I suppose one could call it restructuring. Or reaffirmation. Avoiding the word 'resolutions' is difficult, but necessary in order for the redefinition to have legs.
My language has actually cleaned up this year. "Flipping" is my substitute.
Fiber goals, in review, may come later, closer to New Year's. Right now, I wanted to review for myself where I am and what I need to focus on for the near and farther future of 2015.
1. Weight. Still an issue. This is more than cosmetic, as clothes would fit better if I dumped 7-10 pounds.
2. Exercise. YAY ME. I completed the 100,000K indoor rowing challenge between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Finishing felt good, but the real motivator was avoiding how bad I would have felt if I had given up. I will try to keep to the 150 minutes recommended weekly. (Oy.)
3. Eat less crap. I am very sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The data for what is good for you and what is bad for you is currently in significant disarray. A study came out in December suggesting that low glycemic carbs were not as good for you as once thought. And that high glycemic carbs might not be as bad for you as previously stated. The study definitely has major limitations, but one of the markers chosen (insulin levels) pointed towards conclusions that became confusing. So the bottom lineage is that I now have no idea what to eat.
My plan is to eat as I have previously known is reasonable, and follow my numbers (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, body weight). Maybe I will feel less guilt for sweets. But maybe I will feel less confidence in bulgur. If I am confused, how do nonmedical people sort this out??
4. Organize my papers better. Organize the stash. Bleah. This is a psychic weight lifter only.
5. Do more stuff that I want to do. This focus is to make sure I wrest time for me from the unpaid, underappreciated, timesuck stuff that has become attached to work. There are days where I feel as if I have stepped into a tarpit.
6. Spend more time being a human being. I really don't want to elaborate on this. It simply means more outreach, more expressions of appreciation and thanks, to those I care about and love.
ENOUGH. I used the word focus, because almost none of this can be accomplished in most lifetimes. Typing it down puts it into my mindfulness bin, which I am dipping into more and more these days. I am looking for peace, I am seeking healing, and hoping for what really matters - connection.
When I give a knitted gift, my road to sanity is to let go. I gave my niece a Hitchhiker, knitted in BallandSkein yarn, merino/silk. When we visited, I didn't ask about its acceptance or utility.
The niecelet is going on a trip. We were sent bon voyage pictures. And yes, there is Hitchhiker flying proudly around her neck.
This is wonderful. I like to think of intentions rather than resolutions as well. As for eating, I believe all things in moderation is the key. Science may disagree but at least it gives me a plan! And exercise. YES.
Posted by: Carole | Monday, December 29, 2014 at 08:37 AM
Connection, being more open and accessible, is my goal for the year.
Posted by: margene | Monday, December 29, 2014 at 10:53 AM
I understand what you mean about spending more time being a human being. We could do some of that together!
Posted by: claudia | Monday, December 29, 2014 at 11:09 AM
"Focus" was my 2014 word. I was anything but. Oh well! Peace is good. So is connection.
Posted by: Kathy | Monday, December 29, 2014 at 12:16 PM
Cute photo! Is this the niecelet you taught to knit a few years back? Glad to see your hand knit is well appreciated. Connection is a good thing.
Posted by: Manise | Monday, December 29, 2014 at 05:08 PM
Numbers 4 and 5 contradict. Choose number 5. Also (as long as I'm being dictatorial), follow the Three E Diet: Eat Less. Eat Better. Exercise More. Any steps in those directions count.
Posted by: Lynn | Monday, December 29, 2014 at 07:09 PM
These are all good, sensible goals. #5 and 6 are on my short list for 2015 as well. I've given up trying to figure out food intake at this stage of the game.
Posted by: anne | Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 09:44 AM
For diet - moderation and variety are all you really need to consider. Whatever is declared bad today will be declared good tomorrow (and vice versa), so relax and enjoy life.
And don't let #4 keep you from #5...
Posted by: gayle | Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 11:05 AM
Tarpit, that describes my work day exactly. My one and only "resolution" for the year is to try to figure out 1) how not to step into the tar in the first place, and 2) how to get out once stuck. I do way more stuff than is probably really necessary, and most is totally unappreciated.
And being a human being is good. Nobody gets to the end of their life and wishes their papers were organized better. :-)
Posted by: Lorette | Thursday, January 01, 2015 at 05:28 PM
Which paper was that? Would be curious to see. I still go by Michael Pollan's "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." I do eat a lot of meat, though, because "mostly plants" leaves me mostly hungry.
Your gift-giving mantra is perfect, of course. Having hangups about whether a gift is appreciated, fully and in the right way, is the road to madness. This is why I love registries and gift cards, and I have no shame about giving cash gifts.
Happy new 2015!
Posted by: June | Friday, January 02, 2015 at 01:13 PM