the start to a new years is a good time to make a deal with yourself.

I am of the opinion that resolutions are different to goals and are more about breaking or forming habits. When I think about it I haven't successfully added any habits before via resolutions. In fact, I had given up on resolutions in recent years, a trend I have noticed in my peers. Instead I focused on 'a general enhancement of life enjoyment', enjoying the moment and the like, a big 'check' for 2010 I believe, thank you Europe and thank you Cam. Truth be told (or as some say, to be honest with you, ie psst I am taking you as my confidant, thank you so much for your honesty to me, it's just a saying I hear you say) I could go off the deep end with resolutions. I find it so tempting, especially when some friends are so good at changing their ways piece by piece and I want to have similar success stories and be a better person. There are so many habits I consider important that I do not yet possess. You should know by now that I love lists and also that I wouldn't mind if suddenly I...

*ate only whole grains

*didn't eat refined sugars or carbs
*rhymed more in my every day talk (British people are so cool)

*exercised 3 times a week

*learnt a new language

*got at least 8 hours of sleep every night

*volunteered at an urban shelter
*didn't buy clothes made in sweat shops
*learnt to swing dance
*read through the Bible in a year in a deep and meaningful way rather than goal orientated ticking the box type of way
*ate more fish to improve my memory (this is one past failed resolution, I forgot about it for some time)

I could go on, however adding all these to a list of new year resolutions could prove to be quite overwhelming. This year I did see fit to make a few resolutions, a benefit of being a temp and being in this foreign land with time to ponder perhaps? I am trying to form the habit of writing 3 things I am grateful for each night. I missed two nights without realising it. Do you think that means that I go back to zero on the 14 days to make a habit rule? In any case I am on the grateful train, it is fairly easy in good times but I want to be better at being grateful in the less good times. I am also unofficially trying to eat less refined white foods. That is about all.

I hope your new year has started tremendously and good luck with any resolutions you might have. I am grateful you have read this, no really I am!

xxx