By Lois Hewitt

The new year just keeps rolling along.  I decided to try something a little different in order to continue growing as a person. 

I used to write down everything I wanted to accomplish in a year and, foolishly, expected to do all of it right away.  This was inevitably followed by massive amounts of disappointment.

This year, I am going to spread the ideas I have for change over the entire year, in month sized bites. Each month, I will commit to a “do more” item and a “do less” item.  With the intent of having developed those items as habits by the months end.

For January, I plan to do less doom scrolling on the Internet and do more gratitude.  I wrote these goals in my planner along with one financial goal for the month lest I forget.

I want to do so much more this year, but I have found trying to do it all at once is not a recipe for success.

I started eating better and cooking from scratch slowly. Now I am in the third year of that change.  It was successful because I did not expect to be Jamie Oliver or Martha Stewart all in one day.  I rode the wave of change slowly, really learning about it as I went.  Now it’s second nature.

Growing, although an essential part of living, in and of itself is not an easy task.  It requires forethought and dedication. I think that’s why trying to do all your resolutions at once is a disaster because it is simply too exhausting.

The old adage goes…how do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  Older age has not only brought me some wisdom but also an understanding of the importance of moderation.

My youth was full of excess and gluttony.  I wanted to drink everything all at once. I wanted to eat everything all at once. I wanted to spend everything all at once.  I wanted to change everything all at once.  I can tell you that is a horrible way to live. I knew no peace or joy.  I walked around like a failure all the time.  I was exhausted and defeated.

Moderation is a beautiful thing. It allows for a consistent and sustainable change.  When I was up to my neck in manic-depression, I found the manic times to be the most disturbing because there was no in between. Today moderation and intent are my life’s blood.

I am an example that change and growth are both possible. I say that not because I am special in any way but because I did it wrong for literally decades but finally found some clarity.

The path of change and growth does not end until the last breath is used.  So no matter my success, there is always more to do.  At least now, I am moving forward and so can you if you intently and meticulously strive for it. 

I gave up many times. Please do not give up.  Stop beating yourself up and take one step forward.  The size of the step matters not, just that it’s in the direction of forward. If I can make strides, you can too!