Statistics say most New Year’s resolutions are broken, forgotten or thrown out altogether in the first 10 days. Whether we start the resolution race at midnight on December 31st or they are arbitrarily made throughout the year, we tend to start so strong, eager and optimistic. We set a goal with all the intention of accomplishing it, and then something happens.

It feels like a few miles into the year’s marathon sandbags are attached to our feet, the wind picks up, the hills get higher and it begins to pour. While I’ve never personally experienced cats and dogs dropping from thin air, I certainly have experienced “To Do” lists growing overnight, bill fairies, unexpected business meetings, laundry build-up, groceries disappearing, workouts piling up and yes, delinquent blog writing. I guess we could sum it up as “life.”
Now I don’t think it is an excuse, more a reality, that there are so many unexpected circumstances which prevent the proper execution of our goals with our precise planning. I think that, for me at least, it’s easy to throw in the towel when I realize I’m not going to do something perfectly. For instance, when I have a sharwama, it’s easy to also throw in samosas and spring rolls, a chocolate bar and a Coke since I’ve already fallen off the health wagon (true confession).

My recent epiphany, as I was listening to the always inspiring Oprah was that the most important thing was not about whether we are going to fall off the goal wagon, but whether we immediately sprint to catch up and jump back on.

So whether it’s a new workout plan, healthier eating habits or dedication to read more; I think we should all incorporate being kinder to ourselves and more compassionate. I shifted my resolutions around this year for the first time and made my number one forgiving myself when I mess up and being able to start all over again at any point.

While we can always strive for the best version of ourselves, always encourage improvement and growth, I think there is a demand for an abundance of self-love infused between every mark of progress. So, hold yourself accountable to your New Year’s resolutions, or reinvest in them if they already seem a distant memory. Just make sure to remind yourself to have empathy when “life” pours down and not to give up on the race, but maybe just take shelter during the thick of it until things calm down so you can get back out there and finish strong.