Month: December 2015

Lifetime resolution 

by Katie Welker

With less than one day left in 2015, there are countless articles and stories that read, “how to make 2016 the best year ever!” or “this is your year – here’s how to stick to your goals for real!” and other click-bait types of titles. ‘Tis the season, I suppose.

And while there is absolutely nothing wrong with using a new year to set intentions with a new perspective, what if we looked at New Year’s resolutions differently? What if we looked at them not just in terms of a year, but in terms of a lifetime? 

Some would argue that lifetime resolutions aren’t timely enough to take action on, but hear me out.

It’s actually a fairly simple concept: this year, similar to years past and certainly all moving forward, my resolution is to make my life one worth living. 

I told you it was simple.

There’s no catch 22, no secret recipe, and no 30-day check in. I don’t have a master plan that’s all mapped out. I don’t have a grand scheme of how to accomplish it. But what I do have is a clear understanding that not only is this the only life I have control of, but I also have no clue when it will end. None of us do. 

So that means today, tomorrow and so forth, I’m going to continue to make each day worth living. Of course that’s easier said than done. There will be days I’ll wake up feeling like garbage, think my hair looks hideous, won’t have as much motivation as I’d like, or a curveball will hit me that I probably won’t be ready for. 

But I’ll do my best anyways. 

Because what if that day I was sick or the day I had no motivation ended up being the last day of my life? What if I didn’t get a chance to see another new year come in? Those are scary questions, but they’re not ones we should be afraid to ask ourselves. 

Because the longer we live and the more years we add to our lives, the more we can really hone in on who we are, who we want to surround ourselves with, and what it is we want out of life. We can more clearly understand what it takes to create a happy life that we’re proud of. 

And that’s why my resolution isn’t just for 2016, but it’s for all of the unknown years ahead: live a life i’m proud of, course correct as needed and constantly adapt to the world around me, all while trying to keep my core values and morals in check. It’s ambitious. But in my eyes, it’s not just a resolution for the new year, but a resolution for a lifetime. 

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Which way

by Katie Welker

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been in situations where we can feel ourselves leaning toward one decision vs. another, where we’re at a tipping point of sorts. It’s a moment when a million questions are circulating through our minds at a mile a minute.

Do I go for it? Do I hold back?
Do I stay in the safe zone or jump and take a risk?

The questions don’t stop. You can’t silence them because you’re so torn over what to do.

Which direction is best?
Which provides happiness and clarity?
Which provides comfort and stability?

I’ve found that a lot of people claim there’s a distinctive moment when you know which way to go… a moment when you know what to do.

But I don’t necessarily believe that’s true.

I think it’s actually a compilation of multiple moments that add up over time until there are too many to ignore.

I think it takes so many steps in one particular direction in order to realize that maybe you’re closer to “knowing” than you thought.

It takes quite a bit of time to realize that maybe the next course of action isn’t necessarily a major leap of faith, but just another step in the direction you’ve been heading in all along.

So maybe if you’re stuck and unsure of what that next move should be, the best thing to do is to simply look at what steps you’ve already taken. I bet you’ll be surprised that in the bottom of your heart and the pit of your gut, the answer has been waiting for you all this time.