I find New Year resolutions exciting. I have always incorporated them when I am dealing with my seniors and we make a game out of it. My experience has been, if you put something in writing, and you say it out loud and you share that resolution with others, one is more likely to look at it as a personal contract with oneself. I also put them in numbered order not necessarily of importance just so I can say that’s one number I am not going to work on. And that resolution goes into the vapors. I usually start off with things I really have to attend to or my senior finds are important to them. So we are just going to star them.*
Some resolutions I might entertain:
*Are there any habits I should just quit such as smoking and drinking?
*Are there medical appointments that need to be made such as for the doctor, the dentist, or to get eyes examined and potentially new glasses?
*Do I need to help my health along by having regular walks, taking exercise classes, or practicing yoga?
*Does my spiritual life need to be enhanced and if so how?
*Are there classes that will stretch my thinking process? What subjects would I find most exciting or challenging?
*There is always the struggle to maintain my health and wellbeing. Honestly asking my doctor what weight is best for me.
*Am I too old to think about romance and how do I go about addressing that delicate subject?
*Do I have the time and inclination to do volunteer work? If so what would be important that I am passionate about?
*Do I need to declutter aspects of my life or is this too broad and comprehensive?
*I need to have more fun and learn to laugh at life and myself and take time to make new memories for this coming year.
*Take a good look at do I want to travel? Can I travel? Can I afford to travel? Do I want to travel alone, in a group, with just one other person?
After I have done this, for myself or my senior, then we put things into priority order which means where are we going to really put our efforts and our genuine commitment. This is really a fun exercise in stretching ones imagination to possibilities, practicalities, potential thoughts to play with, or some of them are just pie in the sky.