Not really. But the pressure to set goals and make resolutions has damaged me in years prior. I grew up with a very negative association with “GOALS”, and it resulted in a lot of guilt. I think I gained most of my fat through guilt.

Last year Jessie and I came up with a plan that helped us all to learn how to set reasonable goals. It was mainly for the kids, we thought, but it ended up helping me way more. Every week we each choose a goal, assign a point value, and eventually earn rewards. It’s a “carrot vs. whip” situation, and the carrot is so much more effective. So I’ve loved our baby goals on a weekly basis.

I do think there is merit to having long-term goals and accompanying plans, but I’m a little fragile for that yet. I need small successes to grow on and small failures to see that all is not lost when I make a mistake. Also, there is a season for everything. Being a mom with small children doesn’t give me the time or space to make huge changes and accomplish big things. When I see “The Biggest Loser” and things like that I get discouraged, but I remember that they were absolutely removed from real life and they had every resource to get them to the end. I don’t, and that’s OK. My progress won’t be captured with triumphant background music or professional “before” and “after” pictures.

I’m not going to make any “resolutions”, but we are having FHE tonight, which means that we’ll sit down with our white board and our snack and discuss our plans and goals for the week. Sarah will probably say, “I’m going to color a picture every day!” and we’ll give her five points, Jessie will choose to move the file cabinet in the office and we’ll decide on six points for him. I think I’ll opt to drink eight glasses of water a day, everyone will say, “ooh–that’s hard for you! Eight or nine points!” and then several minutes later Russell will finally come up with “No Game Boy all week”. Hmm. Seven points? Yeah, seven.