Once the last presents have been unwrapped, the Christmas decorations carefully stored away, and the unwanted gifts either returned or discarded—rest assured, I’m not talking about the gift you gave me; I cherish it and would never let it go—I take a deep breath and resolve to embrace the new year and make it a remarkable one.
Chasing after my toddler grandson—nothing runs faster than a toddler clutching something he has no business having—provides me with ample daily steps. No resolution needed here.
My expanding waistline resulted from the convenience of ordering pizza when all the holiday craziness made preparing dinner a challenge, like 20 out of the 31 days in December. Pizza is the perfect multitasking meal. I held a slice in my right hand while my left placed ornaments on the tree or affixed stamps to the Christmas card envelopes.
And then there were all those irresistible treats that friends only prepare during Christmas, which were too tempting to resist. If I didn't indulge this year, I'd have to wait another whole year for the next opportunity. Yep, my resolutions were a no-brainer.
Of course, I devoured my last pizza on New Year's Eve and topped it off with the remaining holiday sweets. I mean, it would be a sin to let all that deliciousness go to waste. In the light of the new year, it's time to get real. You know as well as I do that the idea of me never eating pizza or sweets again is about as likely as a frozen dairy product tasting as yummy as Ice cream. Scratch. Scratch.
These new resolutions present quite a conundrum. What if I've already eaten my monthly allocation of pizza and/or sweets, and then someone invites me to dine, and they serve pizza and dessert? It would be downright rude to refuse to eat the meal they serve. Far be it from me to offend anyone inviting me to share food. Scratch. Scratch.
Hold everything! I pull on my favorite sweats. They sag loosely. I don't need to lose weight! Scratch, scratch.
I change into jeans to go to the grocery store—even though I often shop in sweats, I don't want to make the other shoppers jealous when they see my baggy pants and realize that I lost weight over the holidays while they gained. Egads! Even when I lie on the bed, suck in my stomach, and pull with all my might, I can't button the waistband. Turns out the elastic in my favorite sweatpants lost its stretch. Scratch. Scratch.
Problems with eating sweets only on the weekends:
Valentine's Day does not fall on a weekend.
My birthday does not fall on a weekend.
Many of my loved ones' and friends' birthdays don't fall on a weekend.
Other problems may arise.
The biggest conundrum with my resolutions lies in the clash between my wants and a healthy diet. Hmm. Scratch. Scratch.
My soul is willing, but my flesh is weak. How easy it is to rationalize why what I want to do is as good as what I should do. Looks like I need divine assistance. The following scriptures should help me achieve success in 2025:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:3 NIV
I will try to start each day grounded in the LORD and take on one day at a time. If I succumb to poor choices on any given day, it won't derail my overall goal; I simply will start fresh the next day.
May you turn your plans over to the LORD and experience a healthy and prosperous 2025.
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Angela L Gold is the author of The Lion Within and Kill Shot.