Overnight Miracles
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Ever watched season 5, episode 11 of the sitcom Friends: The One with All the Resolutions? Watching that particular episode last night made me reflect about my experiences with my New Year resolutions. I wouldn't be lying if I told you that me following my resolutions is usually an extended version of that 22 minutes episode. So let me take you on a gentle ride to the past and explain why I do not make New Year resolutions anymore.
Year 2011...Atheena's resolutions for 2012:
1) Meditate for 5 minutes every morning.
2) Lose 10 pounds.
3) Learn a new language.
December 30, 2011: Overly excited that I wrote plausible resolutions, I turned to google to help me prepare for the new year. I typed every "healthy" word I knew in to the search engine and quickly read through numerous articles, and healthy recipes. I drove to the grocery store in the evening to get the things from my list. It was rather hard to break a habit of mine, which is to walk every aisle and "look around" to see if there is anything that I might like. Before the day ended, I dusted off my old running shoes that I have attempted to use at York University gym previous year.
December 31, 2011: Now for the new language, why not Spanish? Thanks to my high school French diploma, I now know how to order a pizza with extra cheese and ask someone "May I please use the washroom" in French. I guess it really pays off when you get embarrassed a couple of times in front of the class until you used the correct grammar to get permission to use the washroom. All jokes aside, Merci beaucoup mon professeur de franรงais! I downloaded the trial version for "duolingo" to see how it will go.
And wait a minute, isn't today the last day before the real deal? I better eat all my favorites now so I won't miss it. That feasting alone probably made me gain two additional pounds. 12 pounds to lose now...
December 31, 2011: Now for the new language, why not Spanish? Thanks to my high school French diploma, I now know how to order a pizza with extra cheese and ask someone "May I please use the washroom" in French. I guess it really pays off when you get embarrassed a couple of times in front of the class until you used the correct grammar to get permission to use the washroom. All jokes aside, Merci beaucoup mon professeur de franรงais! I downloaded the trial version for "duolingo" to see how it will go.
And wait a minute, isn't today the last day before the real deal? I better eat all my favorites now so I won't miss it. That feasting alone probably made me gain two additional pounds. 12 pounds to lose now...
January 1, 2012: Started the day without wanting to smash my phone into smithereens when the alarm went off. Drank one tall glass of water...already feeling good. My five minutes of meditation was me fantasizing about my morning coffee. Stretches...more stretches...it's Zumba time. 45 minutes later, I have never found lying on the floor this comforting. I...CAN'T...MOVE...I definitely don't look like the lady on the cd cover...all ecstatic about being soaked in sweat. After workout, I proudly drink a green smoothie while the rest of my family indulge in my mom's delicious cooking.
Starting lesson 1 of Spanish...repeating these words "la manzana" "el pan" "el hombre" "la mujer"...During this I probably asked my mom at least 8 times what she is cooking for lunch so I can mentally prepare myself for that wonderful plate of salad topped with more greens. While the table was being set for lunch, I thought about it. Is it really nice not to eat what my mom cooked on New Year's day? I mean I can always have salad for dinner. Yes, that is definitely a better plan. I chortled, then grabbed the plate to satisfy my momentary cravings.
January 2, 2012: Meditation ✔️ Water ✔️ Coffee ✔️ Exercise ✔️ Spanish Lessons ✔️ Eating Clean ✔️
January 3, 2012: Thrilled that my New Year's routine went well yesterday, I was determined to repeat yesterday's pattern.
January 4, 2012: And then on the 4th day, the truth slowly starts to unfold. I vacillated between what was written in my journal a few days earlier and the reality. I found senseless excuses for each failed resolution. I fell asleep while "meditating." Repeating words was too tedious. Convinced myself that the bananas are not ripe for the day's green smoothie.
Three days later and a couple of fruit flies in our kitchen, my mom uses the leftover bananas to make banana bread. Of course, the shelf life of the bananas was enough to put me off New Year resolutions. I realized that writing resolutions doesn't work for me. How can they? I was trying to make my last year's brain to work miracles overnight! Or in this case, a couple of nights. Instead of making my brain do a 360 degree turn in one day, I should start with an acute angle? Sometimes all it takes is a little step with a determined mind. For example, wake up every morning without hitting the snooze button 4 times. Or try not getting distracted by social media while studying. Or, truly understand the difference between "want" and "need." It's these small changes that matter the most, because for me it works. Eventually I will be able to reflect back and see why I needed the baby steps to make a huge leap.
So, if you are despondent about having failed New Year resolutions in the past, here is the good news...people who truly want to change themselves and create a "new me" will do it regardless of time, place, or date. They will make the changes without reading quotes or using it as their laptop wallpaper. On that note, adios amigos!
January 2, 2012: Meditation ✔️ Water ✔️ Coffee ✔️ Exercise ✔️ Spanish Lessons ✔️ Eating Clean ✔️
January 3, 2012: Thrilled that my New Year's routine went well yesterday, I was determined to repeat yesterday's pattern.
January 4, 2012: And then on the 4th day, the truth slowly starts to unfold. I vacillated between what was written in my journal a few days earlier and the reality. I found senseless excuses for each failed resolution. I fell asleep while "meditating." Repeating words was too tedious. Convinced myself that the bananas are not ripe for the day's green smoothie.
Three days later and a couple of fruit flies in our kitchen, my mom uses the leftover bananas to make banana bread. Of course, the shelf life of the bananas was enough to put me off New Year resolutions. I realized that writing resolutions doesn't work for me. How can they? I was trying to make my last year's brain to work miracles overnight! Or in this case, a couple of nights. Instead of making my brain do a 360 degree turn in one day, I should start with an acute angle? Sometimes all it takes is a little step with a determined mind. For example, wake up every morning without hitting the snooze button 4 times. Or try not getting distracted by social media while studying. Or, truly understand the difference between "want" and "need." It's these small changes that matter the most, because for me it works. Eventually I will be able to reflect back and see why I needed the baby steps to make a huge leap.
So, if you are despondent about having failed New Year resolutions in the past, here is the good news...people who truly want to change themselves and create a "new me" will do it regardless of time, place, or date. They will make the changes without reading quotes or using it as their laptop wallpaper. On that note, adios amigos!
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