This is the time of year when people tend to spend the most time reflecting on how they can improve in some area of their lives. You know some of the common ones: go to the gym regularly, quit smoking, save money, and eat healthier. All of these things are great, and for most people the best time to evaluate their progress is the New Year. It’s a chance to look back at how the last year went, and adjust the plan for meeting goals in the year to come.
I don’t make resolutions in anticipation of the New Year. My journey toward self-improvement is something I struggle with daily, regardless of the time of year. But I understand the need for personal goals, and self-evaluation. So in preparation for the coming year, I’ve spent some time in reflection and examination of myself in the last, and this is what I’ve come up with:
I’m not healthier than I was a year ago, or in a better financial state. I’m no closer to publishing a book or starting a family. And I’m okay with that. I may not be healthier, but I’ve gotten back into the gym – I just don’t like going. I may not have been more frugal this year, but I was able to find a job. I haven’t submitted any of my work for publication yet, but I feel stronger as a writer and poet than I ever have before. Even though I’d like to start a family, I know that I need to do a little bit more living before I can be a good wife and mother. And while my progress in these areas has been minor, there are other areas of my life that I wasn’t expecting to improve but did. I’ve made new friends to whom I can speak my mind, who are understanding and supportive, and I love them. I’m better about keeping in contact with my grandparents. I quit drinking. I feel closer to God.
Too often I make a goal for myself and then give myself a hard time if I think I’m taking longer to reach that goal than is necessary. Change takes time, and everyone works at their own pace. My pace happens to be very slow, which is fine, as long as I remember to appreciate the small improvements, the baby steps, and the things that I don’t notice getting better when I’m working on something else. If I can manage that, then I know I’ve given my best efforts to being the person I want to be.
