Hello friends!
Here we are: December 30. New Year’s Eve Eve.
And for many of us, myself included, we’re coming to the end of an unusual Christmas season. Unusual, meaning…things weren’t the storybook, “Covid-is-behind-us” utopian daydream we envisioned about Christmas back in October.
Nope.
And I don’t know about you, but given the current state of our unsteady world, it feels like any resolution we may make for 2022 is either a) a waste of time, because who knows what the world is going to look like in a day, a week, a month. Or b) unnecessary pressure to place on ourselves, when frankly we’re just trying to make it through the day and keep our head above water.
Listen, I get it. I’m right there with ya.
When I was home for Christmas this past week, I did a lot of movie watching with my family at night. Specifically, Hallmark movies, but then, that’s a given, no matter what time of year.
But there was a moment in one of the movies, where the father of the protagonist said to his son, “You can’t climb a ladder with your hands in your pockets.”
And I literally whipped out my phone and wrote down the quote, because I found it so profound, and such an accurate depiction of recovery…and as I’ve been pondering it today, to New Year’s resolutions, too.
There is no easy “fix” of recovery. Recovery is not a magic spell that is cast over you, where all of a sudden you wake up and never have to work at silencing the “Voice of ED,” or combatting negative body image thoughts, or sticking to your meal plan, etc.
Recovery is a life long journey…and one that takes incredible effort.
No one is going to hand it to you. No one can do the work for you. And no one can want your recovery more than you do.
It is a daily mission you are on, yourself. (And I found out quickly that I could not do it without the strength and support of Jesus, who is my recovery).
But recovery is a ladder. And you can’t climb it with your hands in your pocket.
You’ve got to show up every day, and attack it with your entire mind, body and spirit. You’ve got to be proactive, on the attack, giving it your all.
There is no other way around it.
Which, can also be applied to our resolutions.
And let me interject right here, as an anorexia survivor, this specific time of year, with the nation’s fixation on weight loss, dieting, and shedding the “holiday weight,” I’m not talking about the clichè resolution to “lose weight.”
You can find that on another blog site.
But whatever your hopes and dreams are for 2022…your resolutions, if you will…be it, to spend less time on your phone (which is mine), t0 pay more attention to your budget, to call your parents more, to spend more time in prayer, to eat more home cooked meals, to start therapy, to go on more dates to find your partner, to pay more attention to your spouse or kids, to be a better listener (also mine)…whatever you’re setting your mind and heart to in 2022, attack it with that same mindset.
You can’t climb a ladder with your hands in your pockets.
Go after it. Give it your all. Don’t be content with mediocrity. Put all you’ve got into reaching that goal.
Because, like recovery, no one is going to do it for you. And we have one life. One life to live. And though we may feel – myself included – that these “pandemic years” have been a big ol’ pause button, the fact is, time is still ticking. The world is still turning. And whether we like it or not, or think it “fair” or not, life is happening, “pause button” or not.
So now is the time to take our hands out of our pockets, and create the life we desire. Fix the areas in need of improvement in our lives. Tend to the important relationships in front of us. And put our efforts into promoting that healthy, positive change in our lives.
Because in order for things to change, things have to change.
So with that, I wish you, my friends, a blessed and happy New Year.
Be safe, be healthy, have fun, and most of all, know how loved you are!
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5
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33 responses to “Are We Still Doing Resolutions?”
I stopped the resolution thing years ago, they never work and serves no purpose! Wishing you and your family a blessed 2022 Caralyn, stay safe! ❤️
Thanks so much John! Same to you and yours! Happy New Year! 🎉
Amen, Caralyn, well said. Blessings and peace and a Happy New Year to you and your family!
Thanks so much Ryan! Same to you! Happy New Year! 🎉
Happy New Year 🙂
A beautiful post thank you so much
Love this! You’re absolutely right, and put into words so well. Can I share this on my roundup for New Years? We’re using hashtags #2022Hopes #2022Dreams and #2022Promises
That’s a great quote. Onward! 🥳💖
Hard to make resolutions anymore. Work is all consuming with Covid. You can not endeavour to travel much or make plans. I guess simpler things: eat healthier, exercise more, etc..
