Reflections and goals to improve your health and lifestyle are great. Conviction and accountability for your goals are better. After all, the definition of resolution is the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose. Notice the definition did not state “temporary” state of resolution. I know, we’re all guilty of it. To keep focused and avoid the New Year’s resolution fad, here are a few tips:

1. Timing – if you fall off the wagon, get back on. If you start to notice your cheat days becoming more like cheat weeks, put the donut down and recharge. Don’t wait until Monday because it’s easier and a fresh start.

2. Mistakes – they happen. Don’t beat yourself over them, you’ll only waste time and energy. Do yourself and everyone a favor and keep the crazy in and take it out on the punching bag at the gym. You live and you learn.

3. Yes – a simple answer that can open doors of opportunities. As we grow and gain experience, many of us become set in our ways. Get outside your bubble! The world around is constantly changing, so keep your heads on a swivel and see what you can learn around you. Whether it’s how to organize your files right or a new recipe or exercise routine you’re not familiar with.

4. Circle – surround yourself with supporting friends and family who believe in you. If you’re like me, you can be independently stubborn. Trust me though, when you fall in the mud, the cheerleaders on the sideline will remind you of how awesome you are and have a towel to help wipe your face off.

5. Balance – we work hard so we can play harder, right? That’s always been my motto but I’ve rarely followed it. It was too hard for me to disconnect – no lunch breaks, no vacations without the smartphones. The result – burnout and unhappy friends and family. Both are equally important so test  your balance and strengthen your core – both your abs and your core values.

These five tips are the backbone of accountability. It’s all you. You know what makes you tick, what systems work and what reminders will keep your motivation going to achieve your goals. Whatever your resolution, make it a lifestyle change, rather than an annual New Year’s tradition.

Family

We love them, even when we hate them. During Thanksgiving, we gather around together and share stories of old and new, forgetting whatever family drama may exist. We put away the distractions and listen to one another, catching up on each other’s lives and what lies on the horizons. After all, Thanksgiving is just the kick-off of more glad tidings to come.

Friends

For the friends, we may or may not see, we’re thankful for them. Their personality traits that some may call ‘flaws’, we discover their true ‘diamonds in the rough’. They are the shoulders we lean on, sometime even cry on. Friends never to be forgotten because they haved lived our chapters with us and still choose to play a character in our novel.

Food

With great company, comes great food – and lots of it. We share recipes, cook and bake together – best of all eat together.

When my family and friends are around, I am thankful for expandable pants. Because I think there’s some truth to the fact, that happy people are those who don’t think about diets and calories but those who know and live by the motto – “Eat. Drink. And Be Merry!”  After all, turkey is available at the grocer’s all year round – why not spread the power of Thanksgiving, each and everyday? Gobble! Gobble!

Thanksgiving Meal

Being without light and not having the capability to see what is ahead of me or around me leaves me feeling empty and scared. I’m a control freak and when surrounded by darkness, I feel helpless as my mind races through every scary moment in my life and more – this includes episodes of Scooby Doo. Yes, I know it’s a just a cartoon and isn’t real but in my mind, it’s certainly seems that way.

The past two weeks I was challenged, between daylight savings and the freak snowstorm that blew through the northeast, causing myself and many others to be without electricity for days, I panicked. I was cold, hungry and without control of my life – it was an intense tango.

My husband and I do-si-do’d to friends’ homes for warmth and car pooled until we were able to find a gas station with fuel. One night, we even tackled changing the smoke detector battery by creating a ladder out of a bar stool and a couple of nightstands via candlelight. As the week progressed and the darkness became somewhat comfortable, I began to regain control, as well as a comfort level to pick up a dance card and make the best out of the situation.

We all have fears. We all find ourselves in scenarios that make us feel helpless. What we tend to forget is, that we can dance in the dark, we just need to find the courage to get on the dance floor first – to get our legs warmed up, whether it’s the one-two side step or the classic white man’s overbite. Get out there and have the time of your life.

Source: Google Images

 

Show off your super power of flexibility.

Fall Harvest in New England

Spending the last ten years in Florida, I forgot the beauty of autumn – a season of non-existence in the sunshine state.

You either loved it or hated it. Regardless, you talked about it – at 10,000 tweets per minute!

Crazy me? I’m a hopeless romantic that believes in fairytales and set my alarm for 4 o’ clock in the morning. At one point, I got bored and tried to go back to sleep and eventually was lured back to the arrival of guests, interviews, the unveiling of the dress and the ceremony itself.

Insane? I know. Especially since our own soil was experiencing a tragedy.

Odd as it may sound, but watching the Royal Wedding inspired me to believe. It motivated me to make a difference and not forget my dreams – to refocus. That morning, I made a donation to the Salvation Army, cranked out a killer workout, tackled my to-do list and re-evaluated my game plan.

For my husband, the Royal Wedding did nothing other than wake him up at an hour he’d prefer to be getting some zzzz’s…which he did continue to do at 4:01.

Not to say me and my husband don’t have similar goals, but each of us have different factors that give us drive and strength to achieve them. For example, as people diet – some prefer to post a skinny pic while others choose to post a Fat Cam pic to remind and motivate them. To each their own, just as long as it works.

What Cinderella story motivates you?

Destiny; fate.

I believe the world is my oyster and I can achieve anything I seek. Often times though, fate  steps in and keeps things interesting. It’s not always an easy pill to swallow, especially when it catches you off guard.

A couple years ago, kismet introduced me to my best friend, soul mate and husband. An acquaintance I met over eight years ago. At the time of our meeting, I was focused on a my job and enjoying my 20′s vs. love which is probably why I sought the bad boys and didn’t see the nice guy under my nose.

I feel blessed and fortunate to have a little kismet sprinkled in my life. Have you been kissed by kismet?

In high school, I was a social butterfly and had the hook up. I had my own Swatch phone and a private line. To come home from school and see the blinking light on my answering machine was like hearing “you’ve got mail” when I would dial-up my AOL email account.

Senior year, I took it to another level – the pager. No longer a device for only doctors and surgeons, but for life’s emergencies like who is going to the prom with “Jake Ryan”.

Now we’ve moved onto cellular devices to connect real people in real time. Back in the day, my cell phone was a brick – just like the one in the old school commercial below. It looked like I was carrying a boom box or defibrillator on my shoulder.

Now, our phones are not only slimmer, but smarter – with options. The phones have so many bells and whistles that we have the option to choose our means of communication – text, tweet, post – connecting and evolving social butterflies from all over the world.

It’s a happy time, even for those who are not carrying a little one themselves. A time to shop for everything miniature – onesies and little Nike Airs.

In addition to the shopping, I love the traditional “debate” over names. Similar to planning your wedding, everyone has an opinion and it’s entertaining to be a fly on the wall and listen to the banter.

Selecting a baby name is a science and there are many factors that go into it:

1. Family names – always a nice touch, unless you share the name of a Golden Girl.

2. Experiences – I was named after a nurse that befriended my mother. It can work both ways though – a name can be ousted if it strikes a bad “mean girl” memory.

3. Place of conception – why not? Bruce and Demi did it.

4. Creativity – to stir originality, although I’m not sure your child would appreciate the name “Seven” through their high school years.

5. A book – always a great starting point.

How did you get your name?