New Year Resolutions Revised

 Happy New Year!

I was talking to a colleague about New Year’s resolutions, explaining how badly I failed at last year's resolution to read 52 books; I think I only made it to 20. (Lee, you told me so.) How embarrassing! I ran out of steam after about six weeks, and then my reading schedule slowed to a trickle. I mentioned that I was somewhat shy to proclaim yet another resolution that I might end up failing. My colleague declared how wonderful it was that I read 20 books! I gave her a strange smile, and she said she read the most amazing blog post by theologian Rev. Nadia Boltz Weber, which changed the way she thought about the New Year. So, I want to share this blog post with you. I hope that, like me, you can see the humour in it, but also take a moment each day to be a little gentler with yourselves. If your New Year's resolution is to lose 40 lbs and you lose 6 lbs, then celebrate that you lost 6 whole pounds. If your resolution is to climb a mountain but you only manage to climb a hill, then congratulations on trying! Here’s to a New Year—a year of being kind to yourself and celebrating even the smallest accomplishments. Enjoy!

Blessing Rev. Kim 

A BLESSING FOR THE NEW YEAR

As you enter this new year, as you pack away the Christmas decorations and get out your stretchy pants,

as you face the onslaught of false promises offered you through new disciplines and elimination diets,

as you grasp for control of yourself and your life and this chaotic world -

May you remember that there is no resolution that, if kept, will make you more worthy of love.

There is no resolution that, if kept, will make life less uncertain and allow you to control your aging parents and your teenage children and the way other people act.  

So this year (as every year),

May you just skip the part where you resolve to be better do better and look better this time.

Instead, may you give yourself the gift of really, really low expectations. Not out of resignation, but out of generosity.

May you expect so little of yourself that you can be super proud of the smallest of accomplishments.

May you expect so little of the people in your life that you actually notice and cherish every small, lovely thing about them.

May you expect so little of the service industry that you notice more of what you do get and less of what you don't and then just tip really well anyhow.

May you expect to get so little out of 2024 that you can celebrate every single thing it offers you, however small.

Because you deserve joy and not disappointment.

So, I wish you a Happy as possible New Year.

Love, Nadia.


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