My Family’s New Year’s Resolution & Why It’s Different Than Most

So first off, I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions. Don’t get me wrong; I’m all about bettering yourself, starting a new hobby, getting serious with a goal, and accomplishing something new that you’re set out to accomplish. 

But I hate the negative connotation that has come with a “New Year’s Resolution.” 

Most people start out strong, but, because they have overcommitted or jumped too quickly or made too big of a leap, they burn out, they can’t keep it, and it’s not sustainable. 

I hate that. I absolutely hate that because, as someone who helps others accomplish their goals and helps keep accountability, this “New Year’s Resolution” way is the wrong way to go about things. 

But yet, I’ve fallen in the trap too many times. Most recently, a few years back before kids came into the picture, I set out to convert, refinish, and install a new headboard made out of an old antique door in our master bedroom. What happened? you ask. Well, let me tell you. 

I set out to be more creative that year (not in my blood, by the way) so converting an old door into a headboard was what I set out to do.

I followed all the blogs, found pictures on the internet, formulated my plan, and made my list of what I needed. I found the antique door. I bought it. I of course needed to buy a sander, paint, and the brackets I needed to install the door. 

I got pretty far into the project… but it wasn’t until March. I sanded the door on both sides, which took FOREVER. 

I then painted it… a few months later… in the heat of Alabama…. Amidst the million mosquitoes that were flying around my backyard. I was eaten alive and had at least 30 bug bites. 

Yes. I counted. 

But you see, the door turned headboard wasn’t 100% to my liking. I wasn’t confident in my decision to be more creative, and I didn’t love this new headboard idea. And I really don’t want it in my home if I don’t absolutely love it. 

So, the door sat. In our garage. And then we moved. We moved the door into the garage in our new house, and there it sat. 

I started the project in January of 2017 and, finally, in Spring of 2020, we gave the door to our neighbor, because, well we needed the storage space in our garage. 

Yikes. 

So me and my family are coming up with our own goal to begin implementing within the new year of 2021. But this time, we are smart about it. 

My husband and I have been talking about creating a family mission statement to be an anchor for us, a path to direct our actions and activities, so that we can create a happy, whole, and holy family. 

So this year, in the year 2021, we will begin working on our family mission statement. There is no better time than the times right now to begin this amazing endeavor. 

But this time, my plan is to go slow, to be thoughtful, to really reflect and think about what our goal is with our mission statement. So at first, there will be a lot of planning, thinking, and conversations. 

For me personally, I know that reflecting about my own upbringing will be critical for creating our mission statement. There are specific traits that I wish I possessed or was at least better at, and I know I’m going to have to work a little bit harder to begin passing these traits and habits down to our children. 

I desire for our children and family to be generous with our time, with our money, and with our gifts. I struggle in the areas of being generous with my time and money (but I’m getting better and better at it). 

I desire for our children and family to be positive, to frequently reflect on blessings, to be grateful, and to speak words of encouragement. 

I desire for our family to be intentional with our time and how we spend it. Our family mission statement will directly influence how we spend our time. 

The list could go on, but I’m eager to see what we come up with in 2021 and how the process will naturally unfold. 

And because this new year’s resolution or goal is meaningful and will include accountability between me and my husband, I know that by 2022, the first version will be complete. 

So tell me, what are your thoughts about your goals for 2021?