Sara and Melissa Talk About...New Year's Resolutions

We've been running a column series (for two years now!) to get more personal with our readers. Since we're at the start of a new year, we realized that we've never done a post about resolutions. We've decided to remedy that today!

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them.

Sara Steven:                                                                                                                                      I used to be a real stickler for resolutions. It was the highlight of the end of any particular year and the start of the following year. I’d put a lot of thought and effort into it, too. From fitness to parenting, to getting out more and socializing–I always had the biggest and best of intentions, working hard to stick with my resolutions as much as I could, at all cost. 

I don’t remember when I stopped participating in the resolutions game. It might have been after the move to Arizona, or when I’d enrolled in college. Suddenly, I didn’t feel as though I had enough time or effort to devote to resolutions. When I’d get an idea on how I could improve or do better in a certain area of my life, it was something I’d focus on in the here and now–not months later, to coincide with January 1st. I didn’t wait for a particular date. I just did it. 

A friend recently asked me what my resolutions for 2022 are, and I replied: “I want to take more time for myself, and I want to be better about keeping in touch with my friends. I feel like Covid has really turned me into more of an introvert.” 

Boy, that is so relevant to what’s going on in our world right now. It’s hard to crawl out from the hole I’ve placed myself in. Right now, we’re encouraged to steer clear of everyone else, at least a six foot distance, and for good reason. I don’t think anyone wants a case of Omicron on their hands. And with another five course semester–my final one with Arizona State University–I can already feel it slipping away. The time. The ability to reach out and stay connected with others. Already, I feel as though the supposed resolutions I’d mentioned to my friend might not happen. 

Resolutions can be hard to stick with. Life circumstances can often get in the way. That’s when the will to get things done kicks in, and I know that I need to put more effort towards sticking with the important goals I’ve set for myself this year. When I say I want to make more time for myself, it means allowing myself some “me” time without feeling guilty. Like, allowing myself the time to write, or to focus on my education, and knowing it’s okay. And when I talk about keeping in better touch with my friends, I can do that even with a text, or an email. Doing what I can, when I can. Even little gestures can go a long way. 

I think resolutions are intentions set by all of us; an intention to go into this year and every year with a better outlook, or maybe a better outcome. Whether you set that intention at the first of the year, or at varying times throughout the year, it’s all the same. We’re all trying to navigate this “new normal” as best we can, and do the best we’re able to, for right now. 

Melissa Amster:                                                                                                          I'm not much for making resolutions and have a hard time sticking to ones I've made in the past. However, for the sake of this post, I am going to talk about my book, TV, and movie resolutions because...why not?                                                                                      Books: 

There are two books I have every intention of reading at some point this year. They are 11/22/63 by Stephen King and House Rules by Jodi Picoult. Both Sara and my blogger friend Lloyd (The Booksage) have raved about 11/22/63 for a long time and I finally purchased a copy for myself. It is huge!!! I think the last book I read of this size was by Wally Lamb. As for House Rules, it's the only book of Jodi's that I haven't read yet (I don't count Plain Truth since I saw it as a movie on Lifetime). It's been sitting on my shelf and I want to finally get around to it!

TV Shows:

I made a promise to Sara last year that I would start watching Riverdale. That hasn't happened yet because other shows got in the way. This year, I want to at least start the first season. I only watched one episode out of context a few years ago because it was about Heathers, the musical, and had a bunch of the songs in it. It was enough to intrigue me to watch more, but I just never got around to it. I also need to catch up on The Goldbergs. I've fallen so behind this season!

Photo courtesy of Geek Girl Pen Pals

Movies:

I would like to go back to a movie theater as I miss that experience, but I am not ready to yet. Maybe later in the year I can make that happen. In the meantime, my other movie goal is to show My Big Fat Greek Wedding to my kids. I'm always telling them how they need to see it. Some other movies I want to share with my oldest are Empire Records and Grease 2. A while back, I told my youngest we'd watch It Takes Two and that still hasn't happened. I'd love to get my middle child to finally see The Princess Bride, but he's so resistant to it. (Perhaps he heard that there was kissing...)

So there you have it. I could promise myself that I will write stories again, but I don't want to disappoint myself if that doesn't happen, so it's just a very light idea in the works that may or may not happen in 2022, depending on my mood. 

What are your resolutions for 2022?

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