New Year, Better Me
New Year, New Me, right?
No. I like me. I don't want to be someone else. I don't want a new me, but I do want a better me. Monday was the start of my church's week-long fast. Each January, my church family fasts together. We pick one thing to abstain from. Many people think fasting means you can't eat anything at all, but it doesn't have to mean that. Some people fast from all solid foods, some fast one meal a day, and others fast from one type of food, such as coffee, snacks, or sweets. Other people fast from a specific activity. Watching tv, going on social media, or gaming.
The important thing is we give up something we love for Someone we love more. We use this time to seek God's will for our lives and pray for specific people and situations. This is a time to grow closer to the Lord. It's a time to work on ourselves and our relationship with Him. I look forward to it every year. Not that I have to wait for the first week in January to go on a fast, but there's something about doing it corporately.
Solidarity Sister!
No matter what we do in life, isn't it better to do it together? It's hard enough to start something new, but to do it alone seems so much more difficult. Think about all the things you do every day. Think about doing them alone, and then think about doing them with a friend.
- Working out
- Cooking
- Watching tv
- Eating
- Complaining
- Rejoicing
They're all better together. So whatever gets you motivated, this is the time most people in America embark on some sort of self-reflection and improvement plan. And knowing everyone around you is also doing some sort of self-help regimen makes it easier. In January, the whole country is in the same mode. "New Year, New Me". The goals vary, but most people set goals for the new year. Something they want to strive for.
- Better health
- Better body
- Better finances
- Better job
- Better relationships
Everyone wants their lives to be better in one way or another, but to have better, you must be better.
Do better.
Wishing doesn't make it so. (Lev Grossman) You can't just wish things to be different. All the hopes and wishes and prayers won't change a thing without your own actions. Change takes effort. Real and lasting change takes real and lasting effort. I know so many people who wish they had a better body, but won't exercise. They want to be healthier, but refuse to eat healthy foods. They want a better job, but won't apply for one. They want to be able to afford something they really want, but keep spending money on wants rather than needs, and unnecessarily wasting the money they could be saving.
Stop with the excuses already.
We are all in charge of our own happiness. Our own path in life. We can't start the new year off blaming others for what we don't have, how we behave, or how we feel. It's time to take charge of our own lives. January is a new year. A chance at a new start. No, you don't have to wait for a new year, a new month, or a new day to start changing. You can start right now! Set smaller goals to reach bigger ones. Don't take on the whole world at once. Don't try to change every aspect of your life. Just start something.
- Put only healthy food in your cart this week.
- Walk 5,000 steps a day.
- Read your bible every morning.
- Spend 15 minutes a day outside.
- Reach out to an old friend.
- Volunteer your time.
- Listen more and speak less.
- Forgive and seek forgiveness.
- It's difficult.
- I'm tired.
- It's inconvenient.
- I'm too busy.
- I'm scared.
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