February 1st is my New Year’s Day observed. Considering I always ring in the New Year with family in Wisconsin consuming nothing but beer, cookies, and fried cheese for the entire first week of the year, I get a redo on February 1st. Plus I was sicker than sick the first two weeks of January and then so overwhelmed with the political situation the second half of the month that I couldn’t think of much else.
This year it doesn’t feel quite right to list a bunch of adventure type goals with our country in total disarray. The things I hold dearest – the environment, social justice, and overall human kindness are under attack. I am anxious, sad, and unsure of what I can personally do.
How do I move forward?
Some years I make resolutions or a list of small goals, but this year I am going with one word – COMMITMENT – my personal mantra for the year. This means stepping up and committing to the causes I hold dear, this mean committing and being present to my loved ones and my work, and this means I keep plugging away at my dreams regardless of how hard and how much I would rather quit at times.
I would also like to find a way to make my running and outdoor pursuits a bit less selfish perhaps by raising money for a cause I care about or using my participation in an event to raise awareness for an environmental cause. I have a few ideas and all I need is to choose one and the commitment to follow through. Good thing that’s my word for this year.
So cheers to 2017 and the commitment to making it one of the best years yet!