Healthy Chicks

I know the good ol’ New Year’s resolution post is a little late on my end, but bear with me. I can assure you my  post will be a little different than the usual magazine article on how to drop 20 pounds by 2012, while also quitting smoking and being a “better person” at the same time. No. If you know me and my blog, that’s not what I’m about. 

It’s only been three days since the New Year, and I’m already tired of hearing people’s impossible/ridiculous/unhealthy resolutions. “Lose 20 pounds in two months”…”Stop biting my nails”…”Be a nicer person…” “Go to the gym more”…”Eat healthier”. While these are all wonderful, wonderful resolutions I’m worried they don’t stand for what they mean. Lose 20 pounds is going to result in anorexia or a letdown when you realize you can’t nor is it healthy to lose that much weight in so little time. If you’ve bitten your nails your entire life, and have attempted this resolution every other year, why go at something you aren’t serious about nor really believe you can change? Be a nicer person is so vague. What are you going to do? Say thank you a little more? Smile more? If you’re a mean person, you aren’t going to turn into Mrs. Nice overnight. Maybe “spend more time with my family” is a little more appropriate. Then there’s the good old go to the gym more. Are you really going to go to the gym more or are you just saying this to hop on the “lose weight” bandwagon? And eat healthier is most likely going to result in extreme caloric restriction which will only backfire on you later on. There you have it. That’s my opinion on those kind of resolutions. 

For one, many of them are nearly impossible to achieve. But even if you did achieve them (good for you), do you really want to remember 2011 as the year you stopped biting your nails and shed some weight? Woop-dee-do! How about making some real, deep, well-thought-out resolutions for yourself? Not for your boyfriend. Not to look as skinny as your best friend. Not because it’s what is expected of you. 2011 should be the year you make some real life changes for the most important person out there: YOU.

As I sat on the couch New Year’s night, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to accomplish this year. A year is a long time, but at the same time goes by extremely fast. However, I want this year to be all about me, and really get some “me” things done. For one, I’d like to practice yoga at least once a week not to get skinny, but for my sanity. I’d also like to travel to Europe again because when I was in Italy a few years ago I was at one of the happiest, healthiest places in my life. I’d really like to run a half marathon because running makes me feel accomplished, strong and alive. Re-introducing myself to the Italian or Spanish language will open myself up to some diversity, and potentially learning piano will give me a hobby I can carry on for the rest of my life. Getting published in a notable magazine has been one of my dreams for as long as I can remember. And lastly, being in a healthy relationship is something I feel I deserve because I have focused so much on loving myself and think I deserve to have someone love me back as much as I do. 

So there you have it. Those are my “me” resolutions. What are yours?