To be completely honest, I’ve never been a big fan of resolutions; as it is January 24th and this is my first post of 2017, I doubt your mind is completely blown by that realization. It’s not that I don’t want to become a better person or develop a more healthy lifestyle, it’s that I’m never excited to start off a brand new year by setting myself up for failure. Also, let’s be honest, New Year’s Eve rarely ever sets the tone for “Your Best Year Yet!” (Although I’ll say in contradiction, this year's celebration was pretty amazing). Most of the time, we walk into January with overpriced expectations, a dress we refuse to wear again and a headache we eagerly signed up for.

Personally, I don’t have an all-or-nothing pattern of thinking. Yes, I’ve made my fair share of rash decisions but I don’t set goals that require me to never do this or always do that because I think those self-set expectations can cause unneeded stress and deprive you of things that ultimately aren’t that bad. For example, this year I want to cut back on soda (what am I 17? Nobody my age is still drinking Diet Coke) but when I was a kid, my dad would give me a Sprite if I didn’t feel well. That is embedded into who I am! In turn, I simply cannot give up soda; that’s a fact. So I’ll just cut way back and save them for those under-the-weather days. You dig?

I like to think of the New Year as a time to set new goals that will improve your overall self. Achievable milestones that leave room for error rather than things you have to do to succeed because as soon as you miss your first morning run...that’s it, you’ve failed at 2017 and your running sneakers find their way to the back of the closet. So while I’m all about self-help, I definitely believe there is some messed up psychology involved in the idea of resolutions. Yes, let’s be better this year; let’s love a little harder, be a little more kind and burn a few calories. Yes, let’s set new goals and try new things but know that if you sugar is what your soul needs, it’s okay to eat the cake no matter what Fed Up told you. We should always be on the road to improvement but as they say on Instagram: New Year, Same Me...and I’m okay with that.

images by Vibe Tribe Creative