New Year's Resolutions | Generosity and Smaller Thighs | Guest Post

For the last few years, I have actively opposed making New Year's resolutions. I'm not sure when or how this distaste for an age-old tradition came about, although it was probably around the time everyone and their mama started plastering social media with New Year's workout photos. Even worse, people started posting pictures of complicated salads. Perhaps they thought the arugula/dandelion microgreen mix might taste better if it garnered enough "likes." We've been through the cycles of pink drinks, roasted kale combinations, overnight oats, weight loss apps, and my personal least favorite, running maps (yes, Susan, I see you made it 1.2 miles around your neighborhood at the same time each day this week, and so did your online stalker). I can't help but wonder what this year's health sharing craze will be. Moreover, how did it all come to this?

Don't get me wrong. I am well aware that my friends and family are making deeper meaningful decisions to change or improve areas of their life other than their thigh circumference. However, they are not sharing those trials and tribulations. Oh yes, I understand first-hand how deep and meaningful our physical health is to our overall lives and how difficult it is to make and keep up with changing habits. My point, however, is that I would like to see updates on those other resolutions. I would like to offer an encouraging, "You go, girl!" to an update on a friend's journey of mindfulness, generosity, or even improving vocabulary.

One year, an old classmate posted a resolution to get more personally in touch with her online "friends" by writing each an old fashioned pen and paper personal letter. She asked for addresses and they came pouring in. I would have loved to see updates on this resolution. Connecting on a personal level with those who you share personal details with all the time- now that is a resolution worth sharing. I would have loved to see updates of the undertaking. Did she reach everyone she wished? Did she run out of stamina before she ran out of addresses? Did the people she contacted return the gesture? That same classmate did share something throughout the year. She had such success with a weight loss system that she started selling it herself. She posted dozens of selfies over months, looking absolutely fabulous. Each image was paired with information on how the rest of us could order the amazing wonder drink diet solution. While I did appreciate her new svelteness and health, I couldn't help but wonder if she had been as successful with the letters.

What happened to the resolution that was making the world a better place?

I realize that perhaps the answer is that we are more likely to share our exercise and dieting successes and failures because they are simply easier to photograph, or maybe more acceptable to share. If you post a gym pic in your workout wear with "5 pounds down", you are likely to get a load of encouraging comments. Post yourself helping at a food pantry and you are more likely to be slammed for exploiting a serious issue to make yourself look good. I admit that is a judgment that I might jump to, depending on the person. It is all so backwards. Proud that your ass is smaller? Post it! You go, girl! Proud that you are volunteering each month at a homeless shelter? Keep that to yourself. Nobody likes a saint.

Why are we like this?

While I am not sure I will ever be back on the New Year's bandwagon, I can say that I am resolved to be more supportive of those brave enough to share the things they are doing to change our world, their neighborhoods, or just themselves for the better- including smaller thighs.

So, what is your New Year’s Resolution for 2020? Will you be brave enough to share your successes with us?