Judi Christy of the Akron Area YMCA on creating resolutions for 2024.
Because we like to think that we’re incredibly clever, we decided to use the term, resolution revolution, as the tag for our January/February YMCA promo. It sounded edgy, the graphics we created were cool and it sure beat last year’s theme: New year, new you.
But what does resolution revolution really mean? By definition, a resolution is “The act of finding a solution to a problem, conflict, or mystery.”
I believe I have a problem with my sweet tooth, Amazon.com, jeans that won’t zip and cat hair. I believe I have a conflict with enjoying chocolate, needing everything I see online, avoiding jeggings and petting my pet every time she’s within reach. I’ve been living with these problems and conflicts for years, complaining about them to anyone who will listen and still snack, shop, squeeze and sneeze every blessed day.
Why? Maybe it’s because I have not started my revolution. That is, “an attempt to achieve a fundamental and possible sudden change in power.” George Washington did it against England during the American Revolution and we still enjoy a cup of tea while watching The Great British Baking Show.
So, maybe it’s high time that I revolt against a higher power: The lack of willpower.
For decades I’ve been a slave to my wimpy willpower. Sure, it has the boisterous bravado of making claims and declarations that “This will be the year,” but all it takes is a dive with the devious dangle of a donut in my direction. I try to stand firm, with a bold “No, thank you,” but then I obsess over the fact that although I’m proud of my small victory, I lament about the long road to go before winning the war. Especially when birthday cakes, brownies and candy kisses are blown in my direction.
As for the online shopping — it’s too darn easy! Thanks to the clever genius who lives in my computer, I’m taunted, tempted, teased and tricked into repeatedly seeing all the things I think I need just as soon as I have a stray thought about them. Stupid things. Things that I can honestly live without. Things that if I look around my house, I’ll realize I probably have something very similar, often with the tags still attached. But geez, it looks so much better in red and I gotta have it.
But I do need new jeans. Thanks again to the lack of self-control, I have gained the padding that I can no longer blame on being pregnant 36 years ago. Yes, I exercise. I do work for the YMCA, after all. But I still eat junk. I also occasionally drink junk without getting trashed. And, then there’s the cat hair. But I am not willing to revolt against her. In fact, I am considering adding to her army.
But, back to me and my resolution revolution for 2024. My plan of attack is simple: Start small.
- Avoid having something sugary more than once a day.
- Swap water and coffee in my continuous consumption of liquids every day.
- Go to the Y and work hard at least two times a week.
- Buy no more than one item online, per week.
And that’s it. I’m not going to vow to storm the beach next summer in a swimsuit that I haven’t worn since the 90s. I’m not going to carry a gallon water bottle to every work meeting, and I’m not going to purchase miracle weight loss supplements, wrinkle removers, hair growth hoopla or every cute little thing that I see online.
But I’m going to commit to waking up every day and thanking God that I’m here. I’m going to eat more vegetables, take deep breaths, smile, laugh and truly enjoy my family and my friends. I’m going to be grateful for my job and my health.
My resolution is to live. My revolution is to not admit defeat, but to flip the script to love.
