Resolution, what resolution?!?

With 2013 in full swing, research has shown that about half of Americans will make a New Year's resolution. Unfortunately only about 8% of those folks will successfully achieve their resolution by the end of the year. So what is it about the New Year that makes us want to achieve world peace and lose 100 pounds? It seems that some sort of magic happens on New Year's Eve where people are changed...although as the stats show, that change only lasts temporarily. However, something magical does happen on New Year’s Eve that recharges folks and recommits them to their goals.

So what if we lived every day like it was New Year’s Eve (minus the copious amounts of champagne of course)? What if we woke up every day feeling recharged and ready to take on the world…and maybe even achieve some peace in our lives? Why do we have to wait until the end of the year to make a change in our lives? As adults we have the responsibility of modeling a life that we want our young people to aspire to achieve. We should all live by certain principles and model healthy behaviors for young people. These principles are simple but often forgotten:

• Be kind to others. Treat others how you want to be treated. Show people respect and love. Seems easy enough right? Commit to doing a random act of kindness today for a stranger – pay for the persons’ meal behind you in the drive-thru line, open the door for a stranger, or help someone with their groceries.
• Build healthy relationships with others and let go of unhealthy relationships. We want our young people in healthy relationships so let’s show them what that looks like. Show them what it is like to respect your partner and listen to their opinion. Show them what healthy affection looks like in a relationship.
• Be passionate. Live your life fully and find your passion in something…golf, reading, shopping…just something. Show young people what it is like to be passionate for a cause and work hard for it. I once heard a wise man say that “we shouldn’t be afraid to fail, we should be afraid of succeeding at something that ultimately will not matter.” So do what you love and love what you do.
• Be the best you that you can be. Sounds a little like Oprah or the Army but this is so true. Just be yourself and take care of yourself through exercising, eating right and getting enough sleep.

So my challenge to you is to ditch your traditional New Year’s resolution and strive to live every day recharged and recommitted to the young people in our lives. Live by the above principles and don’t wait until the end of the year to get refocused, do it today and every day. And maybe every once in a while, celebrate with champagne just for fun J

Cheers, friends!

by Sarah Kershner, Project Coordinator, SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy