A few days ago, on Halloween, I was driving to my office, happily admiring the last of the oh-so-vibrant fall colors (I think they’ve been the best in years), and listening to the radio. As I drove downhill past an especially bright clump of orange-red-yellow trees, a familiar voice caught my attention. It was the always-pleasant sound of the late Kenny Rogers singing…OMG…a Christmas Carole.
“WHAT?!?!,” I shouted out loud to no one but me. I was thinking – on Halloween – the station should be playing Rocky Horror’s Time Warp. Or Michael Jackson should be Thriller-ing me with the reminder that “it’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dark…”
I was ticked. “It’s toooo soon for Silver Bells and snow!!” Again, to no one but me. So I changed the station and went back to enjoying the fall foliage.
Then I started thinking...
The Busy Holiday Season leads to Forgotten Goals in 2022
Halloween is October 31 and New Year’s Eve is December 31 – that means just 60 days left to 2022. And you know it gets – how we get – these last two months. We’ll be getting together with family and friends, enjoying the Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah season. The time will fly by with all the prepping for holiday dinners, buying gifts, and figuring out what to wear for parties. It’ll go so fast.
Before you know it, the New Year will be here, and “resolutions” will be the buzzword. UGH! I gave up making resolutions. Maybe you did too.
Did you know that nearly 80% of the people who make New Year’s Resolutions give them up by the end of February?
And, of course, the most common resolution to lose weight and to get fit is the reason why Weight Watchers meetings and the local gym are packed for the first six weeks.
In my world – and especially as I’ve gotten older – New Year’s resolutions aren’t worth the stress. At the same time, I still want to live my best life. No matter what changes happen in and around me, I want to be and feel happy and satisfied.
Forget New Year’s Resolutions! Try this Instead
How about you? If you feel the same way, I’m inviting you to think about what would be “best life” for you in 2023…and do it now, to avoid the holiday rush :-).
Here’s what to do:
STEP 1: Get Your Baseline
Start with a “lifestyle baseline” by thinking about and answering these questions:
- What were the best parts of 2022 for me?
- Doing this is psychologically good. Jot down some feelings or look at some pix to remind yourself of happy and fun moments or events. Even just going back over your FB posts can remind you of stuff you forgot but that meant something.
- What didn’t go so well…and how well did I handle it?
- Stuff happens, and if we pay attention, we can usually grow from it. Like…did you show resilience in spite of a challenge, or did a bad patch help you improve a relationship or forge a new one?
- Stuff happens, and if we pay attention, we can usually grow from it. Like…did you show resilience in spite of a challenge, or did a bad patch help you improve a relationship or forge a new one?
STEP 2: Tools For Thriving
I have two fabulous tools for you to help you figure out what “best life” things to think about and focus on:
- FOR YOU: The Clean Sweep is one of my personal favorite life tools. It provides a snapshot of where you are in your life right now and may give you some “best life in 2023” ideas. Also, you can review the Clean Sweep every quarter to gauge your progress. Download the pdf here: CLEAN SWEEP
- FOR YOU AND YOUR SWEETIE: As life changes, you two change. Sometimes you get lost in life and get disconnected. The Marriage Curiosity Conversation is designed to give you two a good idea about where you are as a couple.
- Did you know…The week of Thanksgiving is National Better Conversations Week – and the MCC is a great way to start!
STEP 3: Getting the ‘Good Stuff’
Join me for a free webinar – on November 17, 2022 4pm est. Mark your calendar now and look for the registration form in next week’s email.
This is a one-hour zoom that will walk you through some steps that you can use to add more good stuff into your life (whatever “good stuff” is to you) and keep it going.
Enjoy what’s left of our fall weather, and join me on November 17!
Happy Thanksgiving!
With love and in victory,
Annmarie
Btw: If you like what you read here, and you think someone you know will benefit from reading it, please forward this to that friend, relative, or colleague. THANKS!!
