4 New Year’s Resolutions That You Can Stick To

Can you believe 2018 is over? Once Thanksgiving rolls around, the remainder of the year passes by in a whirlwind. And while I enjoy the December traditions and holidays, I find it hard to focus and reflect on the resolutions I made back in January. This year I am setting meaningful goals that I know I can keep.

I resolve to stay in touch with family and friends

It’s getting easier to keep tabs on your friends and family with Facebook, Instagram, and all the social media apps we have today. For me, it isn’t enough. My plan is to reach out to a new family member each month either through social media or sending them a card. Starting out with a fun memory and a kind message is a great ice breaker.

For others, it may not be this easy, and that’s where a people search engine like Spokeo can help. Willie from California wanted to find a friend from 29 years ago. He said, “We served in the military together. She left, and was stationed in California, and I came home. I tried back then to find her, and couldn’t.  A few mornings ago, her name popped in my head out of the blue, and something inside told me to look for her that day. Within 20 minutes of signing up for Spokeo, I saw a list of family members and previous known locations in your listing, and I knew it was her! I couldn’t believe it. I called her, and when she answered the phone, I knew it was her because of her voice.”

I resolve to take chances

It is very easy for me to turn on the tv, sit on the couch with my cats, and block out the rest of the world. But, that isn’t the life I intended to live. I want to go new places and meet new people and the first step is joining a group on meetup.com. This incredible site is for groups of people with similar interests to get together for an activity. Whether you just want to talk over tea or go snowboarding, there is something for everyone.

For some people, like Oren in Florida, they are taking chances on love and Spokeo has helped them do it. Oren told us, “I had no idea that I would find the lady I was looking for after not speaking to her for 50 years. This was my first love in high school. I was ecstatic finding her on Spokeo so quick.”

If that isn’t the motivation I was looking for, I don’t know what is!

I resolve to do good for others

I can no longer stand idle and hope for change. And while I may not be able to change the world, I know I can start with small gestures. Desmond Tutu once said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

There are many homeless individuals in Los Angeles and my husband and I pass by a young man and his dog all the time. After speaking with him, it appears that he cannot go to a homeless shelter because they don’t allow animals. My husband and I have decided that not only will we give him and his dog food every time we see them, we are also going to provide him with some information from Pets of the Homeless, an organization that helps provide food and medical care for animals of the homeless. My hope is to provide one less thing for him to worry about.

I resolve to pick a quote to live by

There are days where I feel like a zombie. Wake, work, gym, TV, sleep, repeat. I have been on the hunt for words of wisdom to make every day of 2019 count. Being a native New Yorker the “Keep Calm And {insert verb here} On” quotes do not work for me. Good Reads has a section of quotes from authors, scientists, politicians, and others to match your every thought. And so, without further ado, I give you my quote for 2019:

“I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.” – Neil Gaiman