A new year, time for new resolutions!
2016 was quite a year (and thanks for the recaps, NY Times and BuzzFeed!). For me personally, 2016 was unforgettable: it was the year I became a parent, decided to leave my job, and bought my first home. My day-to-day life changed tremendously in 2016 – I went from being relentlessly focused on my career to being relentlessly focused on my son.
Now, as we kick off 2017, I’ve decided to focus on 4 things. I resolve to:
1. Be more patient and flexible – with myself and others. Life with a baby seems to move at 100mph, so I’ll try not sweat the small stuff. When things don’t go as planned, sometimes I reinforce under my breath, “I am nothing if not flexible.” It’s a great self-reminder, and has kept me moving forward instead of dwelling on the little things. So, if my baby wants to eat way more solids than I anticipated, I am rolling with it! If the line at the store is unexpectedly out the door, I am rolling with it (and probably returning another time when it might be shorter)! If family or friends drop by unexpectedly, I am rolling with it!
2. Promote my health and wellbeing. I need to be at my best to care for my 10 month old. So breaking a sweat at tennis, heading outdoors on walks and hikes, and ending the day with a warm cup of tea are all things I want to prioritize in 2017. When I am not with my son, I want to be doing something to promote my health. And maybe once in a blue moon, I can binge-watch Modern Family while eating oatmeal cookies. Since becoming a new mom, I rarely have time to turn on the TV, so this would be a real treat. And as long as I keep these nights to a minimum, they probably won’t derail my overall efforts.
3. Promote my husband’s health and wellbeing. I want to be fully supportive of my husband’s health needs, too. We are a team, so we both need to be at our best. Let’s dust off those gym shoes and go for a family walk together.
4. Help my community. Right now I find small ways to help others where I can. I try giving my time, money, or resources. This year I resolve to do more for my community. While I’m not entirely sure what that will look like or how it will unfold, I will seek out ways to consistently support others, locally and globally.
How did your life change in 2016? How would you like to see your 2017 unfold? I’d love to hear from others.