New Year’s Resolution: 2025 Edition

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that every December I make a resolution for the upcoming new year. Among other goals, I’ve resolved to say something nice to strangers, drink more water, pursue strength training, and embrace gratitude.  

I’ve been reasonably successful at most of these.  

There are days when my water intake is not as perfect as it should be – mostly because I’ve forgotten to take my calibrated water bottle to work. And I’ve not been as good at saying something nice to people I don’t know - this is the resolution I’m most disappointed in not fully fulfilling. My strength training is going well – even with a temporary disruption for double bunion surgery this year (what was I thinking?!) and I truly am grateful for all my blessings every single day.  

Overall, I give myself a B.

It would be easiest to just say that this year, my resolution is to get to an A, but that would be a bit of a cop out and I’m far too competitive (with myself) (OK – and with others too) just to take that low-bar path. Instead, I’m resolving to get to an A while adding something new.

As I age -- somewhat gracefully -- I’ve noticed that my flexibility and balance are not what they used to be.  I can still touch my toes and balance on one foot… for a while. But it definitely feels more precarious to put on socks while standing rather than seated.  

So, this year, my resolution is to add yoga into my life.

But I don’t plan on going to a yoga studio. Instead, for better time efficiency, I’m going to roll out the yoga mat at home and go back to a program I used to turn to regularly – Ali McGraw’s Yoga Mind and Body. Many years since it was produced I still consider this one of the best yoga instruction videos out there. Plus, it’s stunningly beautiful to watch. 

And it features students of all ages – which gives me hope!

I know that it will be challenging to get started again, but my goal is that by this time next year, I will be able to do all the standard poses… without falling over!

As we prepare to turn the page on 2024, I wish you much success on whatever resolution you make for yourself. This self-improvement stuff can be hard!  Which is why I’m so proud of having created Step One Foods — we help make it easier to eat in a way that builds health instead of disease.  And as a real person living in the real world and surrounded by the same dietary temptations you are encountering, I turn to these foods daily myself.  Because I know they’re a safe, better choice designed to support my best health.

Like most of you, I’m not perfect.  But perfection is not my goal.  Perfection is exhausting.  My goal is to enjoy better health for longer.

So, I might not end up as flexible as Gumby (really aging myself here!) but I’ll consider it a success to at least have good posture by the time 2026 rolls around. And that will be… better. 

Happy New Year!