New Year, New Beginnings

There are some traditions, religious and otherwise, that I can get behind because they make me actively pursue change. Lent is one of them, a “leftover” from my Catholic upbringing that encourages the giving up of something and being conscious of what you have. Although I don’t practice the religion anymore, I DO end up sticking to my Lent promises for the 40 requisite days and beyond. New Year’s is another time marked with making promises, committing to change and reflecting on the past with a look ahead at the future. In other words, it’s resolution time!
 
My best friend and I used to make “Venn Diagram Goals,” drawing a Venn Diagram on poster board with each of our goals or resolutions in each circle, and those that overlapped in the middle. It was a daily visual reminder of what to work towards and we would add to it if something popped into our heads. It was also more fun to make it a joint effort, just as having a running partner or knitting buddy can give you that extra boost.
 
Most resolutions have some element of getting organized to them, whether you want to create a fitness regimen, attempt to clean out the basement, spend more time with friends or start a monthly money-saving plan. Last year, Erin at Unclutterer.com decided to tackle her “laundry stress,” declaring the washing and folding process as her least favorite chore, and therefore, a source of stress. She made a plan of attack, went forward with it and succeeded at eliminating it as a major stressor.
 
What do you have in mind for New Year’s resolutions come 2009? Any success stories from past years? If so, how did you do it?

—Alicia Kachmar