This year I said to heck with the yearly New Years resolutions. I have great intentions. I never keep them. There’s a lot of self-loathing, and it becomes this – mess.
So my supervisor at work suggested and shared this cool link about adopting a word for 2023- instead of making those abysmal, hard to keep, annoying New Years resolutions.
My words for 2023 is “ sustainability “ – it’s a noun meaning the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. From my perspective if what I’m choosing to do I can’t continue to do or keep up appropriately ain’t doing it. That circles back to making good choices.
As I watched everybody’s posts about jumping on the exercise train, counting calories, doing keto, etc. etc. etc. I just shook my head and refused to feel pressured or guilty because that’s just not how I roll. For me I have to do things that make sense, work and again are sustainable.
For instance there’s a study out that they’ve been working on for 25 years that talks about the importance of being hydrated and people that are dehydrated chronically have a higher incidence of serious health issues. 
Anybody who knows me, knows I’m not a water person in regards to drinking water I hate to drink water. But if something small like making sure I get nine glasses of water a day helps me in the long run for health it seems sustainable.
My other choice this year is to become more involved in my interests and my life. Being the caretaker of others while it feels good it’s exhausting. I include my spouse and son in this equation.
The kid needs to reach out more on his own. Without any prompting from me. If that means me not reaching out unless I truly have to – even if that’s going to smart – oh well. The secret is for me to keep busy enough to where I don’t feel I need to connect with him all the time. Remnants of a recovering helicopter parent.
And my person, my spouse, my partner – it’s time he start doing more for himself. You won’t find me talking much about our relationship here. It’s private. I reserve my confiding about relationship challenges with my therapist and my girlfriends 🙂
And that friends- is for today sustainable. so tell me what’s your word for the year?
Pacific Northwest Empty Nester 