We’re nearly two weeks into 2017; how are your resolutions going?
Whether you’ve jumped right into a laundry list of goals, already let some drop, eschew resolutions entirely, or are somewhere in the middle, these six bloggers’ approaches to the new year will give you something to think about, chew on, and laugh at.
“New Years Blogging Resolution,” Elizabeth Spiers
Tempted to pooh-pooh resolutions altogether? Writer Elizabeth Spiers makes a great case for why having a specific day to renew and commit to goals is useful.
You don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day because the other days don’t matter, but because appreciating your significant other by carving out time specifically for that is often lost in the day-to-day. Being prompted to create some goals and frameworks for improving quality of life is useful because it’s hard to step back, evaluate, and plan, when we’re insanely busy and stressed.
Not sure what to resolve to do this year? Try this handy-dandy resolution generator from Jon Atkinson at Wrong Hands. “Avoid quoting ABBA during Civil War re-enactments” seems eminently achievable!
“My Theme for 2017,” Down the Road
For some, specific resolutions aren’t helpful or appealing. That’s why Jim Grey takes another approach, giving 2017 a theme to guide him as he makes decisions and moves through the year, rather than setting resolutions that focus on specific actions.
I think a lot about who I am versus who I want to be. Some might call it navel gazing, but self-analysis is core to who I am.
Yet I want to remain open to the road ahead so I can take the interesting turns as they come. And they always come! So I avoid new year’s resolutions and I don’t set hard goals. Instead, I set direction. And I follow it generally, always scanning the road ahead for opportunity or need to alter course.
In “First Bird,” by Margaret Renkl at Nature Is What We See, a robin pauses to take a dip. Among birding enthusiasts, the first bird you spot on New Year’s Day becomes your symbol for the year. This year, Margaret’s is the common but joyful robin — fittingly, an emblem of renewal.
“Untitled (Last Year’s Resolutions),” Björn Rudberg’s Writings
Not everyone is looking ahead. In this short, melancholy poem, Björn Rudberg ably sums up the realization that 2016’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside, like so many resolutions before — although he still manages to end on a positive note.
I once had promises to keep
but at least
I didn’t start to smoke.
“My Retroactive 2016 New Year’s Resolutions,” Peg-o-Leg’s Ramblings
Not ready to commit to anything for 2017? No 2016 resolutions to look back on? For Peg, that’s no problem. She tries a new take on resolutions in a funny and gently self-deprecatory post.
Right about now, a lot of you are thinking of ways to improve yourself in the coming year; in other words, you’re making your 2017 New Year’s resolutions. Bad idea. Nobody keeps those for more than a week — two weeks, tops — so you’re setting yourself up for certain failure. If we’ve learned nothing else in the last 10 years, it’s that aiming high breeds winners, but also creates the possibility that there will be losers. That must be avoided at all costs in the interest of building self-esteem.
In the same spirit as abolishing class ranking and giving participation trophies, I propose everyone make their resolutions AFTER the year is over. That way our goals are more realistic. I’ve been doing it this way for years and my levels of self-esteem and self-love have never been higher.
Want to read more? Find recommended blogs for any interest and viewpoint on our topics page, and see how other bloggers are starting to fill the blank book that is 2017.
New year resolutions sometimes are hard to stick to or even come up with so the generator is kind of fun. 🙂
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Wow, I couldn’t agree more. But I found that the challenge some have is actually sitting down to set new goals, visions, and resolutions for the new year.
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I’m going to try these.
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Am always obsessed with the word new: new car, new clothes, new books! The smell the freshness, it’s a good feeling, at least for me. Beginning the new year is just like the initial feeling that one gets, the ability to sustain and keep it afresh is up to the mind of the people waiting for the moment to start fresh. Happy new 2nd week of year 🙂
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Haha, great selection. Sometimes I think that the word “resolution” already includes an inevitable fail. Like Pavlov’s dogs we hear this word, prepare a list and here comes saliva. 🙂
As for myself, I wrote a small note just before New Year’s eve. “Everything starts with a dream. To meet someone, to go to the Moon, to go to the Mars, to learn to swim, to sail around the world, to open a bookshop. No need for new year’s resolutions. Just love your dreams.”
