We need a resolution
I’ve heard that 80 percent of people give up their New Year’s resolutions within a few months. Seriously? I know it’s easy to fall back into bad habits, but I suspect someone in marketing invented that statistic. They make us feel bad about ourselves so they can sell us things we don’t want or need. I know plenty of women who set and achieve their goals.
A still shot of singer Aaliyah from the We Need a Resolution video. I love the song and the makeup in this video (check the blue on the lower lashline). I miss her and wonder what her New Year’s resolutions would have been if she were still alive.
When you think about it — big goals are really just little goals stitched together. You can say that you want to learn how to do an uber-hot smokey eye this year, but it ain’t gonna happen if all you do is buy a pot of black eye shadow and use your pinky finger and some spit. You’ve got to figure out where to apply the color, what brushes to use, how to use those brushes, how to blend the colors without overblending … you get the picture. You have to put the time and effort into the little steps.
So, this year, even though I’m going to focus on the end game, I also plan to devote 110% to all the small goals along the way, ’cause a bunch of well executed little goals result in a big goal achieved in the end.
I’ve also felt a real urgency to make things happen, moreso than I did when I was younger. I don’t just want to pass through this life without making my mark, ya know?
Anyway, have you thought about your New Year’s resolutions? Here are mine:
1. To work on my fitness.
In 2005 I started lifting weights and watching what I ate. Initially, all I wanted to do was lose weight for my wedding, but weight lifting and eating right changed my life forever. It wasn’t just a matter of dropping a few dress sizes. As I started building muscle and getting stronger, I stood taller, felt tougher, and gained more confidence in myself. It’s weird, but the day I was finally able to bench press my body weight on the Smith Machine, I felt truly beautiful.
Unfortunately, my schedule’s been crazy lately, and I haven’t been disciplined about lifting weights or eating well. I’m looking forward to getting back into fighting shape again. Yes, it’ll be nice to fit into my skinny jeans again, but what I really miss is how both my body and my mind felt balanced when I was taking better care of myself.
Oh, and if one of your goals is to get into shape this year, let me know! I would love to be your cheerleader. It always helps to have a friend remind you that you *can* do this!
2. To get to appointments early.
There are things I know I do well, like sarcasm, leg waxing and detecting B.S. from a mile away. There are also many things I know I don’t do well, like estimating travel time. I can never seem to get where I need to be on time! I used to believe that a gypsy cursed me to be at least 15 minutes late for anything, but deep down inside I know it’s because I don’t manage my time efficiently. Face it, Karen, it takes more than five minutes to do a complicated smokey eye.
So, this year I’m going to make the effort to get to my appointments 15 minutes early. Granted, for most people, showing up early is not as hard as running a marathon or becoming an astronaut, but for your girl it will be.
3. To learn a few new things.
On my list so far: how to play acoustic guitar, learning a martial art and digital photography.
4. To not let what haters think/say/do bother me.
I’ve always admired people who can just let all the bad stuff roll off them like water off a duck’s back. I know learning how to “just let it go” will take some time, but one thing I’ve started doing lately is asking myself, “Will this same thing bother me in one year?” It helps to put things in perspective.
5. To push myself creatively as a writer.
Write hard, die free. ‘Nuff said.
What are your New Year’s resolutions? I can’t wait to hear ’em.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Sandy says
December 30th, 2007 at 6:11 pmAaliyah was a great artist. She was gorgeous & talented. RIP Aaliyah. I miss her =( She always had great makeup too!!
Oooh.. I want Nouveau Frou, Twig Twig & Sandy B lipsticks 😀 Yay.. Thank you for the swatches.
TUPRNUT says
December 30th, 2007 at 6:55 pmGreat entry, Karen. It was great to read over your goals for 2008!
I can feel you with the fitness-thing… when my husband was deployed, I was great about eating healthy and working out regularly. I lost about 15 pounds during his 6-month deployment. Since he’s gotten back, I’ve gotten back into the kitchen and cooking way too much for the 2 of us. Weight is creeping back on both of us and I look forward to exploring new recipes in 08 that are just as tasty but a lot healthier. I hope to lose another 10 or so before we start trying for baby #2. That’s a great motivator for me.
