Did You Really Want A White Christmas?

what I do instead

Written By Lynn Dorman, Ph.D. | Musings | 0 Comments

It’s THAT time of the year — again [sigh]

My inbox and social media feeds are filled with mail/posts selling me on the advantages of:

planners
courses about planning
products on how to use AI to make my year “better” “great” “etc.”
health-related info on starting the year off the “right” way
making resolutions [personal and business]
and more…

Except for the AI which is sort of new this year — the posting and the emails are the same every December and January.

But last year some of it started back earlier in the Fall because everyone knows:

“I have to get your attention about January 2024 in the middle of the summer or early fall or else you won't buy my product.”

It’s fine if you do the above - and even better if making resolutions works for you…

I no longer make them.

I used to.

I’d read a lot of that “how to succeed” stuff, that “guru” stuff, that “my friends say this works” stuff, and would make a list of what I would accomplish in the upcoming year….

Then at some point during the year, I’d look at my resolution list and laugh [or cry] as so little of it ever got done! Or done with any degree of consistency.

So I stopped making New Year resolutions. It seemed to not be good for my mental health OR my productivity. My brain doesn't like lists!!

I've discovered that I am not alone. Many, if not most, people did not follow theirs either.

Especially these:

"I am going to exercise every day” resolution or “I am going to lose X pounds this year” or “I am going to lose 5 pounds a month.”

And work-related resolutions?

The “I will write a post a day,” or “I will write a book before Summer,” or I will do X by Y time frame.

Ditto the very popular “I will be making $XXX a month by the end of March or April” type of resolution.

These resolutions generally do not work.

Why? We tend to set impossible resolutions or standards for ourselves. They are often more wishful thinking than actual planned-out behaviors. Not sticking to these resolutions may make us feel like failures so early in the new year, and yes, the ad people play into this guilt.

Watch ads early in the year and note those aimed at making us feel guilt and shame over NOT keeping resolutions. They may not be direct, but they are aimed at guilt making!!

my insteads

With two major professional degrees and several accolades, I know I am not a failure.

I actually CAN and DO accomplish things - but I have ceased the resolution-type thinking and adopted a more casual approach to my life. It took some hard work on my part to re-think the business/life model that keeps telling us we “need” to make a yearly, monthly, daily plan… or else!

I choose "or else"

Opting for the “or else” works for me!

Every choice can be the “correct way!"

I let my mind wander!

I now enjoy late December/early January as we get an added minutes of daylight every afternoon.

I use this light/dark scenario to reflect, have fun, and think about my work - but not make any of this into resolutions,
to-do lists, or anything tightly scheduled!

I do a non-journal kind of journaling

I call it my mental meandering but it’s more like a brain dump. This is one activity I do most every day but without the “I must do it” kind of thinking, so I often don't do this. And that’s okay!

Apple has made this easier for me as they released a journal app and I have started using that app - but still not every day - I figure a few days a week [maybe] works for me.

Christmas_season_Vermont The idea of a white Christmas, one with snow on the ground, has become an annual wish for many.

One hears weather forecasters daily asking, “Will we have a white Christmas?” Adding “Stayed tuned for your forecast.” We have many children and adults wistfully looking out the windows to see if there is snow on the ground.

What we have is a national nostalgia for an event that comes from the song “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” The song, from the early 1940’s, has become not a dreaming of – but a longing or wishing for.

We like the idea of a light snow on the trees and the ground, we love seeing pictures and cards of snow covered outdoor Christmas trees all decorated and glistening in the snow.

But a white December 25th largely depends on where you live and for many keeping it a dream is far better than it being an actuality.

In reality, a very white December 25th can mean feet of snow to shovel, no traveling, no shopping and no fun [at least for the adults.]

So be careful what you wish for – you might get these types:

One like the top photo [of my car] from a holiday season in Vermont where there was about 5 feet of snow between 12/24 and 1/1.

Christmas_snow_portland_oregon Or, as in this photo, one like we had in Portland Oregon a few years ago when many put celebrations on hold til early January as no own could drive, fly or buy.

Do you make resolutions? Do they work for you? Or if not - what do you do - if anything? Please comment below and thank you for reading.

Did You Really Want A White Christmas?

what I do instead

my insteads

I choose "or else"

I let my mind wander!

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