Happy 2017 to all!
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This is great, thank you 😁
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Creative & simple, yet beautiful.
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That is a great way to stick with resolutions and not quit on the second of January. With this idea we may keep a few of our resolutions.
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New year’s resolutions cannot be taken lightly. They are affirmations and a commitment to change and better our lives. It is a bold personal statement we make to ourselves and the world at large. Some of us will succeed and carry out out these tasks, while others will fail miserably not knowing the sweet smell of success.
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However, I believe resolutions can be administered at any juncture as one does not have to wait for a year’s conclusion to be committed to a change.
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I don’t make resolutions, because I forget to do them. I just do what I want and try to make every day worth something.
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THANK YOU for this wonderful/hilarious/thought-provoking compilation, Michelle.
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Well this was a fun read. I am surprised none of the authors suggested putting their resolutions os social media for everyone to see.
That is what I did, I posted that I would do a video for the first 30 days fo the year and have uploaded regularly or be reminded by friends and family that I haven’t done so.
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Loved the resolution generator! Made me wonder how many permutations there might be from it?? Wonky. Maybe someone can do the math? Loved Down the Road.
Although I have heard that goals are just dreams put into writing, so I’m thinking that may not be all bad. If you are setting a direction I guess that is a “general goal’??
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Great post! And if you want to quote ABBA during Civil War re-enactments, I will send you a disco ball to convince others that this is okay. 😉 #nofear
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I never had ny-resolutions. But every day one little aim to achieve — this could wasting my time with a crazy neighbour, be vegan for one day or try to act like a star at work only to make my colleagues smile a little more! But keep on your resolultions, I said to my friends — some people need them even for two weeks…
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Very nice! I agree. New goals and visions on the way!
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So enjoyed reading the different ideas & views! 😊😊😊
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I don’t make resolutions, but do try to focus on positivity throughout the year. Great blog!
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The New Year’s resolution generator is priceless! Thanks for the good laugh and the insightful read.
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Generators are the best – they’re how I arrived at my pen name. I resolve to resolve my resolutions as they become available. I’ll be resolute about that, in fact.
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New Years resolution chart is awesome 🙂
❤️kw
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This is interesting. I think making a New Years resolution is good as long as you stick to them and do it. But for me, after years of making resolutions I decided to stop making one because I fail to do it and never stick to it. So, I’m just quite happy to let it go and be happy of whatever events come for the whole new year.
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Thought provoking. Thanks!
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The generator seems a fun and easy way to keep a resolution. I’m going to try it.
And I think we somehow fail resolutions exactly because we keep telling ourselves we have to follow it, like it’s a rule we’re being forced to follow. This is a very humorous post and it makes people feel resolutions aren’t after all so difficult to keep.
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My resolution is to not make anymore resolutions… Lol 😋
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That’s one smart way of it. haha!
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Lovely post! I think that I try to create as many new year’s resolutions as I can that I know I should be able to succeed, but somehow, one way or another, my ambition gets the best of me and I make resolutions that I will probably forget about, or not try during the year because of realization that I probably won’t be able to do them! Aha, didn’t mean for this comment to be to long – oops!
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Very nice! No resolutions over here, only attainable goals revisited once in a while…maybe that should be more often.
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That blogging generator is hilarious. This has been a great read.
Unfortunately I am one of those blogger that made a resolution for the year to improve my blog.
xo, https://lidsandtricks.com/
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For me, my resolution this year is to try and just take things as they come along, and not let the little things bother me too much.
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love the chart!!
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So ‘Practice Quoting Abba Loudly At Civil War Renactments’ etc. Love it.
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Great read! My resolution was to write more this years as I feel as though if I’ve wrote about it, its my way of dealing with it and putting it out on the table. So I’m keeping a journal and I created a blog; I’m really excited to see where it takes me in a years time.
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I had a rough start in 2017 — it seems all hopes in getting a fresh start is zero but still craving for a better season.
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Great post and I can’t wait to try the New Years generator 😊
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I find this year it is letting go of the things that can keep me from focusing on what is important to me.
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No resolutions no self disappointment. Just easier to stay positive that way sometimes.
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