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Already one month into 2018…Can you believe it?! Just four and a half weeks ago, many of us hopefuls set resolutions for the exciting new year to come. Do you still look towards 2018 with hope? Let me share with you my struggles.
Like so many, I usually forget about my new year’s resolutions about a month into the year (if I even make it that long). But of course, 2018 felt different and special. I really felt like I was on top of the world and could accomplish anything after the clock struck 12 on December 31st.
Sound familiar? Yah, ‘cause that’s what we tell ourselves every year. I get it. If you’ve been following Graceful Rags for a while, you know I love to be real, and what’s realer than sharing my failures and disappointments? I shared a post on January 1st listing a few of my resolutions. Today, I reflect back on them, and I encourage you to reconsider your goals as well.
- This year, I wanted to get back into the habit of planning my outfits on the weekends and scheduling all three of my blog posts on the weekends as well. You know how many times I have done those two things in 2018? Not once! I couldn’t even accomplish this goal the first week of January when I still had hope and motivation. As a result, I have spent many mornings rushed, trying to figure out what to wear, and many late nights writing blog posts at the last minute.
- I also promised myself I would drink more water this year, as in, only water unless it’s a special occasion. So naturally, I had a hot chocolate last night and chocolate milk today when I got home from school. What, finishing a day of school isn’t occasion enough?
There are many, many other resolutions at which I have done very poorly…and I admit it. The toughest part is not dwelling on all your wrong doing. I’m not one for cheesy inspirational posts, but there is one by George Eliot that really speaks to me: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” So often I think that once I break a resolution for the first time, it’s over. Why bother trying for the rest of the year when I already messed up, right? I know how hard it is to rekindle that feeling of commitment and dedication to a self-promise after you break it. But really, we still have eleven months to improve! Giving up on a dream after one little mistake or setback would be like throwing out your favorite shirt after spilling one tiny piece of chocolate on it. Don’t throw out the shirt. (And don’t let the chocolate go to waste! For goodness sake, eat that crumb.)
So now that I’ve had my time to be upset about what’s gone wrong thus far, it’s time for me to put my favorite shirt back on and reignite my resolutions. If you’re feeling down about yourself, think about all the really awesome things you have accomplished in the short span of a month. For example, I’ve already gained 21 new blog followers this year out of my goal of 100!
What you already have accomplished probably seems like a pretty small list compared to what you haven’t accomplished yet. But maybe you’re just not looking hard enough…;-) I guarantee that you have done far more good stuff than you think, and that’s coming from a person who’s not very positive. 🙂
…Well this post turned into quite the sappy little inspirational post…not really my style, but eh. If nothing else, writing this helped me put my own year into a little better perspective. One last thing before I sign off for the day:
Something I’ve been trying this year to stick with my resolutions is “grading” them each week. The planner I bought for 2018 has a cute little pocket in which I store my lengthy list of resolutions (rather than just stuffing it into the bottom of some drawer to collect dust for the year). Every Sunday, I try to give each resolution a letter grade (just like school—a perfect A+ all the way to that dreaded F). I write my grades on a separate piece of paper in columns, along with the date as the title for each column. That way, as time goes on, I can compare how I did on each resolution and see if I’m getting better (or not). I’ve found that this method a) keeps me motivated and interested in my resolutions, b)forces me to consciously and consistently think about them, and c) have a mentality based on improving rather than “one-mistake-and-you’re-done.”
As you finish reading this post, ask yourself what you’ve done well during this year so far. How do you plan to improve in the future?
Have a great Wednesday!
Miles of smiles,
Grace
Crème Polka Dot Sleeve Blouse: Loft, $20 // Black Pleather Coat: A.N.A. via JCPenney, $62 // Black Skinny Pants: A.N.A. via JCPenney, $25 // Orange Flats: DSW, $13 // Blue Scarf (Worn as Belt): hand-me-down // Statement Necklace: JCrew