Karen says
December 30th, 2007 at 7:59 pmYou are welcome, Sandy!
Yeah, I miss Aaliyah too. There are so many artists that I wish I got to see live – Jeff Buckley, Sublime when Bradley Nowell was the lead singer, Luther Vandross – and she’s on that list.
And you absolutely have to Sandy B, hee hee! I wish I had a lipstick named after me.
Karen says
December 30th, 2007 at 8:15 pmThank you, Tuprnut! I’m excited about 2008, woo hoo!
I’ve been gathering healthy recipes lately and I’ve found a ton in Women’s Health magazine, have you read it before? It’s great. There’s lots of useful fitness tips and useful articles, too.
Baby #2 is a fantastic motivator. I know you can do it. 🙂
Alicia says
December 31st, 2007 at 4:08 amKaren, will you be my cheerleader! I’m working on my fitness for 2008! 😀
Rowena says
December 31st, 2007 at 9:12 amSighh…me too *puts on lime cycling shorts* I need to do some exercise and eat better! I actually have a free gym where I live but I don’t know what it looks like! I think I will take baby steps, then I’m more likely to be consistent about it…
I agree with you too about the writing & also in terms of not letting haters get to me.
What else? I am going to work hard to achieve my goals this year! Thats the main thing. And stop buying so much maquillage….
Thushaa says
December 31st, 2007 at 1:06 pmPass school, get healthy, and love life! =)
“4. To not let what haters think/say/do bother me.”
That’s a good one!
Happy New Years Eve!
Karen says
December 31st, 2007 at 2:13 pmYes, Alicia, I’ll be your cheerleader!
I’ve found that what really helps is to write *everything* down. I plan my workouts and keep them like they’re business appointments. I also track what I eat (how many calories I consume and expend!).
But yeah, sometimes it just helps to have somebody to cheer you on. Just drop me a comment and I’ll give you some encouragement or tough love (sometimes we need it, I know I do).
Happy New Year!
Karen says
December 31st, 2007 at 2:15 pmHey Rowena,
Dunno about that last one 😉
All of your goals are great ones. Stay motivated and bribe yourself if you have to!
Happy New Year!
Karen says
December 31st, 2007 at 2:16 pmThushaa! Happy New Year!
I hope you attain all of your goals. I’m gonna put “to love life” on my list too – that’s a good one.
Mariana says
December 31st, 2007 at 10:17 pmHI Karen,
I started reading your blog about 2 months ago and I’m addicted! I could use a cheerleader with getting back into shape. I’m about at my wits end! Any tips/tricks/motivators would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the great work and have a wonderful new year!
Kelly says
January 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pmI think my main resolutions this year:
1. Start using that elliptical that I paid 2 grand for, not to mention the TV & DVD player that sit in front of it. The elliptical is now 1.5 years old (TV & DVD were purchased just a couple months ago) and an average use of 1-2 times a month is just beyond shameful! My plan is to watch two DVD episodes of Sex & The City while running on it at least three times a week.
2. Upgrade my 35mm Nikon SLR to a digital SLR and start taking more pictures. Photography is a fun creative outlet and I don’t do enough of it until we’re on vacation. The hubby and I take a two week vacation abroad every-other autumn and 2008 is our next one. I think we’ve decided on Argentina. Anyway, I want to have taken oodles of pictures on my new cam and be all comfortable and ready to take some beauties on vacation.
3. I sit at a desk at work, so when lunch rolls around, I want to be out of the office. My resolution this year is to resist the urge to go out for bad food at lunch and/or go across the street to the mall and shop. 2007 saw way too many trips to the MAC counter and Coach store… instead, I’m going to bring food from home, eat soup, or a Lean Cuisine type meal and read a book. My rule will be 1 evil Starbuck’s coffee OR 1 lunch out per work week! So basically, if I can be good all week for lunches Friday morning will be a delicious coffee reward. 😉
Good luck with all of yours. You’ve got some good ones!
Madeleine says
January 1st, 2008 at 4:13 pmHi Karen 🙂
call me too old…but I don’t make any so called New Year resolution any more.
