{"id":1245,"date":"2013-01-01T01:19:52","date_gmt":"2013-01-01T06:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1245"},"modified":"2013-01-01T01:19:52","modified_gmt":"2013-01-01T06:19:52","slug":"resolutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1245","title":{"rendered":"resolutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even after the transparent admission last week that Christmas is \u201cmy favorite time of the year,\u201d I must also acknowledge a strong fondness for New Year\u2019s Day.\u00a0 Not the festive and frolicking New Year\u2019s \u201crockin\u2019\u201d Eve \u2014 although toasting to friends and family both near and far is certainly sweet \u2014 but the actual initial day of another year.\u00a0 Why? \u00a0Because I love<\/em> resolutions!<\/p>\n

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Yes, yes… I realize that last line prompted many a sigh or perhaps even a \u201cso long\u201d for this post this day.\u00a0 My apologies.\u00a0 I do not desire to evoke such a lack of energy or entertainment value.\u00a0 Note, however, that my relishing of resolutions evolves not from the actual, annual intentions…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

… I want to be healthy… exercise consistently… pray more… love others better… be less judgmental… be respectful… eat better… figure this \u201cGod stuff\u201d out… work harder… listen more… talk less… be more giving, selfless \u2014 less selfish… read a new book… ask for recommendations… ask for directions… read the Bible… be teachable… save more… spend less… go to the spa… hug my kids… teach my children well… get on the scale less… focus more on people instead of things… write a letter… spend less time on Facebook… take more walks… get more sleep… focus on the important things in life… get more organized… take a daily vitamin… work on my abs… quit smoking… get a better job… be nicer… take a vacation… volunteer… read a classic… fast… get out of debt… spend more time with my family… drink less… count my calories… make a new \u2018to-do\u2019 list… throw away my old \u2018to-do\u2019 list… do away with \u2018to-do\u2019 lists… seize the day… be less busy… read the Intramuralist more… stop and smell the roses… appreciate the beauty of the sky… apologize… forgive… forgive again… and again… commit to living wisely… be more humble… be healthy…<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now the reason the sighs and \u201cso long\u2019s\u201d are so often prompted lies within the reality that for most of us, the above are only intentions \u2014 as opposed to permanent changes in our behavior.\u00a0 Our intentions are too often temporary.\u00a0 Hence, if they are temporary, what\u2019s the benefit of making the resolutions to begin with?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ah, and therein lies the fondness for the Intramuralist.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What would life be like if we encouraged the above, positive behavior change, but yet, we also allowed ourselves the freedom (for lack of better words)<\/em> to \u201cscrew up\u201d?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In other words, what if we recognized that much of the above is<\/em> hard? …too hard, in fact.\u00a0 Much of the above \u2014 even with earnest intent and commitment \u2014 may be or appear too difficult to do.\u00a0 With that honest recognition, how would our resolutions be altered?\u00a0 Would we then simply refrain from ever making them?\u00a0 Would we give up on the process, noting that while the behavior would certainly be a positive change, that the degree of difficulty makes our pursuit fruitless?\u00a0 … that with desired consequences unlikely, resolutions are futile and therefore unnecessary?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friends, as realistic as such sounds, my greater sense is that such logic misses the beauty forded on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is not the actual resolution that possesses greatest value.\u00a0 True, eating healthy is a good idea; it has great value.\u00a0 So does taking a daily vitamin, being humble, and appreciating the beauty of the sky.\u00a0 Those are good<\/em> things!\u00a0 But the benefit of the resolution is the growth that comes via the process.\u00a0 The more we focus on being humble \u2014 whether or not we actually, ever, totally and truly get there \u2014 the more we focus on being less judgmental and exercising more consistently, the wiser we will be.\u00a0 The healthier we will be.\u00a0 And while we may not <\/em>actually \u201cget there,\u201d the pursuit moves us closer to where we want to be.\u00a0 The pursuit \u2014 and thus the intent \u2014 is good.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The reason the Intramuralist so appreciates New Year\u2019s Day is because it\u2019s a clean slate.\u00a0 Once again, we are given the abstract opportunity to focus on what\u2019s most important.\u00a0 Yes, we need to give ourselves great grace in the process; know now that we will most likely \u201cscrew up\u201d somewhere.\u00a0 But thanks to the freshness and attractiveness of a clean slate, we are more willing to make the resolutions that we know would be wise to embrace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Happy New Year, friends!\u00a0 Time for this semi-humble blogger to hit the elliptical.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Respectfully,<\/p>\n

AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even after the transparent admission last week that Christmas is \u201cmy favorite time of the year,\u201d I must also acknowledge a strong fondness for New Year\u2019s Day.\u00a0 Not the festive and frolicking New Year\u2019s \u201crockin\u2019\u201d Eve \u2014 although toasting to friends and family both near and far is certainly sweet \u2014 but the actual initial … <\/p>\n

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