Well well well, hello there!
I took a much-needed writing break for a bit to celebrate the holidays with friends and family. It’s funny how sometimes you just can’t make time for all the things you love — I stuck with my workouts and attended many a holiday party, but writing a recap every day or two was just not in the cards. And while this isn’t going to be the most detailed post either, I just had to pop in and say happy new year to you all.
So let’s talk resolutions.
Facebook has been trying to show me how great of a year I had for a few weeks now. They keep pushing it on me, promising to highlight what “must” have been a wonderful year. The truth is, it wasn’t a good year. It was a tough year. It was the most challenging year of my life. And I definitely don’t need Facebook to remind me of the tough times, because for every picture taken or status made throughout 2014 in which I appeared to be going about life as usual, there were weeks, months, even, when I was the farthest thing from happy. I didn’t disappear into a hole or drop off the face of the earth, but I wasn’t present in my life because I was constantly focusing on my negative thoughts below the surface.
We talked a bit about new beginnings this past fall and how significant I find them. New day, new you. New month, new you. New year, new you. All it takes is one day where you wake up and say, “Today, I am _____.” You have the power to change your identity, to change how your life is going and to change its course. Sometimes it’s nice to have a holiday to remind you about the peace that can come with new beginnings.
So for 2015, I have no resolutions. (Except, maybe, to drink more water. Every freaking year….)
I have goals — things that I have written down and included “by whens” so that I hold myself accountable, but ambiguous resolutions? Nah, not gonna do it.
I wake up each day with enough money in my pocket to be comfortable, enough food in my kitchen to keep me from being hungry, an insatiable appetite for fitness that keeps me strong, a supportive family on speed dial, a group of friends who would do anything for me, and a job where I am hugged every day, I am cared for every day, I am loved every day.
So I have no resolutions this year. There is no way my life could be any better in 2015 than it is today in 2014. That isn’t to say that 2014 wasn’t full of hardships. But life doesn’t hand you “that moment” when the dark turns to dawn. You choose that moment. And while I can’t pinpoint my moment, I know that my life is filled with happiness now because I made the choice to do so.
I know I’ve shared this quote before but I think it has to be the best thing I’ve read in 2014 so it merits another share.
With that said, if I WERE to make resolutions, they’d look a little something like this:
With my 2015 goal of running the Chicago Marathon, I’d say this one is pretty darn true
Really commit to what I commit to. Imagine that?
This has more to do with the holidays being over — stop with all the booze! Save $ and feel better
Get more involved with my local church
Questions:
- Are you making resolutions this year?
- What was your favorite part of 2014?
- What are you most looking forward to in 2015?
i had a big lunch 
Omg, what a seriously inspirational and beautiful post. I’m not kiddin’ ya, you’re beyond fabulous!! I just can’t enough of your blog and your attitude. You’re the best! You know how to rock your life and how to live it up and to keep things in perspective. Truly, Happy New Year to ya!! I wish you the most amazing things in 2015!! XOXO
I definitely try to keep my perspective in check, thanks Kristin!! Can’t wait to keep up on your fabulous, yoga-centered, swimming-filled, weight training-focused life! Emphasis on the yoga 🙂 I really can’t wait to read more!
love this, girl. love the DL quote, and your perspective on just being good to yourself and other people and getting involved in things that make you feel like the best version of yourself — church and green drinks 🙂 — and being realistic about it all. hope 2015 throws you much more sunshine than 2014 did, girl. you’re a good one and i’m glad we “met” this year!
Church and green drinks are definitely a good standard to hold myself to 😉 I’m so happy we “met” this year too!
This is great, and man, can I just say thanks for having a non-resolution post? I feel like every single thing on the Internet is shaming me into thinking I’m a bad person for not resolving to do anything new in 2015, and I don’t like all this cyber guilt. Haha. So A+ for not making resolutions! I think you’re approaching 2015 with a great attitude, and I hope it turns out to be a wonderful year for you! 🙂
Funny enough, I wrote a whole post with three resolutions for this year but I just couldn’t hit publish. It was so cliche! Glad that came through 🙂
What a great post! I don’t think I’m making any resolutions either. I’m so excited to see what the new year brings. Even though nothing earth-shattering or crazy and new happened for me in 2014, I just feel like life is so good right now. I also LOVE that quote.
