Why Wait a Year?

Discover the power of bi-monthly resolutions!

Learn how setting small, manageable goals every two months can transform your year

and boost your confidence—without the stress of traditional resolutions. ;0)

"Happiness is amazing. It's so amazing it doesn't matter if it's yours or not. It's that lovely thing. A society grows great when old men plant trees the shade of which they know they will never sit in. Good people do things for other people. That's it. The end." (quote from After Life)

Why Wait A Year?

A fresh start. It’s here, waiting for you. This is your moment to dream big and step boldly into the possibilities ahead. You’ve been reflecting, setting goals, and determining what truly matters. Maybe you’re inspired to try something new, reconnect with loved ones, or simply take more time to savor the little blessings in your life. You’re ready to celebrate progress, embrace change, and look forward with hope for better and brighter days to come. But …

Sometimes, it feels like life doesn’t go quite the way we plan, doesn’t it? You start out with so much determination, so much energy for change—and then, well, life happens. Things don’t always stay on track, and before you know it, you’re pushing those big ideas and goals aside. Trust me, I’ve been there more times than I care to admit! We all have moments when the motivation fades, and plans take a backseat. Can you relate?

King Solomon related too as he said something like this: "Smoke, nothing but smoke. There's nothing to anything - it's all smoke. What's there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes-it's business as usual for old planet earth. The sun comes up and goes down, then does it again, and again - the same old round ..." (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, The Message)

Depressed yet? This wise king, who "got it" way before all of us did knew a bit about 'what was' and that it 'will be' again and that there is nothing new on earth. He goes on to say that everything is pretty boring and nobody will remember it anyway! Yikes, Solomon! Pessimist much? Of course, you probably already know about his struggle with futility and that he was just being a realist. He may have been the wisest man that ever lived, but he would attest to also being quite foolish in his life. You know, sometimes ... he makes me feel a little bit better!

An artistic realist once said that the world turns and turns, with no way to stop it (Octavo Dia by Shakira). Their words painted a vivid picture of life’s relentless momentum and the curious ways humanity strives to find meaning. It’s a sentiment that’s easy to relate to, isn’t it? Sometimes, it does feel as if we’re grasping for something to ground us amidst the chaos. And yet, here we are, moving forward together, day by day, each one spinning us toward unexpected joys, challenges, and discoveries. Now …

If you’re looking for ways to grow or make positive changes, I’d love to share a few simple ideas that could help. These aren’t about adding stress or setting unattainable goals—instead, they’re about giving yourself space to reflect and grow at your own pace. Taking small, meaningful steps can have a big impact, both on how you feel about yourself and on the progress you make. These are the kinds of things many of us wrestle with daily—I know I certainly do.

I'm putting this out there to share with YOU because I know goals work when you take just one and focus on it for a couple of months at a time. It takes around 21 days to make a habit PERMANENT, but I'm suggesting two months for those try again moments ... only one resolution per two months for the whole year! Write it on a piece of paper and post it at places you frequent or stick it in a phone app that you see ONLY THE ONE TWO-MONTH GOAL easily several times a day. These are not specific on purpose; YOU get to do that.

ARE YA READY? Let's go!

1. January-February. You made a mistake last year. Big deal. Learn from it, laugh at it, and EMBRACE it. Just this week I was reminded of one of the MANY stories regarding my husband's grandmother and silly things she is known for ... like ... driving through a car wash with the window down or hitting the ONLY other car in an empty mall parking lot. Yes, this happened. I could go on ... I will stop after those two examples, but the stories were legion. What I never, ever heard from this woman was, "I'm so stupid! Why did I DO that?" instead, she laughed and blew it off as a hysterical human error. All I knew from her about these things was ... laughter. The purest laughter. So, your first resolution is simply to make this a reoccurring thought:  You are full of worth, so STOP FEARING FAILURE. I have a relative who takes time-released medication. Think of success as simply time-released and you CAN'T fail! Remember your worth for the first two months and you might actually start to believe it! :)

Put this verse "in your pocket"/phone app/whatever for this FIRST two -month resolution to FORGET FEAR & REMEMBER YOUR WORTH (& THINK OF SUCCESS AS TIME-RELEASED):

2. March-April. You ARE pretty amazing. Really, really. NO, REALLY!! I don't mean to go all "Stuart Smalley" on you (any former SNL followers will get this reference, if not, HERE ya go), but those comical tongue-in-cheek thoughts on self-therapy are dead on. You ARE good enough, smart enough, people like you, so if you don't like yourself, you are really missing out on some awesomeness! So, for your next two months: You deserve it, so GET TO KNOW ... YOU. I'm not talking about looking up your dead relatives on Ancestry or referring to experiences that have come up in counselling (although both of those things are awesome) I mean, know who you are AT THE CORE. What worldviews influence your values and hence your behaviours ...? Be okay with what you discover. If not, be honest with yourself and make some decisions (you may need a friend for this!).

