Caitlin S. is majoring in journalism and has been published as a summer intern for the Advertiser.
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Stacey Lane
Adviser
About Me
- Stacey Lane's Blogspot.com
- I have taught Journalism, Creative Writing and advised Young Reporters throughout the Valley for the past 12 years. I am a freelance writer for the Education, Social and Community Pages with Independent Newspapers. My students write and submit stories to Independent Newspapers' Write to Report Program, Bear Essential News for Kids -Young Reporters Program, EduKid Newspapers and In the Zona. I enjoy teaching, photography and watching writers grow as they master their new found skills... Explore the Power of Personal Expression - visit, Write On! Creative Writing Workshops on Facebook
New Years Resolutions
ReplyDeleteBy Caitlin S.
It’s been just over six months since my friends and I sat on the train and shared our resolutions on the way to ring in the new year in New York City.
My resolution excited me. It was the best one I’d ever thought of. Unfortunately, I don’t remember it now… only that it seemed like one of my better ideas. Recently, I sat with a few of the same friends, on the same train, headed to the same place. No celebration this time, just some dinner and drinks. But as we sat there and chatted, not one of us could recall our resolution.
As July 1-2 marked the halfway point of 2010, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve followed through on my forgotten goal. Either way, this is an opportunity to think of a new resolution, one that needs to be to the point and serious, because now, I have only six months to fulfill it.
I have tremendous respect for the people that have accomplished, or are in the process of accomplishing their 2010 resolution. While most people forget, or become unmotivated, there are a handful of people who do remain adamant about reaching their expected goal. For these people I think they should be motivated to keep going, possibly reach higher and think of a six-month goal. If those resolution-keepers have come this far, why not push harder do more than anticipated?
For me, I need to think about which part of my life needs a makeover — so that I might actually stick with it this time.
There are those life-changing resolutions, the ones that seem almost unattainable halfway through the year. Then there are the ones that seem like a cop-out made for those people who don’t like pushing themselves, but instead after a few small changes like to congratulate themselves.
I think resolutions should be difficult. After all, an entire year of life should hold some improvement from the last. Knowledge taken from the previous year should sculpt the new desires.
I would find more worth and motivation from a resolution that holds more weight and is challenging.
There is the usual weight-loss resolution, which millions of Americans choose every year.
At school the students who regularly go to the gym, refuse to go in the first few weeks back from holiday break in January. People always say, “I’d rather wait a few weeks for the resolutioners to give up, than have to fight for a treadmill.”
Awful... but true. Mid-February is when the gym is always back to normal.
Maybe it’s just growing up and becoming more mature, but I feel like I’ve learned the difference between making a goal and following through with responsibility so far this year. A resolution to get my grades up, or start the trek toward law school or mending friendships don’t seem like good resolutions anymore, just things I should already be doing.
Asking myself, “Why did I forget my goal?” is the first step. Was it unrealistic? Did I lose motivation? Did I get too busy? Was I distracted by something easier?
Then thinking of a goal that could help me focus on the lacking areas of my life is the next step.
Finding an appropriate goal that I could work hard for over the next six months, landed me with the idea of forming an opened ended goal, like: Getting more involved.
I think getting more involved with old hobbies I drifted away from would allow me to reconnect with other parts of my life I also drifted from.
Getting more involved might mean volunteering, helping out with fund-raisers or events that I might have turned down last year.
A little like the movie “Yes Man,” I want to start accepting ‘getting more involved’ in opportunities that come my way.
Who knows what I could do, who I could meet or help and where it will take me?