Last Groundhog Day, I made a commitment for the month that I found far superior to any batch of New Year's resolutions I had ever concocted. The plan was to make one change every day for the entire month. I didn't commit to making the changes last. Some stuck. Some didn't. But I pretty faithfully picked at least one thing every day to change.
I had no idea where the process would lead, but every step of the way was exhilirating. Not all the changes were earth-shattering. One day, I decided I needed to stretch in the morning to get the blood flowing. Another day I ate an apple instead of a cookie. Somewhere along the way I decided not to say anything negative about anybody. I took a break from the computer. Oh, yeah, and on one of the last days of the month, I resigned from my job of almost 10 years.
The more comfortable I became with change, the more I realized that big changes needed to happen. I loved it. It was amazing. It seriously changed my life.
But I gradually stopped making changes. And now I miss them. I miss the daily realization that something about me needs to change, at least until I make it all the way to perfect (which, Heather reminded me, will happen after I flatline).
And I can't recommend anything with more sincerity and gusto. That's right, long before Barack Obama made change fashionable, I got hooked on it myself for a whole month. Change, even for its own sake, is brilliant. Try it . . . for a change. Yes, I know that was cheesy. I'm okay with it.
I hate change. If I had to think of something to actually change EVERY day, I would routinely have an anxiety attack! :)
ReplyDeleteI guess that's why I stayed in my last job (even though I hated it) for 10 yrs! The decision to finally change and do something about it was excruciating for me. I wonder why? I've been working my part-time job at the church for 9-months now. It's hard to believe it's been that long already - the job has become routine and I love that about it. My home life is routine and I love THAT about it. I love routine.
But then again, there are things I could immediately change for the better and I still struggle with it, i.e., eating healthier, getting more exercise, etc.
My daughter has one more year of high school and then will be off to college. I know I'm going to have a total meltdown! Just take a look right into your two son's faces and then imagine them not being there in the house with you any more! Can you even imagine that right now?
My hubbie and I will be entering a completely new phase of our lives. It makes me wonder how long it will take for this new phase to feel routine.
It's not that I don't try to change things for the better when need be but I think life is a series of phases and that is change enough for me.
Hey, I remember when you quit, we were taking bets on how long it would take for you to deviate your lunch menu. Well.....?
By the way, love the groundhog pic! Boy is that a chubby hog.
ReplyDeleteOh, the lunch menu is diversified as a Benetton ad. Hard to believe, but I mix it up for real now.
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