Put this verse "in your pocket"/phone app/whatever for this SECOND two -month resolution to GET TO KNOW YOURSELF:

3. May-June. For you to be a positive person, you have to convince yourself that your behaviours and actions are positive. Ever heard of "fake it 'til you make it?" Yup, that actually works. Your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours work off each other, so if you make a point of practising positivity toward another human being, you are going to feel positive too. There is also the added perk that you will feel satisfied with who you are and the things you are doing when you propose 'positivity' in challenging situations. Going into circumstances with a confident attitude, and choosing to act boldly has the result of boosting self-esteem. Yes, even when you're faking it. :) So. For the third two month stint, remember that YOU ARE TRULY LOVED and there is no reason to not BE KIND, GENEROUS, AND LOVING TO OTHERS. I realize you won't stop this after two months (better not!), but taking special time to focus on it for a apportioned time can deeply change a person as they continue forward.

Put this verse "in your pocket"/phone app/whatever for this THIRD two -month resolution to REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE LOVED AND PAY THAT FORWARD:

Before continuing to the other easy resolutions, please enjoy this wonderful new song for the New Year, HORSES RUNNING, written by my friend Michael Puryear and his cohort, Jo Doyle. Accompanied by a fun video of ...

Rattle your cage ... shake things up. Okay! KEEP READING for the last three resolution ideas for your stellar year ... !

(Resolve every month to love Sunshine and keep eating French Fries!?)

4. July-August. Here is a FUN one for the fourth two-month stint and it comes right around the summer months! I am starting to believe the sun is there not just to warm us and tell us what time it is, but to remind us of our mortality and keep us healthy simultaneously. Go outside. A LOT. Who doesn't smile when they think of sunshine? And don't forget the sweet UVB rays creating vitamin D and absorbing calcium from our bones! I'm planning to get a laptop out of the house as much a possible and SPEND CONSIDERABLE TIME IN THE SUN - as much as humanly possible! It's a short one, but a great one.

Put this verse "in your pocket"/phone app/whatever for this FOURTH two -month resolution to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE:

5. September-October. Here we are at the fifth two-month stint. It may be closing in on the end, but IT. AIN'T. OVER. Go and try something new if you want, but sometimes what would truly inspire you is to BELIEVE that you are already really GREAT at something fabulous. Do that thing. Share that thing. Don't hide that thing "under a bushel." NO. Do you like scrap-booking? Do that, SHARE that. Did you like kites as a kid? Make one with your own kids or shoot, just do it on your own or with a friend. Does anyone remember when former President George W. Bush painted an excellent portrait of Leno and shared on the television waves that he took time for himself to hone a fulfilling skill? Yeah, you aren't a president. So what? For the 3rd two month stint, take time to remember that YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND. INCREASE AN ABILITY IN SOMETHING YOU ALREADY LOVE. Hear this, believe this: You have a lot to share.

Put this verse "in your pocket"/phone app/whatever for this FIFTH two -month resolution HONE A SKILL:

6. November-December. I am again, laughing while I type and think through this one. See, Weight Watchers has helped me a lot to understand, manage yet still ENJOY my food (especially their new "freestyle" take on the plan). I am giggling because I had a nice big juicy french fry the other day and it took me about a half a minute to eat it because I was savoring the moment, 'sucking the marrow' if you will (um, literally). Anything can take over your life if you don't practice moderation, even if it's chewing gum. But what I have learned about self-control is that moderation actually elucidates the taste ... of LIFE! Benjamin Franklin said, "Everything in moderation ... including moderation!" Heh. You get it. Anything you want to accomplish takes progress, not perfection. Notice I saved this until the end of the year? It's a reward, really. SO. For the sixth and final two-month stint, PRACTICE MODERATION, BUT ENJOY YOUR FREAKING FRENCH FRIES!

Put this verse "in your pocket"/phone app/whatever for this SIXTH two -month resolution to PURPOSEFULLY BUT CAREFULLY ENJOY THINGS YOU LOVE:

Thinking about the sweetness of life—and how even its messier moments can be redeemed—let's drive back around to my husband’s grandmother. She had this rare gift of fully owning her missteps with a mix of humour and grace that left everyone around her feeling both entertained and inspired. No one ever thought of her as a failure or less than. She was just … wonderfully her. Honest, hilarious, and filled with a quiet, unshakable confidence. And maybe that’s the real beauty of it all—to fully be ourselves, to laugh through the imperfections, and to carry on with grace.

Be that. Oh, please, be that. Be the kind of person who embraces the beauty of growth, the lessons in challenges, and the joy in connection. Keep those who inspire you close to your heart, and celebrate the ways they’ve shaped your story. Reflect on what’s brought you here and know that every step—both steady strides and shaky missteps—has helped you become who you are today.

Lasting change often begins with small habits, nurtured over time. By practicing new routines in manageable steps, you ease the load and give yourself space to succeed. Some days may feel harder than others, and you might find yourself readjusting or starting again. That’s okay. Real growth isn’t about perfect execution but showing up for the next day with your best effort and an open heart.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Take things one day at a time, and trust that each day is another opportunity to move forward with grace and purpose. You’ve got this.