Unlike a lot of folks, I gladly welcome every new year with open arms. For me it’s time to rejuvenate thoughts and goals. I always look forward to correcting, enhancing or finishing what I started the year before. In the past few years, my outlook has been much brighter; my goals a little more attainable, and it’s only because of reasonable and realistic goals I set.
Maybe the reason folks don’t bother with new year’s resolutions or fail at them is because they put too much pressure on themselves. Why make a resolution knowing it’s too difficult to achieve? So, let’s remove the more popular ones like losing weight, exercising more (which I personally never make because I hate exercising), tithing on the regular, – and replace it with another one that could be considered the forgotten resolution.
Family ties and true friendships are falling apart – let’s face it. It’s senseless what we’re doing or have done to one another. What we must (and I emphasize the word) do is work on mending at least one relationship that’s in need of repair. Everyone, including me, reading these words right now is guilty of doing absolutely nothing when it comes to making amends – no matter who’s at fault. My family is no different from yours. I can think of three jacked up relationships right off the bat – no, make that four… no, five (dang)! Two are not mine, but the rest are. I’m not particularly looking forward to one that’s very challenging because of resistance from the other party, but it’ll be worth the effort for the sake of family.
And what is it that stops me/us from reaching out? Pride – do we feel such an overblown sense of self that it makes us believe we’re too good to reach out? Or is it stubbornness – refusing time after time knowing we should but just don’t? Or how about immaturity where we don’t even consider the depth of destruction? The more I write, the more numbers I can add to my own messed up list – hmm, deep.
So, how ’bout we all make the first move in reaching out? Let’s challenge ourselves and extend that olive branch by making this year better than the last. I’m going to follow my own advice and before the end of the month I will have taken the first step in making good on this New Year’s Resolution.
What about you? How are you gonna mend your relationship?
writing is my thang 
Having read this I believed it was extremely enlightening.
I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this information together.
I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting.
But so what, it was still worth it!
This is the first commentary about resolution that I’ve ever had a positive reaction to.
As I’ve NEVER followed the popular course of making resolutions — especially New Year ones — most comments about them leave me glassy eyed. They result in me issuing a virtual pooh-pooh toward the writer and the their usually, to me, inane ramblings.
Usually, when I recognize something needs to be done/changed, I just do it without regard to benchmarks, time frames, and/or specific artificial spurs — a new year, for instance. Your remarks, probably because of my thoughts about who you are (I probably would not have read them otherwise), got me to give them consideration.
Having some family relationship “issues” that extend back at least a couple decades, now may be the time for me to put an end to them. Usually when I’ve made a determination that a grown person has done something that a supposedly normally responsibly mature adult would not do, then I cut you loose.
Maybe I’ll, in this case, abandon my unsparing rule and reach out soon.
I’m impressed by your first sentence, Blabren. I can understand why some resolutions make you “glassy eyed” – there’s nothing new about ’em! You don’ know how your words touched me because I KNOW you don’t respond to just anything. I’m honored (lol) that you are willing to take the mature approach and put pride aside to reach out soon. Thank you for Blabren for making me feel (along with everyone) that my words make a difference. 🙂
Enlightening the world, one helpful article at a time.
So true! We were designed to be in relationship- with God and with one another. And pride is surely one of the biggest hindrances to us mending broken relationships. I believe if we all focused more on improving our relationships, the other “resolutions” you mentioned (losing weight, exercising, tithing consistently), would be more realistic to accomplish. Relationships make the world go round! This was such a great post to challenge us get our priorities in order. Thanks for the call to action!
Yes, Practical Chick, I so agree. There is nothing like having harmony in your life – if you have that, all other things should line up. That’s not to say it will be easy or it’ll happen automatically, but if your heart and head are together, you can pretty much handle the rest. Thanks for your input – ‘preciate it. 🙂
This year I made my New Years resolution easy. I am going to travel more. Which that’s starting off right!! Yay👏👏!! I am going to Vegas next month for my birthday, thanks to my best friend in the whole world( Karis). The next goal is to save. I have started the 52 week challenge. Last goal is to make my relationship stronger with my boyfriend. I have three easy goals. I figure if I write a list of goal I will not achieve them. I say start your New Year off right an things will end great if u stay postive. 😊😊
“Easy” is the way to go, Muriel – less pressure on yourself. And with that 52 week challenge, try doing it backwards – start with the saving the most then work your way down. Thanks for reading & responding! 🙂
So true Tilda im try to mend my relationship with my family.Yes its strange that when my onlydaughter was young [now grown]we was so close.now she grown how we drifted apart yes i still love her,but its not the same is it because i still see her as my little girlLOL,Girl i can go on and on yes i could write a book about my life wish i knew how and where to start, keep up the good work
Hey Sheila! I know you have a story to tell, girl – just start writing! Hopefully, you will (notice I said “will”) make the relationship with your daughter whole again. It’s a challenge, I know, but you can do it if you’re willing – stay encouraged. Thanks for always supporting me in my writing. 🙂
Making amends forgiving others and forgiving yourself is the most important thing. Just remember after you have done all you can do acknowledge it and really truly move on. And you do have the right to design how your relationship with those people will be thereafter.
So true, Niya. I’ll see what happens once I reach out and then I’m moving on to find out what happened with the next one. Thanks for words of encouragement! 🙂