Resolutions

Every year, I find myself struggling on December 31, as I try to come up with a worthy New Year's resolution.  What can I give up - for a year - that's doable, yet meaningful.  I never seem to put enough thought into it and, because I wait until the last minute, it's difficult to find a New Year's resolution that feels right to me.

In 2025, I tried something different that worked for me.  Every month, I gave up something or make it a point to do something that would add value to my life or to others' lives, or both.  In a way, I made monthly resolutions rather than a single New Year's resolution.  I think I'm going to do it again in 2026.

What I liked about it was the variety.  I also liked the shorter time period for each resolution.  It kept things interesting for me.  It challenged me in different ways, too, throughout the year.  As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life.  

In no particular order, below are some of the things I gave ups, or added, one month at a time.  Some of these I did in combination in a particular month.

• No alcohol.  It was much easier than I thought it would be.  Actually, I'm going to do dry January in 2026, too.  I'm looking forward to it.

• Run three miles or on days when I don't run, walk for at least 45 minutes.  That's a fun one, as I discovered I really enjoyed walking in the neighborhood at night as I listened to a podcast.  Sometimes, I walked on days when I already had run. I'll likely do this one again in 2026.  

• Read a philosophy, self-help, or business book for 30 minutes a day.  I did this for a month in 2024, too, and for the first time, I found that I liked those type of books.  That's a keeper, too, due to be repeated in 2026.

• Telephone someone every day I haven't talked to in a while.  This one was special for obvious reasons.  Worthwhile, too, for so many reasons.

• No chewing gum.  Weird but true.

• No sugar or processed foods (or at least drastically reduced processed foods), which meant I stayed away from nutrition bars. 

• No social media.  That one, too, was easier than I thought it would be.  Rewarding, too.

• I kept a gratitude journal, so to speak.  In the notes on my phone, I typed in one thing a day that I was grateful for.  This was cathartic but I wasn't disciplined enough to do it every day for 30 days, which  is weird, when you think about how little time it takes to type in a quick note of gratitude.  I think I need to do it the same time every day.

• I tried to read the Bible readings from the Catholic iMissal app on my phone every day.  That didn't work out too well, either.  

• No swearing.  I failed miserably on that one.  

• Coffee once a day, not twice.

• I can't remember exactly what I did but one month, I listened to Bishop (Robert) Barron's podcast, Word on Fire, regularly.  I think I tried, but failed, to listen to it daily on any drive to work. 

This year, I'm going to keep a list of what I'm doing each month, or what I've just done.  I don't think I want to make the list ahead of time.  But, at the beginning of each month, I want to write down what I'm trying to do. 

If I'm brave enough, I may give give up coffee entirely for a month.  I also want to try to answer (or at least read) every e-mail, every day, for a month.  I'd like to not get angry, or frustrated, for a month.  I'd like to try to eat only fruit or vegetables in between meals for a month.  I need to take a month where I take my health seriously by getting a physical examination, etc.   

I'm still working on what my running goal will be for 2026.