For the first time in a long time I chose a resolution that didn't serve me. For 2023 I decided the past few years had been heavy and I wanted a little lightness. So my 2024 intention was to leave white space in my life for more joy. Not to plan too much, or structure too much, but simply to leave room for happy things to happen.
And they did. I had so many joyful moments throughout the year. And I made things happen for myself: an impromptu weekend in Hawaii, finally a trip to the Noguchi Museum, and many beautiful moments with people I love. But I struggled to accomplish much without the structure of a true guiding intention. I watched more TV, I read fewer books, I spent very little time in nature, my workout routine was a mess. Perhaps I needed a quieter year to reset. Or perhaps I needed a year like this to remind me how important resolutions are to me.
So for 2025 I'm taking a more pragmatic approach. My guiding word will be health. I injured my back early in the year and I've struggled all year to live my life the way I like to live it - traveling, exploring new cities on foot, keeping up with my children, spending time outside. The last few months of this year have been more "down and in" rather than "up and out."
I have surgery scheduled early in the year and I'm hopeful that it will help me feel more like myself again. I hope to be able to walk from dinner to the theatre without panicking at the thought. I hope to be able to explore New York City for hours with my children without needing a day to recover. I simply hope to be able to sleep through the night.
So I'll follow doctor's orders. I'll take my vitamins. I'll do my physical therapy and prioritize strength and flexibility. I'll drink my water. And I'll tap into my network of people who love me to help me along the way.
This resolution is different than others because it will require me to follow a prescribed set of steps and will culminate in one big goal - I want to be able to walk Manhattan from top to bottom by the end of the year. And I'm hoping the discipline required will flow over into other areas of my life - a better morning routine, more reading, less TV, more educational podcasts, fewer true crime.
There will still be plenty of room to find joy, try new things and let happy things happen, but I feel a little structure will make all the difference.
Read more thoughts from Laurie >
Steal My Sources | Laurie's Favorite Sources For Inspiration