I’m generally not a fan of resolutions – they generally aim too high, lack staying power and lead to feelings of guilt and failure when they inevitably crash and burn.
But this year, I’m ignoring my own advice and I’m committing to a resolution for the New Year.
A resolution inspired by watching my husband over the past few days.
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The day after Christmas found us on a plane leaving warm and soggy Atlanta to travel to not-quite-as-warm-but-equally-soggy Baltimore for a few days of football (Go Ravens!), family (his) and crab cakes (all his!).
And my husband loves his crab cakes. On this visit, like every visit to Maryland, he consumed crab for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack. Every bowl of soup was upended to reach every last drop. Each plate that held a precious crab cake was scraped or licked clean. Every last morsel was consumed with passion and purpose.
It was a beautiful thing.
In those moments, he was not concerned with the head-shaking that others may engage in when observing a soup bowl turned into a mug. He didn’t exercise restraint, metering out the bites like little crab crumbs left to mark a trail.
He ate with full-force gusto.
Which is also how he lives.
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My resolution for the New Year is to become a plate-licker. Probably not literally, because I rarely see the bottom of a plate, but in attitude. To worry less about restraint and instead, focus more on the pleasure in the moment. To celebrate hedonism in the small things without concern for what others think I should be doing.
And to realize that happiness and joy is not a finite resource that must be parceled out in order to last.
Happy New Year!
In 2015, I presented a challenge – to my readers and to myself – in place of a resolution. How did you do? I’m still working on mine:)
Through my ordeal, I too have learned the importance of happiness and being in the moment. Go easy on yourself if you have a non-resolution day. 🙂 It takes time to become mindful of the thoughts that try to creep in and take away joy. A friend shared this simple phrase: Life is too short not to have joy.
😀😀
I looked back on your last year’s post on giving myself a challenge. I am not sure whether your post triggered my attitude but I certainly did challenge myself in three key areas and am proud to let you know that I achieved my aims. The three areas and negativity that had clouded me were (a) End marital settlement (it is NEVER going to happen), (b) Losing weight (I am ALWAYS going to be overweight), and (c) decision to start a new career (I am too old). It is good to look back and see how far I have come. Thanks
All the best to you for a peaceful, joyful (and challenging) 2016.
How awesome!!! Congratulations on your challenges and thank you for sharing your achievements!! Best to you:)))
I have never been one for resolutions either…seemed more defeating than uplifting to me. I do appreciate setting personal goals (at any time of year, not just because a calendar changes! lol) and enjoy seeing progress on them…though I can’t remember the last time I sat down and focused on a specific life goal with actionable items…maybe that will be my ‘resolution’ this year-to be mindful of the power of setting goals and surveying my life and finding reasonable and actionable ones to implement. If you want to get out of a hole, you have to build a ladder. Happy New Year Lisa!
I like that resolution!! Good one:)
Sounds good! I love the hedonism reference. I usually think of hedonism as full out pleasure…sex, drugs, alcohol, crazy times. In my mind that’s how I see it. The thought of finding it in every day small pleasures is a great way to seeing it differently and seeing it possible, rather than some ideal fantasy in my head.
:))