I'm still wrapping my brain around the fact that it's 2020... It seems like a momentous number. We are now entering the third decade of the 21st century! 2010 seems like it was just a couple of years ago, and it's hard to believe how fast the past decade has flown by!
I don't always make resolutions... Sometimes I just set goals instead. But this year, I felt like resolutions were resonating with me more strongly, so below are my top 3 for 2020.
But first, you may be wondering, what's the difference between a goal and a resolution? There may be varying opinions out there, but for me, a goal usually has a specific endpoint and desired result, whereas, a resolution is ongoing. For example, a goal may be to lose 20 pounds by December 31st, while a resolution would be to work out at least 3x per week, or to call my mom at least once a month, etc..
However, when making a resolution, try to make them actually mean something. Too often we just make the same resolutions as last year (which we didn't keep), or throw something out there like, "I'm going to exercise more" just because we think we should. Think about how you want to grow as a person this year, or what area of health you would like to improve, or whether your relationships could use some nurturing, and then make a resolution that you will actually keep because it means something to you - not because you feel like you "should"!
If you haven't made any resolutions yet for this year, check mine out below for some inspiration, and feel free to share your own as well!
I don't always make resolutions... Sometimes I just set goals instead. But this year, I felt like resolutions were resonating with me more strongly, so below are my top 3 for 2020.
But first, you may be wondering, what's the difference between a goal and a resolution? There may be varying opinions out there, but for me, a goal usually has a specific endpoint and desired result, whereas, a resolution is ongoing. For example, a goal may be to lose 20 pounds by December 31st, while a resolution would be to work out at least 3x per week, or to call my mom at least once a month, etc..
However, when making a resolution, try to make them actually mean something. Too often we just make the same resolutions as last year (which we didn't keep), or throw something out there like, "I'm going to exercise more" just because we think we should. Think about how you want to grow as a person this year, or what area of health you would like to improve, or whether your relationships could use some nurturing, and then make a resolution that you will actually keep because it means something to you - not because you feel like you "should"!
If you haven't made any resolutions yet for this year, check mine out below for some inspiration, and feel free to share your own as well!
Resolution #1: To Eat More Vegetables!
This may seem like an odd resolution coming from a self-proclaimed "health nut," but even health nuts can sometimes eat less healthily than we should! While I love just about any vegetable, being married to a hard-core meat-lover means that sometimes we eat more meat than I would like, and too many of my calories come from meats and starches.
Official dietary guidelines suggest that we should eat 6-10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day (depending on calorie needs). As a small person, I should be eating at least 6 servings, but I'm embarrassed to admit that most days I'm probably closer to 3-4. :-( I always make sure to include a vegetable with dinner (which means that I have to make something most days, even when it's my husband's night to cook, as he rarely ever prepares a vegetable to go with the meal), but breakfast and lunch are often cereal, yogurt, or leftovers without much in the way of veggies.
This year, I resolve to include more fruits and vegetables in my diet. I have started off by preparing a larger batch of greens than usual with dinner, or baking extra sweet potatoes or squash. I can then include the leftovers with my lunch the next day - or even for the next couple of days. I've discovered that I actually like leftover steamed greens reheated the next day! This is good news, because we have tons of collards and kale in the garden this winter, so it's easy to make a big batch for dinner and have plenty of leftovers. Last week, I made greens AND sweet potatoes for dinner along with a big pot of my favorite black bean soup, and I felt so healthy afterwards! I am hoping that I will inspire my husband to make more plant-centered dishes as well...
Resolution #2: To Read More
Growing up, I could spend almost the entire day reading. My mother would yell at me to go spend some time outside, so I would take my book out with me, spreading a blanket under a tall pine tree, lying on my jacket in the fallen leaves in the woods, or even climbing up and perching in the spreading branches of a maple or persimmon tree - where I would read, read, read. My love of reading continued through college where I majored in English literature, and then gradually petered out over the years as my busy life took over. Sadly, I cannot remember the last time I checked a book out of the library - which used to be one of my favorite places in the world!
I do try to read at least a few minutes every day, usually 15-20 minutes just before bed, but having received a big stack of books for Christmas has inspired me to resolve to increase my reading this year. I will have to figure out how to work it into my schedule, but I already have a list of books that I want to get through this year. They include, among others:
The Hosting Gods series (written by my sister!)
How to Change Your Mind, by Michael Pollan
The 5 Pillars of Life, by Dr. Simeon Roger
The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs, by Joel Salatin
The Tapping Solution, by Nick Ortner (started, but haven't finished it yet)
The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) (just finished!)
I also intend to read more magazines and health newsletters as well.
Resolution #3: To Appreciate the Little Things
As with reading, this is something that has fallen by the wayside too often as I have grown older. I remember walking across campus in college and stopping to stare in wonder for minutes on end at a glorious maple tree dressed in autumn scarlet and orange finery. Growing up on the farm, I could spend hours walking through the woods, just watching the shadows and the ways the branches moved in the wind, smelling the wet leaves, or gazing at the brilliant stars in the black sky as night descended. But living in the city after college, I appreciated my surroundings less and less, sometimes feeling almost completely out of touch with the natural world.
