As the new year approaches, I found myself wondering what I could do differently to mark this change in the calendar. Since I’ll be spending the holidays away from my kids (due to my night shift), I think this is probably the best time for me to take a quick look back at 2018. I figured that instead of making the traditional resolutions that last only a few months—or even a few days—why not take a look back at the past year to highlight both the good and the not-so-good moments?
For me, it’s relatively easy to list all the happy moments I’ve shared with my family. Not to say I’m a self-confessed “Kodak kid,” but I capture most of the joyful moments I experience on my phone. Nothing beats an iPhone slideshow for taking a trip down memory lane. I know I’ll inevitably smile when I see my children marveling at the animals at the Granby Zoo, and I’ll laugh when I watch the video of my daughter trying to put a sandal on her grandfather during our trip to Mexico. It’s important to remember the moments that made us happy, especially when we’re spending the holidays without our children. I tip my hat to separated parents who have to share their children during this festive season, and also to other parents like me, who will be working over the holidays—because someone’s got to work.
Just as it’s good to remember the good things, it’s probably just as important to remember the not-so-good ones. To remember the little mistakes we may have made, or the people we may have hurt with our words or actions. This is the time to acknowledge our mistakes so we can try to make amends or simply prevent them from happening again. It can also be a time to figure out what we no longer want in our lives—a little annual cleanup—or what we want most.
For my part, I know I want more time with my kids. I realize that the time I spend with them is the happiest and most precious in my life. Not that I’m going to spend all my savings on outings that cost an arm and a leg—I just want to waste less time picking them up from daycare, or maybe put them to bed a little later so we can snuggle up on the couch and watch a show together.
Other than that, I want to feel better. Since I don’t believe in strict resolutions (like going back to the gym three times a week)—which, anyway, would only address the physical aspect of my well-being—I’m going to keep it more general and find one positive area to work on each week. Maybe one week I’ll do a day of volunteer work, another week I’ll go for a run with my dog, or I’ll cut out all individually wrapped foods from my grocery cart. There are so many ways to feel like a better person that I don’t want to limit myself.
How about you—how are you preparing for the new year?