The candy dish sits on the coffee table with remnants of thoroughly picked over holiday treats. The milk chocolate ones have been consumed and there is a section of jujubes that has a high percentage of green candies left while the red ones are pretty much gone. Since I prefer the red ones I suppose I am partially responsible for the imbalance. Speaking of imbalance, in spite of the considerable practice I have had, I still haven't mastered the whole cracker-to-dip ratio. I love the various dips that get set out at Christmas and New Years along with the assortment of snack crackers in which to indulge the calorie-loaded concoctions. But as I approach the spread each year I get stymied by the mental math needed to ensure I select the correct number of crackers to eat the spoonfuls of dip I have placed on my plate. Inevitably I run out of crackers before I run out of dip, or I have leftover crackers sitting on my plate looking bare and forlorn because the dips have run out. A trip back to the table just complicates the problem because now there are superfluous crackers or dip to factor into the equation. Perhaps if I wasn't so insistent on having the dips and the crackers run out simultaneously I wouldn't now be dealing with the post-Christmas promise of shedding pounds, using my treadmill more, blah, blah, blah.
Getting ready to enter the new year these thoughts are likely on the minds of more than a few. Items in the news the last couple of days have focussed on helping people live a better new year. Nutritionists and exercise specialists have encouraged people to embark on new lifestyles. Financial planners have presented advice on how to get out of debt this year. Much of the talk has been on new startsnew beginnings...that are often spoken about as January rolls around each year.
My sister tells the story of when we put her 4-year old niece on the phone one January 1st who proudly proclaimed, "Happy New You!" There is some validity to that misspoken statement. As the New Year rolls around the focus of our thoughts change significantly. In the weeks leading up to Christmas there is a greater focus on others. We increase our charitable giving, we're more likely to volunteer (especially with agencies and organizations that run special Christmas programs) and our thoughts often centre on family and friends. Then, in the space of a week, the attitude changes and we are asked to take a more introspective look at ourselves and tackle the "less and more" areas of our own life. The "happy new you" encourages us to spend less, eat less or complain less; or on the flip side to exercise more, sleep more, or save more money. There's no doubt these are responsible, healthy things to focus on but I wish the shift between Christmas and New Year's could be more gentle--more gradual--between the emphasis on others to the emphasis on self. A better cracker-to-dip ratio, if you will.
The right ratio creates the best results. It can't be all about us, nor can it be all about someone else. Devoting sufficient time and attention to our health and responsibilities will give us the energy and motivation to do what we can for others. Getting that balance isn't always easy but is most certainly necessary. Too much dip overpowers the cracker--too much cracker won't bring out the best of the dip. We cannot give away what we do not possess, and we can't take care of others unless we ensure we are taking care of ourselves.
As you consider any promises or resolutions you may make, take a second look at your motivation. If losing weight is about getting into skinny jeans it probably won't be as successful as if your motivation is to live a longer, healthier life for yourself and those you love. Those financial goals are more attainable if they are about providing stability and foundation for family rather than simply about collecting more stuff. We can anticipate the "Happy New You" while still embracing the ideals we felt were so worthy just days before. Finding the right ratio takes some time and practice but when we get it right it makes life so much tastier. That's my outlook.
