New Year Resolution

Here’s a New Year Commitment that is enjoyable by jotting down each aspiration, desire, or fancy, and placing them within your festive decorations before putting them away.

New Year Commitment Challenge

It’s the moment to establish a New Year commitment because it’s a New Year! We are a year wiser and plenty occurs within 365 days.

Contemplating all that transpired in the last year can be the spark that ignites us to pursue grander, improved, and more significant endeavors with the New Year ahead of us.

New Year Commitment 1: Cherish the Past

There has never been a better moment in life to create a New Year commitment to cherish the past than today.

As I glanced back at the pledges I made at the end of 2020, I was reminded of the significance of valuing the past.

The yesterdays we once remembered have certainly transformed, and I’m uncertain whether these alterations have been beneficial or not.

Freely moving about, creating moments with loved ones, dining out, embracing others, and living without face coverings is something we all can wish for.

Reflecting upon the healthcare workers who have risked their lives to bring some clarity to, or at least offer solace in, a nightmarish scenario, is something I hope to always appreciate.

2020 Pledges

As 2020 commenced and we all faced significant changes, I found myself valuing the various skills and abilities I acquired throughout my life.

Many of those abilities equipped me to take excellent care of myself and my family during that period and to extend and share some of my skills with others in a meaningful manner.

New Year Commitment From Years Past

I recall when I was just a young teenager making the New Year resolution to acquire sewing skills.

High fashion fascinated me, yet my small town (back in the 60s) didn’t offer front-cover Italian or French Vogue-style garments.

Convinced that I should have what I desired, I resolved to learn how to create it myself. I mastered the art of designing and crafting anything my little eyes set their sights on.

Pandemic New Year

When the pandemic first emerged and there were no masks available anywhere across America, I recognized I had something to contribute.

With a wait of 2 months until anything could be shipped here from China, I knew precisely what I needed to do.

I began crafting masks until my little fingers were sore and my shoulders ached from being leaned over the sewing machine.

First to receive masks from me, besides all of my family, were those in the food industry.

While medical masks needed specific details, I understood I could utilize my talents to safeguard the individuals who would ensure our food sources remained available.

I did so, and I felt thankful for a playful New Year resolution I made many years ago.

New Year Commitment 2: Envision Tomorrow

Tomorrow presents numerous uncertainties, yet each year, on January 1st, many of us initiate our thoughts on what may come.

We can establish our New Year commitments, vowing to imagine larger, and live in hope for new possibilities.

to arrive.

Somehow, the cognitive exercise of assembling ‘a fresh start’, aids us in reclaiming a certain degree of assurance. 

I recall when March 2020 came, bringing life-altering announcements; I found myself capable of concentrating on the horizon and engaging in ventures I never had time to chase.

There were aspirations that I might now dedicate my attention to, to bring to fruition. 

The Commitment to Quality Moments

One of my grown children and I had arranged a trip together in February, a unique opportunity for quality time over an entire week.

He is a spouse, a father of two, and a head chef for a bustling events company. Having my son for valuable time was a dream fulfilled for me. 

As it was still early in the year, we were both mindful of the New Year intentions we had just established a month prior.

One of those aspirations or resolutions for me was to create moments and forge special experiences with each of my children.

New Year Aspirations Achieved

Already, I was realizing my 2020 New Year aspiration until 2020 transformed into a term of adversity, not merely another year.

We undertook our journey, feeling like storm chasers, as every city we left was announcing its initial COVID case.

We crafted wonderful memories together and then hurried home to seclude ourselves as quickly as possible. 

Now, I am back to devising a new New Year aspiration; to express gratitude every single day that all of my dear ones navigated through 2020.

New Year Aspiration 3: Embrace Today

With the new year approaching, I have already formulated my New Year aspiration. Eat healthier? No. I have always been a health enthusiast and vigilant about my diet (wink).

Exercise more? Nah. I learned years ago, during those wild years as a single mother of four, to manage everything on my own; who needs to hit the gym when I’m constantly on the go!

I’m not one to hire others for tasks I can accomplish myself, as I would prefer to scrub a floor, dig a ditch, or engage in any physical labor rather than go to the gym! But occasionally, you just have to do it!

My New Year aspiration this year is simply to approach each day as if it were my last.

I have attempted, countless times in my life, to document the remarkable yet profoundly unusual life I’ve led; yet I could never push through some of the painful segments and continue.

That is, until 2020 happened, and my challenging life suddenly appeared less daunting. So… I resolved to learn to write, not in book form but in script/film format.

My New Year aspiration is to complete that script and discover who might be interested in transforming it into a film. 

New Year Lifestyle

Another New Year aspiration I set this year was to engage more with my food blog beyond mere recipe sharing.

I believe my lifestyle and all the occurrences of my life have equipped me to share uplifting lifestyle concepts with others.

Naturally, a new and nourishing recipe would be a fantastic way to kick-start the year, which is why I am presenting one of my favorite New Year recipes here: The Perfect Ginger Carrot Red Lentil Soup.

The vivid orange hue alone will remind you that the radiant sunny days of spring are just ahead.

Its health benefits are extraordinary, and the gingery, zesty flavors will quickly have you swapping out the traditional ‘black-eyed pea’ custom for this one.

New Year Goal Accountability

I devised a delightful method to stay responsible for the New Year goals I am establishing at this very moment.

Almost everyone observes a celebration that necessitates retrieving ornaments, decorations, or items that we store away once that celebration concludes.

In the video I’ve shared with you, you will witness that I’ve initiated a new ritual. While stowing my ornaments, I jot down a wish, a goal, a dream, a whimsy, and conceal them inside as I tidy up.

When it’s time to retrieve them again, I can revisit my New Year goals, identify which ones I accomplished and which might need to be set aside once more for the upcoming year.

I refer to this as, ‘My New Year Goal Accountability’!

It’s time to establish a New Year Goal. Contemplate it carefully this year, and then ensure they resonate and come alive.

Also, do not forget to Treasure Yesterday, Envision Tomorrow, and Live in the Present! Stay safe and see you again on this page next year xoxo!