With This Year, I Thee Shed

A New Year resolution should be just that. It should resolve something, and in order to resolve something, one must first identify a problem. What worries me is that many people jump to the usual: lose weight, eat healthier, exercise more..etc. I'm guilty of this perpetual reasoning, by the way. However, I cannot help but to think if this is the biggest problem we see for ourselves, then how superficial are we as an ever evolving species?

I think we should start looking at what we can gain before what we can lose. That's right, I said the nasty G word...gain. you read that correctly, but hear me out....

Try to gain hope, faith, perspective, and awareness. Gain more accomplishments, motivation, autonomy, respect, generosity, kindness, and appreciation. Allow yourself to gain confidence, empathy, acceptance, imagination, experience, and courage. Gain more of an understanding for loyalty, forgiveness,  patience, and trust. Gain new traditions and hobbies. Gain more knowledge, compassion, and fulfillment.
More importantly, gain a giving nature, a thoughtful mind, a graceful soul, an unconditionally loving heart. 

Gain an altruistic mindset and benevolent spirit. Gain sight of beauty in all things and people, sight of silver linings, and sight into cultural differences.
Gain insight on political candidates that you have the freedom to vote for. Gain the ability to learn from differences in opinions rather than detest them. Gain a job that makes waking up something to look forward to and a partner that makes you feel that they were born for the sole purpose to coexist with you in everlasting harmony.

While those are just a few among the many of things you can work on gaining, gaining something this year doesn't sound half bad anymore now does it? However, I know some of you will be more inclined to maintain a focus on losing, so if you want to lose something, consider this:

Lose: negativity, regret, doubt, and selfishness. Lose constant complaints, bad attitudes, hate, blame, and excuses. Lose using manipulation, deceit, and judgement. Lose the concepts of  fear and what ifs. Lose self sabotaging behaviors, toxic people in your life, and narcissistic attitudes. Lose the unrealistic expectations, grudges, stress, and bad habits you have been holding on to.
Lose clothes you haven't worn in 3 years. your cell phone at dinner, and the procrastinating concept that you "will get to it later". Try losing yourself in meaningful conversations, in a good book, or in captivating lyrics of meaningful music. Lose the excessive make up, you're already beautiful.
Lose the word normal, because really, what does it mean, and who does it really apply to?
Lose the concept of "cutting to the chase", because the art of communication and story telling is already struggling to survive, and what a beautiful art it is.

You see, I personally would much rather have the weight of a few extra pounds evenly distributed all over my body than the weight of the world on my shoulders. Free yourself of the burden of living a less than mediocre life. Bask in the satisfaction of leading an incredible life by indulging yourself in endless helpings of constructive thoughts and optimism!

We are all broken in some form, but it doesn't make us damaged goods. We all have the ability to do better, be better, and feel better. If you can do good, and be good, and feel good, but you aren't quite there....ask yourself "what's stopping me?" And THAT....THAT my friends is what you need to lose. The weight of those restraints far outweigh the few extra pounds that make you feel unhappy. I would much rather have the body weight that at least keeps me warm than the mental weight that has the potential to make me cold.

So with this year, I thee shed....
I'm not saying I am going to be a brand new me, because honestly I'm not that unhappy with who I am. I am merely saying that I recognize my ability and my potential and I am simply going to just try a little harder to contribute to the good things life has to offer.

Much peace and joy,
Beth