Begin Again

It’s a new year, a new decade and a time to begin again. The very nature of being day one, month one suggests a new start. What will this year be like for you? If thinking about the entire year seems overwhelming, just start with today. How will it be different from the past 365 days? How would you like it to be different?

This time of year, many of us make resolutions. Are you thinking about eating better, exercising more, getting organized, spending more time with family and friends or finding a better life balance with less frenzy and more fun? Particularly at this time of year, I love the opportunity to start over with a clean slate of possibilities.

For the past bunch of years, we’ve enjoyed our family tradition of welcoming in the New Year. We bring in our favorite food from a local Indian restaurant, play games, watch movies, stay up late and eat junk food.  Yes, I know.  Junk food isn’t the healthiest choice. However, it’s the one night we let ourselves indulge without guilt. Part of our tradition also includes writing in our New Year’s journal. After dinner, while still around the table, we record our memories of the year that has just ended and our goals for the year that’s about to begin.  We also like reading what we wrote the previous year to remember what happened and reflect on how we did with our goals.

So while I made time last night to think about my 2010 goals, today I have chosen not to act on them yet, but instead just enjoy this very quiet, still winter’s day with my family. We have a few more games, movies and left over food (nutritious and otherwise) to enjoy. Tomorrow is another day with plenty of time to begin again. By tomorrow, the Tate’s chocolate chip cookies, York Peppermint Patties and Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream will be gone, which is a good thing. Their disappearance will make way for my “eating more healthfully” resolution.

I’d love to hear from you. If you would like to share one of your goals or resolutions for 2010, I welcome your thoughts.