What will you gain?

 

I've thought a lot about posting about New Year's resolutions and such. I wasn't really going to post anything about it, but then the most recent Special K ads caught my eye and got me thinking. The tag line is "what will you gain, when you lose?"   In a season where so many of us are thinking about how much can we lose, what if the question was not, how much will you lose, but instead how much will we gain in life?  I'm not saying it's bad to have resolutions focused on weight, everyone needs to focus on what they need to change in their life. But I also think it's important not to lose focus on other areas as well.

As someone who has struggled with weight issues, this time of year brings up thoughts and feelings that I try to forget the other month's of the year. There is not a day that goes by when I don't think about my weight. It's a daily battle that I am slowly overcoming with time and self acceptance.  A couple years ago I tried going to the gym and even getting a personal trainer. I was working out 4-5 days a week, but I wasn't feeling like myself.  I was starting to lose who I was rather than more weight and then obsession and unhealthy thoughts slowly crept back in and I stopped going. 

I think everyone comes to a fork in the road when dealing with an issue or problem.  You can either dwell on negative thoughts and do nothing, or take the high road and be positive. After I quit the gym I started walking, doing more activities around the house and riding my bike. I came to accept that just because I wasn't going to the gym didn't mean that I was unhealthy or needed to lose weight. In short, I started living more, I started living life for myself and not what I thought I had to look like to be accepted.

So this year I plan on gaining. I want to gain in self-acceptance, kindness to others, positivity and love.  Resolutions should not only be defined by a number but rather self satisfaction and contentment - call them "unconventional resolutions" if you will.

PS. I also plan on blogging more in 2012 about my life, love and things that make me happy (and OF course more cupcakes!)

What is your "unconventional" resolution?