Life's Little Lessons

Happy New Year! Many of us start the New Year by reflecting on the previous year and thinking about the many ways we can improve our lives and start fresh in January.  However, if you are like me, the mere thought of a long list of New Year’s Resolutions can be daunting, at best. There seems to be such an attachment to the word RESOLUTION.

In the pure sense of the word, you must take action, which is good.  We all need a little action!  However, it also means that problems must be solved. This can lead to frustration and lack of motivation the minute you fall off the wagon on your new diet or miss that day of exercise.   It can imply failure. That is the reason this year I am moving from RESOLUTION to CONTRIBUTION.

The word contribution implies gift. What a better way to look at New Years. Immediately you have gone from having a problem you need to solve to a gift you want to give. Going back to those promises you want to make, what gifts might you want to give to yourself this year?  What gifts might you want to contribute to your home, your community, your world?

Looking at the example of weight loss, you might say you want to give yourself the gift of better health by losing some weight.  Nourish your body in that frame of mind.   The food you eat is the present you are giving yourself to function at its best.   If you make some poor choices go back and figure out what triggered those choices.  Then let it go, understanding that contributing is an ongoing process, not an event.  Learn how to “regift” to yourself and start fresh the next day.

If you are looking to make positive changes in your household and community, look at the gifts you already are good at.  If you are a people person, commit to visiting an elderly neighbor once a week.  Bring the children.   So often times we think we have to “do” something to contribute to society, but often times the most valuable gifts are being there for someone in need.

So, my dear readers, commit to contribute.  Throw those resolutions out the window.   They are problems that need to be solved!   Find true happiness in contributing on whatever level you are able, be it a gift to yourself, your household, your community or  your world this year.   May 2010 bring you all many gifts!

Life Lesson? Change your words, change your mind.

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