I used to lift weights for over three years,my personal trainer B.A.(Betty Ann) has moved (to another city)and I have moved out of the gym(schedule).And I had fun.I was rocking!Leg press at my own weight 125lb. I was easily to press 375lb. big time!
Every time I wanted to loss some weight I failed.No more resolutions
I go with the flow.Just by walking every day within 2 month I have lost about 15 lb.I eat fish 3x a week and wallnuts -every second day(good for your heart),I drink dry white wine and water…
Since I have never smoked I don’t have make any New Year’s and Old Year’s and any other year’s resolutions.
I just don’t.I really try to treat people nice (although they are not always pay forward),not to act like a wicked witch of the Shire ,and stay…positive which not always works out,but…I don’t give up.
And with this optimistic accent I wish everybody the best!
The best!!!
Karen says
January 1st, 2008 at 7:32 pmHi Mariana,
I’d love to be your cheerleader. Seriously, just leave me a comment when you need some encouragement (or tough love, I do both really well, LOL) and we can get each other through the tough times (my hardest moments are when I get fudge slice cake cravings, oy!).
I think the biggest things were viewing the whole process as a life style change AND meticulous planning. I don’t eat the same way I used to when I was in college, when I really didn’t have any concept of portion size or what low fat eating was. Learning how to eat nutritiously was a huge factor in my weight loss equation. I wrote everything I ate down in a notebook, and tracked how many calories in and how many out. Seeing the numbers (and coming clean on days when I ate a bit more) really helped me get a concept of my progress.
Another thing I did was to plan my workouts the same way I planned business meetings. If running/biking/lifting was on the schedule at a certain time, I *had to make it happen* even if I didn’t feel like it.
If you don’t read ’em already, pick up some fitness mags. It’s January so all of them will all be full of fitness plans for the new year. I really like Women’s Fitness. The writing is sharp and everything in there is useful.
Karen says
January 1st, 2008 at 7:40 pmHi Kelly,
The Sex & the City DVDs are a trick that I use to get on my exercise bike. It *totally* works EVERY TIME!
What digital SLR are you thinking of? I’m a Canon girl, myself 😉 I got a lovely book for Christmas about using the Rebel XTI from El Hub and I can’t wait to read it and really understand the features of my camera. I’ve been sort of thrown into the fire when it comes to photography for this blog so it’s been a real learning experience, but I’d like to feel more comfortable with event stuff in the future.
I hear ya on those tempting lunch time trips. When I worked in downtown SF I went to Union Square waaaay too much. The book and lunch sound like a great idea. Or how about walks when the weather gets nice?
Anyway, I hope you had a fantastic New Years and a successful and happy 2008!
Karen says
January 1st, 2008 at 7:42 pmHi Madeleine,
Wow, girl, scared of you and your bad-ass leg press abilities! That’s so hot. That’s too bad B.A. left town. Oh well, maybe this is an excuse to find a gym with a super cute new trainer. 😉
It sounds like you have lots of really good positive energy for 2008. Go with the flow, keep your chin up, and keep on rocking!
delphynus says
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:21 amhappy new year! i enjoy ur writing! 🙂
cheers, and good luck with the resolution. mine is to live more, and work less…gotta get rid of the workaholic in me! go go go away!
Kelly says
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 pmI’m a Nikon girl and am looking at the D80, a 18mm-200mm f/3.5-5.6 ED lens with vibration reduction, and a 50mm prime lens with f/1.4 for low-light situations or places where flash isn’t permitted.
I feel like we should be flashing camera gang symbols and exchanging brand jabs. 😉
Karen says
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pmThank you so much, Delphynus!
You have some great resolutions. I hear ya about the being a workaholic. *Sigh,* I am the same way too. But you know, I give you props for being able to say that you’ve got that in you, cause not everyone does.
Take care and hope to hear from you again soon! 🙂
Karen says
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:01 pmHA! Kelly, ain’t that the truth! We could have a Nikon vs. Canon battle like they do at the b-boy competitions, LOL.
Oh! Speaking of lenses, for Christmas I got a 50mm lens with f/1.8 for low-light product shots. I haven’t used it yet but I can’t wait!