Me Time

REVERSE RESOLUTIONS sometimes it is what you DON'T do that can make or break your year!

By LISA COWNIE

I have been known to set some pretty epic New Year’s resolutions in my time. When I was 13 my resolution was to shoot at least 100 free throws every day. That lasted two weeks and gave me my first taste of resolution failure.

Undeterred, I tried again the next year. So, when I was 14, I made a resolution to write Rick Springfield every week. (Yes, when I was 14 actual letters through the mail was the only option.) That lasted two months (my love for him lived on though!) When I was 16, I tried again: my resolution was to date David Whiteaker...okay, so that one actually stuck for a couple of years.

Maybe that’s why I kept trying and trying, always jumping right in each January 1 with a new resolution: to lose weight, to get in better shape, to save more money. Then later in life the focus shifted: to spend more quality time with my kids, to read more books...well, you get the jist and my list is probably similar to many of yours. A list that by the end of January is long forgotten. I am not trying to be negative here, the truth is that studies show 80% of resolutions fail within the first month, with 95% of resolutions ultimately failing.

About 10 years ago, I got tired of feeling bad about myself by the end of January. I am the type of person that if I don’t like the way something is going in my life, I change it. So, I changed my approach to New Year’s and decided to start doing reverse resolutions.

Reverse resolutions focus on what NOT to do in the new year. As I was writing out my rough draft list of what not to dos, I realized it was really focused on people and my attitudes and actions toward them. It got kinda long, so I narrowed it down to three:

I will NOT sweat the small stuff. Life’s too short, I need to just go with the flow!

I will NOT compare myself to others. So hard to do with everyone’s lives in full view through social media, but I resolve to not compare!

I will NOT hold grudges. I admit, I have wasted a lot of time throughout my lifetime, being upset with people. No more! I realize it is probably impacting me more than them to hold a grudge.

So, what are you resolving NOT to do this year? ■