Happy New Year!
It’s a great quote, right? It really sums up a beautiful way to live your life every day.
Hi Lauren! It’s great you were able to step away and enjoy some holiday time away from the blog. And I like your outlook on goals for next year. I always want to drink more water too. You’ve hit the nail on the head here with these GIFs. 🙂 Happy NYE to you!
Water will be my goal every single year until I’m old and gray haha. Have a great NYE Ashley! I can’t wait to keep up with your beautiful life in 2015 🙂
Love it Lauren! Such a brilliant way to think about the new year, what lies ahead and what has been. Hope you have a wonderful NYE and bring in the new year with smiles, love and laughs! 🙂
Same to you my friend! Ive really valued our friendship in 2014 and cant wait to see what lies ahead for us both 🙂
Nice! I share a lot of the same feelings (since I guess we are the same person, same blog layout, etc), so it’s good to read them written down.
One of the biggest things I have learned over the years is the gift of perspective. For so long I would view things as a victim or in the most negative light possible, but I learned that you can find the best in any situation just by changing your perspective on it. I hope to continue to be able to do that throughout the year (and run 3 half marathons). Happy New Year’s!
Haha we are basically the same person 😉 and youre so right — we may not be in control of much but we are definitely in charge of our perspective
I love your post today and your attitude! I am not a big resolution maker myself. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too!!
I’m more of a goal setting girl myself. Resolutions just seem like setting myself up for failure. 2014 was a weird year for me too. I did watch my Facebook movie thing because I’m nosy and then immediately regretted it. So, here’s to 2015 : )
Goals have “by whens” aka “due dates” haha so it holds you much more accountable. Here’s to 2015!
Happy New Years Lauren! I don’t have a resolution for the new year either but I do have some goals, both fitness and in life. Excited for yo to run Chicago and to meet in 2015!
Most definitely! Can’t wait for things to settle down so we can finally have our Blue Door date 🙂
Love. This year. continue to do you. It has treated you well since you started listening to yourself again, and I think you will find that you are gonna be jjuuuuust fine 😀
Truer words were never spoken 🙂 Thanks, my love! Here’s to a fun NYE and a happy 2015!
Haha that “I Volunteer” gif is great! I think that New years resolutions are difficult because you have to try and keep them for a WHOLE year. I’d rather do monthly resolutions, or 3-months at a time!
Agreed! It’s good to have benchmarks for yourself, and smaller goals help you make bigger changes overall because they aren’t as insurmountable — then before you know it, you’ve hit a big goal!
Definitely echo your thoughts here. I didn;’t think 2014 was that flash either and I definitely did not appreciate the silly facebook reel either lol. Here’s to an epic 2015 for us both!
Amen to that!
I’m sorry to hear 2014 was so rough for you, that was me in 2013. I found the rough spots of that year to be so life changing though and 100% necessary. This year has the possibility to be great for you, and your optimism is already off to a great start!!
I wouldn’t have it any other way, that’s for sure. But I definitely don’t need a Facebook recap 😉
I love this post so much! Thanks for sharing, I think with social media sometimes we have the vision that everyone’s life is perfect besides ours because who really wants to say “today my day was crappy as heck” on facebook lol. I love the quote you shared and your hilarious gifs – I’m with you on ‘Whole-assing one thing’ and ‘Eating green sh$* and jogging more’! xoxo Happy New Year!
Hahaha especially after the holidays, green veggies REALLY need to make an appearance back in my life! Happy New Year:)
Sorry to hear that 2014 was rough for you. I hope 2015 is much, much better.
I think that is the difference between resolutions and goals – goals aren’t just random sweeping statements, they are things you can measure and are achievable.
I am all for new year goals.
2015 WILL be better 🙂 It will be amazing! Happy New Year!
Love your quote! Cheers to a better 2015. 🙂