The role of a resolution is to fix all the things you neglected since you gave up your last resolutions in March. My goal last year was to get my shit together, and I think I pretty well accomplished it. My bills are up to date, my fitness regime is fairly on point, we keep up with the dishes, and I do my best to find creative, intellectual, and temporal space to keep up with my life
The thing is, I feel pretty darn good about 2013, and instead of a resolution, I just want more of the same.
It’s not that I don’t value making goals – I definitely have some – and resolutions can be powerful for many people. But maybe the overarching plan should be getting to the point that you don’t have to make resolutions to feel good about your life, because it’s good as it is.
Here’s a little summary of what 2013 looked like, and I eagerly charge ahead into 2014 with the goal of doing the same thing, but better.
So remember last week when I said I’d make a big announcement?
And then, remember how I said I was working on meeting deadlines?
Oops.
Anyway, here’s what the big hubbub is all about:
This July, I’m riding my bicycle 200 miles in 2 days in the Ride for AIDS Chicago! I’ll be slipping back into those beloved padded shorts and houghing it up to Lake Geneva and back in 2 days, and serving a great cause in the mean time.
I admit that bike commuting and I haven’t been the best of friends lately. And this I intend to change. That plus a couple hard core spin classes a week.
Here’s the thing… I can take care of the peddling part, but I need your help, too. As part of my committment I’ve pledged to raise $1000 for TPAN, the organization sponsoring The Ride. This is where you come in. Perhaps you or someone you know has been affected by HIV/AIDS, or perhaps you recognize the great need for increased advocacy efforts. Or maybe you are encouraged by a group of individuals killing themselves on bicycles for a great cause. Whatever your rationale, your contribution of any dollar amount will not go unnoticed.
If 180 people donate $5, I will surpass my goal.
Plus, I’ll throw in a postcard from Lake Geneva.
So if I’ve convinced you to give the cost of your daily latte to a great cause, just visit this here little link:
Lent is perfectly placed in the calendar… just enough time has passed to falter on New Years resolutions and people need an excuse to regain focus. As for me, I feel pretty good about my New Years resolutions: in 2013 I’m looking to meet more deadlines, find space, and drink more tea.
For the most part, I’m keeping my end of the bargain, but I’ve also been itching to take it to the next level.
You see, I’ve been on a diet for a few months. Let’s call it “Weight Watchers” (because it is). I didn’t add anything food related to this year’s resolutions because, frankly, I know better. This is my third attempt with Weight Watchers and it’s taken awhile stick. But now that I’ve embraced the plan it’s starting to work. Overall the thing I’ve benefitted from with Weight Watchers is a renewed mindfulness toward what goes into my face. The problem is, I’m not losing much weight.
Maybe this should concern me more than it does…
Part of my ambivalence has to do with realizing that I abolished the plan and joyfully gained weight over the holidays. So after four careful weeks on plan I’m now about where I started. The other part is: my pants fit better. I actually feel as though my body is lighter and leaner even though it’s not reflected on the scale. Given my past piss-poor relationship with food, I consider my laissez faire attitude a huge victory. Every shred of my intelligence about food and fitness tells me I’m on the right path, and that it’s not about the numbers, but about the overall lifestyle. Still, it’s frustrating to not see much in the way of tangible results.
So I think it’s time to take it up a notch. By notch, I don’t mean a juice cleanse or joining The Biggest Loser, I mean Lent.
Having mastered the vending machine last year, I decided that I was up for another 60-day challenge. What better excuse to deprive yourself of superfluous indulgences than Lent?
So long, old pal
Disclosure: I made a not-so-public pledge at New Years to dramatically reduce my consumption of alcohol. I was drinking enough that my energy levels were consistently low, as was my motivation and zeal for life. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’ve pegged alcohol in causing my waist to rapidly disappear over the past year. I made a promise to myself that I was going to cut back, and I did. I’ve gone from 1-2 drinks a day to 1-2 drinks a week.
Long story short, it’s working, my waist is shrinking, but unfortunately I replaced one vice with another: caffeine
Give up coffee? Are you kidding me? Not a chance.
I’m kicking the diet cola for 60 days.
That deliciously refreshing, bubbly treat.
A caffeine boost that I can drink after 4pm and get away with.
I’m giving it all up.
This will, I imagine, save me a boat load of money and dramatically lower my consumption of caffeine and chemicals. The replacement: tea, which promotes adherence to one of my three resolutions… win win.
Teaser:
There’s one more goal I’ve added to the pile for 2013, but you’ll have to wait until the next post for the big reveal. Here’s a hint: it involves padded shorts. See you on Wednesday!
I admit it. I have a easy time making goals, and a hard time keeping them. Some say I’m over-committed, others say I’m wishy-washy. Over ambitious. Unrealistic. Even simply a jerk for making promises that I can’t possibly keep.
In a last-minute lenten experiment in February I swore off the vending machine for 60 days, and hopefully for good. While it might seem trivial, this was no small feat for me. Perhaps more so because of my reputation for making and breaking goals, as time wore on my chemical dependence on sugar and chemical additives faded and my resolve grew stronger.
And I did it.
It’s in those dark moments of your life that you go toward the toxic things that give you shallow comfort. It could be drugs or alcohol; cigarettes or food. For me, the vending machine was that thing. So I find it particularly awesome that during a particularly chaotic time for me I haven’t strayed off the path. Even after Easter came and went.
How did you do it, Lauren!?!
Simple: granola.
I can’t completely deny my personality – I’m a person that requires a pacifier from time to time. I replaced M & M’s with granola and yogurt, nature, and namaste. Not only did this satisfy my need for a crutch, it gave me energy and health and fortitude. And now, not a day goes by that I don’t get a little granola in my life.
Lauren Warnecke 
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