What is it we do most in the New Year? Make resolutions, right? Like everyone else, I think the new year is a great time to start again, do over, and reboot. Why I think the new year is a better time than say tomorrow morning or this afternoon is a mystery. Maybe I like how January 1st sounds? Maybe I wait through the whole year thinking that it is best to wait until it all begins anew? That is ridiculous really, and procrastination at its very best.

When it comes to excuses, I’ve got them. I remember reading “Body for Life For Women” about ten years ago, one statement in the entire book  really rang true for me, “Don’t let your brain hold your butt hostage.” (I think that was pretty close to what it said). My brain has excuses for why I can’t work out, eat healthier, or get more disciplined. In fact, it has a vault of excuses in reserve just in case I go through the ones I have been saving up for  three decades.

Sometimes at the end of each year I peruse my journals from the last couple of decades, there is a repeating theme;   losing weight, exercising more, increasing spiritual reading. Can you shake your head and say PATHETIC? So what gets in the way for me? What stops me from stepping forward and making the beneficial changes that contribute to the best version of myself?

Proper planning, discipline and follow through.

That is pretty much it in a nutshell. What I have to gain spiritually, physically, and  mentally far outweigh choosing laziness. So why do I choose to be lazy?

Motivating forces grow as I age. I do not want a stroke (or worse), to be the kick in the rear I need. We have a brand new granddaughter to enjoy, who is I pray, the first among many more. I want to be around to make a difference in this world and for my family and future grandchildren in particular.

So what will I do differently this year?

Well, alone I will do nothing different. On my own I will pretty much do what I have done for decades- fail. This year, it begins with a lot more help from above. Prayer, petition, sacrifice. If I connect my human good intentions to the supernatural strength of God, then I might just be onto something. I find I am most successful when I unite my efforts to a bigger cause and source of strength. So I intend to begin and end with prayer, discipline and uniting my sacrifice with Christ, through the intercession of His Loving Mother. To some, it may sound totally ridiculous, to call on God’s help for something so earthly and minuet.

I disagree.

Our relationship with  God is intensely personal and intimate. He created us out of love and cares so deeply for us in all of our daily doings. My intentions are not hedonistic. I am not seeking to idolize my body and mind, but rather be a good steward of the gift given to me. So we will see how things work out this time.

Have a blessed and amazing New Year. Live each day one at a time. Practice giving it all up to the One who can transform pain into gain both physically and spiritually. Trust more, love harder, practice joy. Get into His Book, and meditate on the Word. Give up favorite things now and then just because you can,

St Daniel the Prophet stained glass in Ouray

offer that up. I trust that those little things, compounded with God’s amazing generous love will produce new fruit in all of us.

Here’s to a great year of growth.