New Year’s Resolutions…?

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As the realization sinks in that another year has passed, many of us are eager to embrace the upcoming Chinese New Year, commencing on January 23rd. In the Zodiac calendar, 2012 marked the Year of the Dragon, a potent symbol associated with success and happiness. The allure of this animal symbolism resonates deeply, and for many, it offers a glimmer of hope and positivity, steering us away from any apprehensions about other predictions, such as those from the Mayan calendar. With the powerful energy of the dragon guiding us, we set our sights on the new year with anticipation and enthusiasm. Welcoming the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, we stride forward with determination and optimism, ready to embrace the journey onward and upward. Moreover, the recent arrival of a new family member, born on January 1st, adds an extra layer of excitement to the start of this wonderful new year, making it even more special and joyous. 😀

A big part of new year traditions in many cultures is making New Year Resolutions. As Tanya mentioned in her post on Wednesday, the tradition of resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C., The concept is to reflect up on self-improvement annually and set new goals. Sharing that goal with other increases accountab

ility–in other words, peer-pressure 😉

Wikipedia actually has a list of the most popular resolution goals:

  • Improve well-being: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking, stop biting nails
  • Improve finances: get out of debt, save money
  • Improve career: get a better job
  • Improve education: improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language or music), study often,
  • Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent, perhaps watch less television, play less sitting-down video games
  • Take a trip
  • Volunteer to help others, practice life skills, use civic virtue, give to charity

Of course, they also mentioned a 12% success rate in keeping up with most resolutions. A year is a long time to be good 😉

I have a couple tips for keeping up with those resolutions–first off, write it down. Write it, print it and tape it somewhere you’ll see it daily–for me that would be on my computer desk hutch or computer monitor. And then repeat to yourself:  SEE ~ BELIEVE ~ ACHIEVE  Also, start off with smaller short-term goals, something that can be easily achieved in a few weeks. Little steps to get you moving and increase a sense of success to keep that attitude positive 🙂

I haven’t done a resolution in a few years, though I did get an early jump on the health and exercise thing–I went for all my yearly check-ups, which I hadn’t done in over three years. My youngest has plans to become a personal fitness trainer and I’ve become his genie pig of sorts and I try to stick to his fitness plan…mostly.  When I’m good and listen to him, I feel great and I have lost twelve pounds over the last few months. Since I home school, there’s no escape g. So, the new year plan is to maintain on the health and home front, but my writing schedule is getting an overhaul. My New Year resolution is to FINISH these long overdue books.  My goal is to have at least three for the new series turned in by the end of the year to a happy editor. If I don’t have the first one turned in by next month my critique partner will be hunting me down–so yeah, thumbs up on the peer pressure 😀

How about all y’all? Got any resolutions for the new year you’d like to share?

I have some extra incentive–I’ll be giving away an ebook to one lucky comment poster, through B&N Nook or Amazon Kindle, winner’s choice of any of my books.

    

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41 thoughts on “New Year’s Resolutions…?”

  1. I don’t really make resolutions because I don’t stick with them. I do need to start exercising more and loose some of this weight I have picked up over the holidays. I did take a walk today, the weather was nice enough to do so. I guess that is a start but the weather is not going to stay this nice I am sure.

  2. A lovely start, Quilt Lady! I wish I lived closer to my mom–she’s got some really nice walking trails by her place. Hope you get lots of gorgeous walking days 😀

    I tend to be an all or nothing kinda gal. Either I commit, or I don’t even start.

  3. For some reason, I decided to finally give up making resolutions this year because it depresses me when I discard them within a month (or less). I guess my only resolution is to have a better year than the last!

  5. I’m also one who gave up on making resolutions. Seemed I usually only lasted a week, but this year I think I shall resolve to tell my family and friends that I love them more often. Makes us all feel warm and fuzzy.

  7. I would like to say that I stopped making resolutions but I haven’t – each year feels like a new start and I enjoy putting all my ducks in a row!

  8. Stacey,

    This year my resolutions revolve around my writing. To get a website and blog started (this is almost done). Get my first sell. And just keep writing, writing, writing.

  9. This year our resolution (mine & my husbands) is to try to start eating better and walking more. We aren’t getting any younger so we need to start taking care of each other better! I just hope we can stick with it. Its cheaper and easier to eat junk than the healthy things we need!!!

  10. Love your covers, Stacey. Gorgeous. I do make resolutions and try to keep them. Yesterday I backed up my resolve to eat healthier by making a big pan of roast veggies. Plenty to warm up for later.
    Wishing you a calm, productive year. You deserve it, Filly sister.

  12. I don’t usually make resolutions, but this year I do want to focus more on my blessings from God and not dwell on the negatives – I want to be a more positive person. 🙂

  13. I don’t usually make resolutions, because I never follow through. The only thing that I wanted this year was to continue working out and losing weight. I have lost 30 pounds so far, but with the holidays I have gained a little back.
    You are a new author for me and your books look great and would love to win and read. I love series of books and would love to win the first book from your series, Mustang Wild sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.

