Resolving Not to Quit

Editorial by Beth Fussell
    I have a long list of New Year’s resolutions: eat more healthily, drink more water, exercise more, read more, etc- the sorts of things that are on most people’s lists.  True to form, I have already broken every one of these resolutions.  It is interesting how we as a society set up these times to “start over” and improve ourselves.  Sure, I could go for a run instead of watching TV, but why start now when I could start my new routine on New Year’s Day?  Or on my birthday?  Or at the start of next week?  Even better, if we break our resolutions, we often think, “Oh, well, better luck next year.”
    My point is this: We are filled with good intentions.  It is easy, even fun, to make lists and promises.  Bringing those lists to fruition is where it gets hard.  The fun quickly disappears when I realize I might have to get up at 5AM to make time for the gym, or when I admit that I actually have to skip the soda if I want to drink more water.  So I always find a reason to start later, to wait for a milestone day when I can begin to take my list seriously.  I fail to recognize that the day of the week or the date on the calendar has nothing to do with my goals in life or my behavior day to day.  Focusing on these arbitrary starting dates is what causes me to procrastinate, and I fail before I ever get started.
    So if you are already slipping on your resolutions, or perhaps you avoided making any because you felt you wouldn’t keep them anyway, know that it is never too late to make a positive change, whether that be in your health, in your attitude, or in your daily habits.  Every journey starts with a single step, and you don’t need a new year to take that step.  When it seems you are failing at something you want or need to do, that is not the time to quit or to promise yourself you will do it next year.  It is the time to start again and to make your time count toward your goal.  You will find success when you decide that your goals are more important than your excuses.