Happy New Year and great post, Caralyn! I love your hair!
I was going to say that too-it’s so pretty!! Also, what kind of make up do you use, a certain brand? It’s really pretty also 🙂
Thank you! I’m thinking that lipstick is probably from Arbonne. 😊 I am a consultant with them (just as a hobby).
Life indeed happens. Sometimes it can be a shock. But we shall heal—if we keep our hands out of our pockets.
Happy New Year to you too!
My last New Years resolution was in 1969: “Resolved, I will never make another New Years Resolution.” 😉
And I have faithfully kept this one for 41 years! But check out today’s blog as there was an interesting ‘twist’ in my planned blog for New Years Eve. https://capost2k.wordpress.com/2021/12/31/one-minute-past-midnight/
❤️&🙏, c.a.
Like you, I refer to the day before New Years Eve as New Years Eve Eve…that is until this year. My son’s coworkers call it New Years Adam, then followed by New Year’s Eve. hahaha! Gotta love Biblical humor. Happy New Year!
I don’t make resolutions. If the past few years have shown us anything, it is that only Jesus knows what the future holds, so look to him.
I don’t usually make resolutions.
I love the quote too!
God bless your good heart, Caralyn! May the New Year bring you great joy and deep spiritual growth!🙏🎉🎊
Excellent message Caralyn. We’ll expressed. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year! 🎆✨🎇⭐
Happy New Year, Caralyn. I pray that in 2022 your witness to Jesus will be even more powerful.
Love
Penny
xx
Love that quote … one could say, you can’t live life with your hands in your pockets!
Thank you for your thoughts, learnings and always, how God is leading and teaching you.
Happy New Year Caralyn!
Carole
Thank you Carole, you’re so right about that- gotta give live life fully, hands out-of-pockets!! Hugs and love xox
My goal is to get healthier both physically and spiritually.
Amen, there are no quick fixes. Real change requires determination & a lot of prayer.
amen to that! determination and prayer! those are the key! thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
I read an article that essentially said ix nay on the resolutions-ay and instead focus on a word for the year. https://www.elephantjournal.com/2021/12/2022-instead-of-resolutions-choose-a-word-jenny-mannion
Mine is SOBRIETY. Mindful, intentional, joyful, passionate, sobriety. Bring it, 2022!
~ Sloane
While I am not a fan of using resolutions in my life, I see value in seeking ladders to help us navigate life’s journey. There will be challenges, . . . certainly! I try to use selected words or phrases to help in guiding life in another year.
Wonderful! I love your attitude! I, especially, love the photo that you posted entitled “I WILL NOT QUIT”, this is so important to me in the physical challenges that I have to deal with. I have copied and pasted it to an email that I have sent to myself so that I can refer to it whenever I need to see it.
Happy New Year to you Caralyn! I wish you the best in everything!
Thank you so much Delores! yes! we will endure and finish the race! 🙂 I’m so glad that it resonated with you. Praying for you as you’re dealing with those physical challenges! Happy New Year! 🎉 Hugs and love xox
So True!!!! My health has been less than optimal and I feel like all I do is sleep. We don’t know the cause, other than possibly depression, which is plaguing everyone in some form or another. Bless this new year, for everyone!!
My Spiritual Director challenged me to change my New Year’s Resolution to a New Year’s Desire. He pointed out how Resolutions are filled with “I” messages and that Desires are much more relational, especially with God. ie: I desire to be more patient or I desire to grow in wisdom, etc. Desires are opportunities to invite God into the process. And so I have done as he asked me to do….I revamped my resolution into a desire and I must say I am loving the extra conversations which have been added with my bbf, G.O.D! May lot of hugs be added to your New Year, Caralyn!
I think peoples resolution should be to cut off mainstream media, DO NOT CLICK ON THEIR CLICKBAIT FEAR HEADLINES. Stop watching the mainstream news. They have helped fuel the fear over the last two years. Stop giving them our attention, and they will soon change the narrative.
Instead, support freelance online media outlets that bring us the truth or a more balanced view of events. Also, we should all pray that God brings an end to this madness soon.