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Did you know that the second Friday of the New Year is National Quitters Day? This is the day most people throw in the towel on their New Year’s resolutions. The goals were too unrealistic, perseverance wanes, real life presents challenges, and change is hard.

This year, my resolution, both personally and professionally, was to make decisions more mindfully. From better food choices for my family, to more thoughtful decisions about the “yeses” we give with our time, to curbing impulse shopping, I am trying to take a moment to ask myself, “Why am I doing this? Do I really want to be doing this?”

You know what? IT. IS. HARD. This is a total mindset shift for me and my family!

2024 Life:

• Tired after work and school: order takeout.
• Everyone gets invited somewhere different: everyone says yes, and we spend the day rushing and stuck in the car.
• Think you need something: order it with next-day delivery.

2025 Life:

• Plan meals ahead, meal prep on Sundays, cook more, learn how to make bread, stop buying ultra-processed foods, fight with my kids about not buying so many ultra-processed foods, wash SO many dishes.
• Sometimes we say no, and someone misses out. Feel guilty about someone missing out. Someone is sad because they missed out.
• Don’t buy things you think you need. Check first. Confuse and worry the Amazon delivery people with far fewer packages. Miss the instant gratification.

January 16, 2025:

Today, I’m contemplating and congratulating myself on making it six days past Quitters Day! I’m relishing this victory as I plan takeout for tonight (there’s a school concert, after all) and scroll social media for something I “need.” I’m ready to give up mindfulness. I’m exhausted, and the industries out there have made it so convenient to live mindlessly.

And then this popped into my feed:

“Silly me, here I was hurrying through all the things I once hoped for.”

And I’m back.

I chose mindfulness because I felt like I was modeling poor behaviors for my children. I was missing their childhoods as I hurried through our lives. Quite honestly, my food choices were the worst. I was probably stealing time from my own future based on the convenience of how we were eating.

So, I share this message with you today instead of my usual research-based posts, because today, I’m just feeling the feels as a mom.

The days are long, but the years are short. I don’t want to hurry through all that I once hoped for. I want to slow down and enjoy it.

My New Year’s wish for all of you is that you get to spend some time this year enjoying all that you once hoped for.