  15. I haven’t made a resolution in years, because I never follow through. Sounds good at the time, but then, something always comes up to get in the way. So I just stopped the foolishness.
    Your book covers are the reason I have bought your books, Stacey. And I haven’t been sorry. Good stories, all.
    I really should follow Kristin’s resolution about writing and selling. I’m behind you, gal.

  17. Oh, exciting, Kirsten! Looking forward to checking out the new site 🙂 It’s good to have a home base editors can go take a peek at. And you can’t have too many finished manuscripts lying around–a dear friend of mine just made her first sale, sold five westerns 😉 Happy writing!!

  18. I hear you, Leah, eating healthy is EXPENSIVE. My youngest has been a vegetarian since he was about 13, so four years now. I think our grocery bill doubled, and trying to get fast food for a vegetarian who stays away from fries…forget about it 😉

    So great that you have each other for motivation though! If it wasn’t for my boy staying on my case, I know I’d slip back into those “convenient” patterns, not that I don’t stumble now and then. It’s pretty sad to reach for chips and see my 16 yo scowling in disapproval 🙁 But, wow, does getting out and moving make you feel better 😀 Happy walking!!

  19. Thank You, Elizabeth! I miss getting new covers, getting new covers is kinda like writer’s Christmas morning 😉 Cheers on the healthy eating! I have found the secret to eating better is having all those good food in sight and readily available 😉

  20. Yay Stacey!! I like you’re goals!
    I’ve been eagerly anticipating your next book 🙂

    My resolution is to chase my happiness!
    Daily.
    To remember I only get one shot at each day and to make it good.
    Which includes eating healthier, not feeling guilty about doing stuff for me and trying to worry less about what others think.
    Oh–and of course–to live in the moment a little more.

  21. I don’t really make resolutions, but I would like to try to read more in 2012. I didn’t read as much as I wanted to in 2011.

  22. I don’t make resolutions but I do set yearly goals. I break them down and work on them monthly. This helps me break it down into realistic, mangeable goals.

  23. I don’t usually make resolutions but this is the last year of home schooling my son, so I hope to send him out into the world with a positive attitude.

  26. Cheers on the 30lb loss, Chris!! I figured if I could just maintain over the holidays, that was a win, but I might have slipped on a pound or two 😉 My kid has already reminded me today that we’re back on the work-out schedule. Fair enough I suppose since I harass him about his schoolwork 🙂

    Thanks for stopping in to share!

  27. I gave up resolutions years ago because of the low success rate and I’ve always tried to fix wasn’t working as the year went along and not wait for Jan 1st. However, this year I am looking at as a fresh start in many ways. I’ve had a rough 3 years and have had to learn many skills over again. I am resolving to be comfortable with who I am and what I amble to do. I will also be setting a writing schedule of 50 words a day and if I get more great, but at least I will have 50 on a page, which 2 years ago was impossible. It’s consistency that counts.

  29. Thank you, Mary! Glad you’ve enjoyed my books 🙂 I’m loving these writing resolutions! I keep telling myself even a page a day is progress. Though I prefer chapter days *g*, you need sparks to start the fire 😉

  31. Stacey,
    I used to make resolutions and write them down. Somehow, writing them down made them seem more real. But then I just felt guiltier when I didn’t follow what I’d written down. After I had kids, I didn’t make resolutions so much anymore. I had enough to do without thinking about another thing. LOL So here’s my resolution that I make year after year and try to keep–it’s simple. Do as much good however you can, as often as you can, wherever you can. This year, my resolution (the one above) is going to apply to animals. Even if it means all we can do is to help make people aware of the puppy mills, dog fighting and other deplorable conditions, awareness is an action. I hope to be able to give money to some of these organizations that help animals and are so sorely in need of funding–It won’t be much, but every little bit helps. One that I just learned about not too long ago is where they take beagles that have been tested upon in the labs and find good homes for them. Most of them have never set foot outside their kennels. Anyhow, that is my continuing resolution and it’s easy to keep. You have set some good goals, my filly sis! Good luck to you in 2012.
    Hugs,
    Cheryl P.

  32. I no longer make resolutions because I never kept
    them! I save myself from the major headaches that
    I would suffer while trying to find new goals to
    set!

    Pat C.

  33. Pretty much make the standard resolutions every year. I really hope this is the year we finally finish renovating our house (2 years and counting). I resolve to buckle down and get these boxes unpacked and the house straightened up and KEEP it that way.

  36. Same here, Tina 🙂 My oldest is a senior this year with only two classes to finish, and we’re trying to prepare for the big launch. It’s kind of fascinating to see him making plans and looking forward to college 😀

  38. What a great resolution, Cheryl! I agree, all contributions to the well-being of others, no matter how big or small, are worthwhile 😀 Thank you for the well-wishes and for sharing!

  41. My resolution this year is to read for PLEASURE. In the past my huge “to be read” pile was so daunting that I felt like I had to rush through it in order to whittle it down. I also felt like I had to read what was popular with others. No more. In 2012 so far I’ve read what I wanted to and with no timeline and I’ve been happy so far.

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