Past New Year’s Resolutions… and Their Outcome

Whether or not you have set goals for the New Year, every New Year brings opportunity to start over. Although we may choose goals that might not be realistic, I always try to be at least different in my approach. They’re not necessarily something I need to focus on everyday. I simply mark them as “Things To Do This Year” and these are their outcome.

In 2013, the goal was to visit Paris. Rain or shine, hell or high water, we were going to make it happen. And we did! When we talked about it and were planning to put it off yet another year, we couldn’t because it was on our to-do list that year – rain or shine.

About 4 years ago, my new year’s resolution was to make the decision to be a nice person. You may laugh but this made me realize that I was just fed up. I found myself to be consciously kind all year regardless and kill them with kindness instead.

Two years ago, I made a resolution to eat less and spend less. Nothing remarkable here except that I didn’t know what that looked like. It turned out it was the year I became drawn to a plant-based diet.

Last year, I didn’t really have one (or at least I don’t remember) other than to get accustomed to a new job and go to Italy. Mission Accomplished.

This year, my new year’s resolution along with eating better, exercising, getting up earlier, blah, blah, blah is to live (not only in the present), but with a realistic view. Is it realistic to be at 2 different places at the same time or within the same hour? What time will I really get there? If I eat one more flour tortilla, is it worth the allergy? The goal this year is to look at situations, circumstances and choices in a realistic point of view.

The goal is to consciously be aware of the resolution I made myself all year long. The reality of grinding it out everyday is just part of the journey to progress - that’s just the reality.

Little did I know how this slight tweak of just how I looked at things could lead to progress. Can you relate?

 Here are a few healthy food and wine resolution ideas for 2019.

Healthy Food Ideas

1.)   Do this instead of a Diet: Make a goal of trying, making, or at least ordering a plant-based dish. Salads and side dishes don’t apply. After sharing my experience with others about a plant-based dish, I was surprised to learn that a lot of us think that plant-based is just eating fruits and vegetables. Although that’s true, plant-based dishes are completely plant-based, right down to your sour cream made of tofu, crusts made of cauliflower, cooking without oil and cashew cheese topping. Experiment and find out what you like.

2.)   Get on Social Media More: Follow more plant-based or vegetarian social media posts for inspiration.

3.)   Journal This Way Instead: Write down the foods you eat all week and come up with a date and time to evaluate and make changes if needed.

 Wine Goal Ideas

If you want to broaden your knowledge of wine, here are some goals to try.

1.     Get Out There: Chances are, if you are reading my newsletter, you’ve been to a wine tasting. If you haven’t, put that on your list this year. This is where you will learn the most about wine.

2.     Subscribe: Reading my newsletter is great and there are many websites, magazines and social media posts you can follow. It’s nice to get this information regularly to expand your knowledge.

3.     Something New: Do you mainly only drink merlot, cabernet sauvignon or even just a white wine? If you primarily drink only one kind of wine, why not try one that you haven’t had before? If you drink Cabernet Sauvignon, why not try a Syrah from Argentina? If you always drink white, how about learning the difference between Pinot Grigios and Pinot Gris?

Why be like everyone else and most importantly, why make unrealistic goals?

If you lose the weight, that’s great but when you work on the inside, won’t that make you attractive regardless?

Watching my diet is a life long goal and the older I get the harder it gets. However, I never want to lose sight of what is most important and just resolve to learn and work on it everyday.

From eating healthier, being more kind, incorporating travel when I can to broaden my perspectives, and to live in the present; I make resolutions to just live better overall.

What are your goals?