I think New Year’s resolutions are dumb for a myriad of reasons the top of which being that if society is pressuring you into making a goal it’s probably not very meaningful and you’re probably not going to keep it. Instead, I like to make resolutions on my birthday. For me, this is a good time to re-assess where I am and what I should be working on. I’m hopeful that if I share these resolutions with you all I will be held accountable to what I’m committing to here.
1. Say no
I am terrible at saying no. Nine times out of ten if I get asked to work an extra shift on a weekend, you’ll find me whipping mochas the Bou. This also happens in my personal life, so even though I enjoy spending time with my friends that sometimes means spending time and money on things I’m not exactly thrilled about. So, this year I resolve to be better about saying no to things, and being selfish with my time. (However, my fellow introverts, there’s a difference between being selfish with your time and being a Netflix binging shut-in)
- Reach out
I’m friends with a lot of people. Which is a blessing! But I’m also not a great friend to a lot of them. With only so many hours in a week, it’s difficult for me to prioritize certain people over others and I’ve definitely let some friendships fall to the wayside. This year I’m making a commitment to work harder to bring those friendships that have drifted back into my circle, and keeping them there.
- Be present
This is something that I think we can all work on. How many times have you been out to dinner and seen a whole table full of people staring at their phones? I’m guilty of it. If not scrolling Facebook, I’m often thinking about work or the errands I need to run when I’m spending time with others. This world has been getting increasingly crazy lately and I think now, more than ever it’s important that we actually listen to each other and COMPREHEND what others are going through. Since my intention this year is to only go to things that I truly want to be at, I better be present during them!
What do you think, folks? Anything else you think I should add to the list?
Emily Gutknecht 