A New Start?!

Well, here it is. The BIG one. The start to end all starts (at least for this year). The NEW YEAR! Somehow, it feels that all things are possible and have been swept away, to be replaced as we desire.

Smokers are resolving to quit that unhealthy habit. Drinkers are resolving through their headaches to drink less, or even to seek treatment. On and on it goes.

Of course, I'm on a weight kick again - with many, many others.

I don't usually make my changes at the New Year. I prefer to wait until Lent, and instead of giving up something, I try to take on a new challenge.

For instance, instead of losing weight, I prefer to adapt a healthy habit - a walk every day, a salad at least once a day, not eating at night. It's much more positive than giving something up. Resolving not to do something feels like something taken away; taking on a new challenge for Lent feels like value added, and the duration is for 40 days - long enough to break or make a habit, but not a full year's sentence.

Resolving to give something up for New Years' is a good way to almost guarantee failure. Resolving to change for Lent is easier and a better way to achieve success. Even if you resume your former habits after 40 days (and it only takes 20 days to make a new habit) you have still succeeded at something - and that is a change for many of us.