teachers. Now I know that I’m going to complete that old New Years Resolution, to lose some weight, and it’ll just be a by-product of doing something that I’ve been wanting to get back to doing, for the past 5 yrs.
Money is tight, for a lot of people, these days, so instead of trying to get money, for your services, how about something that you can do, on a fairly regular basis, that is going to keep you healthy and or happy, or something that is going to make your life easier, or more balanced?
Think about it. If there was a hole in your roof, and you had no money, but you were really good at cooking, and your neighbor was a terrible cook, but a great roof repair guy, wouldn’t it make sense to bargain one skill for another, if there were no money to be had? This isn’t a new concept.
Selling your wares or services for money, is great, when your clients have money to barter, but these days, money is sort of hard to come by, and if your roof is leaking, what are you going to do?
Luckily, my roof isn’t leaking, but I’ve been missing my belly dancing, for a long time, so I was thrilled to find two teachers willing to trade for massage, and luckily they were just as thrilled with the idea of the trade.
Maybe my next mission will be to begin my own breed of barter club. There already is such a thing, based here, in Petaluma, but it’s a bit expensive to join.
Please call me, if you’re interested in this idea of a barter system, among Petaluma residents.
Enjoy your holidays, and remember this year: No shoulds, on that list of resolutions. Just wants. How do you WANT to get healthier? What do you WANT to bring into your life? Get on it, now. Don’t wait.
Best wishes, for the New Year.
Sue Hirsch, CMT of Petaluma.