Here we are (finally) at the end of January. We’ve had just enough time for this year to chuck its chaotic mess in our faces. Amid the chaos, we’ve also managed to completely bomb (if not totally disregard) our new year’s resolutions…or goals…word of the year…whatever it is you may do. These past thirty days have surely sent your plans through the ringer!
I believe in self-improvement as much as the next person, and I truly do love setting new goals. The new year always feels like a crisp new page, a solid beginning for what I want to do differently in my life. Like many of you though, by the end of January, with what seems like a “new year, new hurdles” start of the year, I am often overwhelmed and sink back into my comfortable routine of being good enough. This year, I had a chat with my sister that set things in a different perspective.
Our conversation went something like this:
- Me: “I’m still trying to figure out what I want my goals to be this new year.”
- Sister: “You know, I had a friend this past year that just made a goal to do things that make her happy.”
- Me: Stunned silence, but inwardly thinking, “What?! We can do that?”
What if instead of this constant barrage of self-improvement and pressure to refine and fix ourselves, we made a goal to just be happy?
Our conversation stuck with me for days. So many, in fact, that I decided to share it with you. My sister continued to share that her friend decided to seek out and intentionally incorporate things into her daily/weekly/monthly routine that made her happy. For this friend, it was as simple as bacon. She loves bacon. Bacon makes her happy. (Let’s be real here; I haven’t met a person that isn’t a bit happier after a perfectly crisp slice of bacon.) So she decided to eat more bacon. While bacon is delicious, the point here is really not the bacon. The point is that she was intentional in bringing that small moment of happiness to her life.
So I thought I’d try it out. This year, I want to focus on incorporating something that brings joy into my life, and I’ve decided on flowers.
I love flowers, and I am going to intentionally buy flowers once a month. They’ll sit on my kitchen table for a week or so and bring a splash of color to my life. I do want to note here that while I could ask my husband for flowers, I am not. He would buy them for me. He’s a great guy. But I do not want my little bit of happiness to be conditional on anyone else’s actions. I am finding this happiness and intentionally bringing it into my life. So I will buy them.
Also know that bringing joy doesn’t have to cost a lot of extra money.
My last bunch of flowers came from the markdown bin at Kroger for $1.75. They were still lovely and lasted over a week. Aldi and even Publix often have bouquets for less than $10. Maybe for you it’s not flowers. Could setting down your phone and reading a book with your baby bring you joy? Maybe putting the dishes on hold for a few minutes and just spending 10 minutes snuggling with your child on the couch? Taking a bath? Painting your fingernails?
