I’ve decided I don’t believe in resolutions. I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions because we shouldn’t be trying to resolve things as if each year we must continually say I am going to resolve my life, I’m going to resolve my habits, and by doing so not actually resolve anything at all. But, I believe in goals. I believe so strongly in goals because you can constantly continue to reach goals, goals aren’t something you stop after 365 days and say “I did my best, time for a new goal”.
I recently read a book called, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert who is also the author of Eat Pray Love. The book was all about being okay with failure and finding inspiration and creativity in everything. Gilbert talked mostly about how writing doesn’t have to be this daunting task that takes every part of your soul, instead it can be just something you love to do, and she instilled how important it is to just keep doing what you love no matter what. In turn, I think these ideas can be applied to many things in my life and that is why I am going to tell you my goals for the new year and years to come. I wanted these goals to be real, reachable goals, but also goals that I can continue to apply to my life moving forward. So here they are:
Goal #1: Spend less time on the couch watching Netflix and instead try out some new things like read a new book (I just ordered Eat Pray Love and plan on reading that book next) or take Calvin (my very energetic dog) on more walks in Grand Rapids hiking trails.
Goal #2: Work on volunteering in the community and work on finding a way for my place of work to fulfill their “Green” promise in more ways than what they are doing currently. This is a passion project of mine, if you have talked to me in the last two months I’m sure you have heard how much the waste at where I work bothers me and how our waste could be used to help so many people in the community.
Goal #3: Wake up every day for the sunrise. I have been in Mexico for two weeks and have only missed one sunrise. I can’t even describe to you how much this has changed my outlook on each day. Now, Michigan may not have the beautiful waves of Mexico but boy do we have some incredible sunrises. So, my goal is to get up for as many sunrises as possible and appreciate each one for what it is.
Goal #4: Join a bible study. Last semester I met some really cool girls who talked to me about an awesome bible study on campus that meets once a week. They both said they would go with me and I honestly really hope we make it happen. I am learning how important it is that I surround myself with people who have an outlook on life that is similar to mine. This year I have met many awesome people and each one of them have impacted my outlook and perspective in more ways than I can count. I want to see what this New Year has in store for me in fellowship with people my age.
Goal #5: Live my life for today and not for the future. You all know me, I am a planner, I plan everything in my future down to the last moment. I am strong headed to say the least but I honestly think that the ocean and the sunrises have shown me how important it is to take everything day by day. I have so much new found appreciation for life everyday and I don’t want that to go away just because I left the sunshine and water. So, I want to work on being less of a planner and more flexible with my time and where it takes me.
I think these goals are just the beginning for me, I think at least to start this year off looking forward to what is to come I am already very excited for 2018 and I hope I continue to stay excited for each year after.
Finally, I want you to think about your goals for this year and years to come. They don’t have to be crazy outlandish goals and most of all its okay to fail, to not be perfect. I already know that some days I won’t find the motivation to get up for the sunrise, but I know if I tell myself enough that my day is going to be better if I do, I will eventually get up for that sunrise.