However, in recent years, I have come to believe that one of the main reasons God put us on this Earth is to marvel at His creation! This winter, I have been particularly enchanted by the beauty of bare trees. I used to think of winter as an "ugly" time of drab brown and gray bare trees and dead grass, except for when we were graced with snow, which soon enough turned gray and drab as well. For some reason, this year I started to notice how beautiful it all is - the varying shades of different colored winter grasses - from pale lemon yellow, to reddish brown - the myriad shapes of each different variety of tree - from thick and gnarled, to willowy and graceful, long and reaching branches to short and twiggy. I've always loved the greenery of summer, but now I realize that only in winter can we truly appreciate the unique beauty of each tree and how different every one is!
From the winter landscape, to the sound of rain falling on our new metal roof, to the cozy flicker of the flames in the fireplace, the strong comfort of my husband's arms, and the soft warmth of Molly Brown's ears, everything God provides is meant to be appreciated and enjoyed, and not taken for granted. I resolve to do my best to appreciate these "little" things that make up everyday life. While we may think of them as "simple," in fact, they are where the true joy in life is most often found.
I hope you found some inspiration here for making your own meaningful resolutions this year. Please feel free to share yours below, or on our Facebook page.
I wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous year ahead, filled with the abundance of God's creation and the wonders of his love!
Rose.
This may seem like an odd resolution coming from a self-proclaimed "health nut," but even health nuts can sometimes eat less healthily than we should! While I love just about any vegetable, being married to a hard-core meat-lover means that sometimes we eat more meat than I would like, and too many of my calories come from meats and starches.
Official dietary guidelines suggest that we should eat 6-10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day (depending on calorie needs). As a small person, I should be eating at least 6 servings, but I'm embarrassed to admit that most days I'm probably closer to 3-4. :-( I always make sure to include a vegetable with dinner (which means that I have to make something most days, even when it's my husband's night to cook, as he rarely ever prepares a vegetable to go with the meal), but breakfast and lunch are often cereal, yogurt, or leftovers without much in the way of veggies.
This year, I resolve to include more fruits and vegetables in my diet. I have started off by preparing a larger batch of greens than usual with dinner, or baking extra sweet potatoes or squash. I can then include the leftovers with my lunch the next day - or even for the next couple of days. I've discovered that I actually like leftover steamed greens reheated the next day! This is good news, because we have tons of collards and kale in the garden this winter, so it's easy to make a big batch for dinner and have plenty of leftovers. Last week, I made greens AND sweet potatoes for dinner along with a big pot of my favorite black bean soup, and I felt so healthy afterwards! I am hoping that I will inspire my husband to make more plant-centered dishes as well...
Resolution #2: To Read More
Growing up, I could spend almost the entire day reading. My mother would yell at me to go spend some time outside, so I would take my book out with me, spreading a blanket under a tall pine tree, lying on my jacket in the fallen leaves in the woods, or even climbing up and perching in the spreading branches of a maple or persimmon tree - where I would read, read, read. My love of reading continued through college where I majored in English literature, and then gradually petered out over the years as my busy life took over. Sadly, I cannot remember the last time I checked a book out of the library - which used to be one of my favorite places in the world!
I do try to read at least a few minutes every day, usually 15-20 minutes just before bed, but having received a big stack of books for Christmas has inspired me to resolve to increase my reading this year. I will have to figure out how to work it into my schedule, but I already have a list of books that I want to get through this year. They include, among others:
The Hosting Gods series (written by my sister!)
How to Change Your Mind, by Michael Pollan
The 5 Pillars of Life, by Dr. Simeon Roger
The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs, by Joel Salatin
The Tapping Solution, by Nick Ortner (started, but haven't finished it yet)
The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) (just finished!)
I also intend to read more magazines and health newsletters as well.
Resolution #3: To Appreciate the Little Things
As with reading, this is something that has fallen by the wayside too often as I have grown older. I remember walking across campus in college and stopping to stare in wonder for minutes on end at a glorious maple tree dressed in autumn scarlet and orange finery. Growing up on the farm, I could spend hours walking through the woods, just watching the shadows and the ways the branches moved in the wind, smelling the wet leaves, or gazing at the brilliant stars in the black sky as night descended. But living in the city after college, I appreciated my surroundings less and less, sometimes feeling almost completely out of touch with the natural world.
However, in recent years, I have come to believe that one of the main reasons God put us on this Earth is to marvel at His creation! This winter, I have been particularly enchanted by the beauty of bare trees. I used to think of winter as an "ugly" time of drab brown and gray bare trees and dead grass, except for when we were graced with snow, which soon enough turned gray and drab as well. For some reason, this year I started to notice how beautiful it all is - the varying shades of different colored winter grasses - from pale lemon yellow, to reddish brown - the myriad shapes of each different variety of tree - from thick and gnarled, to willowy and graceful, long and reaching branches to short and twiggy. I've always loved the greenery of summer, but now I realize that only in winter can we truly appreciate the unique beauty of each tree and how different every one is!
From the winter landscape, to the sound of rain falling on our new metal roof, to the cozy flicker of the flames in the fireplace, the strong comfort of my husband's arms, and the soft warmth of Molly Brown's ears, everything God provides is meant to be appreciated and enjoyed, and not taken for granted. I resolve to do my best to appreciate these "little" things that make up everyday life. While we may think of them as "simple," in fact, they are where the true joy in life is most often found.
I hope you found some inspiration here for making your own meaningful resolutions this year. Please feel free to share yours below, or on our Facebook page.
I wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous year ahead, filled with the abundance of God's creation and the wonders of his love!
Rose.
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