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The holidays are over, and life is back to normal. For those of you who made New Year\u2019s resolutions, maybe you\u2019ve already broken some of them. I\u2019m not saying this to criticize. At the beginning of January in decades past, making a resolution then breaking it a short time later often caused me some discouragement.<\/p>\n
The website, www.timeanddate.com<\/a> reports, \u201c\u2026according to some studies almost 80 percent of all people who make New Year\u2019s resolutions abandon them sometime during the year.\u201d That\u2019s why, a couple of holidays ago, I made a resolution not to make any more resolutions. Instead, when I need to change something in my life, I try to work on it right away.<\/p>\n This theory holds true when purchasing gloves, too, although I doubt there is a metaphorical heaven for missing mittens. Instead my lost gloves are probably strewn throughout Ohio left in restaurant booths or on roadways. Missing gloves aren\u2019t too high on the life lesson priority list, but keeping in touch with family and friends is crucial. In our hectic-paced world, social isolation becomes a daily challenge.<\/p>\n This means taking time to share more than an occasional Facebook \u201cLove you\u201d post, text, Although speaking of not being perfect, another painful lesson that I\u2019ve learned from life is that people won\u2019t always like you. This can be a bitter pill to swallow, but it\u2019s true. No matter how hard you try, you fall short in their acceptable category. According to clinical psychologist, Dr. Ben Michaelis about 15 percent of folks won\u2019t like you, if you are emotionally healthy. \u201cIf 85 percent of the people you meet like you, you are probably doing something right,\u201d writes Michaelis in an archived \u00a0Huffington Post blog, \u201cIf everybody likes you, you are doing it wrong\u2026.you are probably doing too much to get along.\u201d<\/p>\n The experienced psychologist says that when, \u201cYou ignore your own needs in favor of others,\u201d it\u2019s not healthy. Of course, they like you, everybody likes a doormat. Unfortunately, a doormat gets worn out and has to be thrown away after too much use. Yet, if more than 15 percent of people don\u2019t like you, you might actually be too difficult to get along with.<\/p>\n So, for the first month of this New Year, I didn\u2019t make or break any resolutions. Yet, I did celebrate another year of new beginnings, counting my blessings, and reminiscing about all the lessons learned on life\u2019s path.<\/p>\n Christina Ryan Claypool is a freelance journalist and inspirational speaker. Contact her through her website at www.christinaryanclaypool.com<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The holidays are over, and life is back to normal. For those of you who made New Year\u2019s resolutions, maybe you\u2019ve already broken some of them. I\u2019m not saying this to criticize. At the beginning of January in decades past, … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/christinaryanclaypool.com\/blog1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Hand-on-Keyboard-150x200.jpg\")
This philosophy is coming straight from the keyboard of a former procrastinator. After all, one of the most noteworthy lessons I\u2019ve learned along life\u2019s path is that important tasks that we put off, rarely get done. It\u2019s best to tackle an issue as soon as possible to make sure that it doesn\u2019t get lost in the whirlwind of everyday living. This anti-procrastination principle is more significant than some other beliefs that are part of my life repertoire. For example, I\u2019ve also come to believe that a person should never buy a single pair of socks or gloves. The law of probability ensures that when socks are placed in the dryer, frequently they will disappear into what I refer to as Sock Heaven. Solo socks take this mysterious journey into the unknown never to be seen from again.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/christinaryanclaypool.com\/blog1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fireplace-photo-150x200.jpg\")
or hurried email. Instead chatting with a true friend or loved one over a meal can be exhilarating. Don\u2019t take your cellphone along, as the constant distraction will frustrate the flow of genuine conversation. When we are with folks who truly care for us, we somehow remember who we really are. The pieces of our life fit better, and we can bask in the camaraderie that comes only from authentic relationships, where we are accepted imperfections and all. Still, getting together can be especially tricky in this geographically mobile society where families and close friends are often separated by countless miles for employment opportunities.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/christinaryanclaypool.com\/blog1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/church-window-4-150x200.jpg\")
Lastly, there is a life lesson that involves \u201cletting go.\u201d It can be a spiritual breakthrough forged in prayer. Or an internal follow your heart and instincts moment that allows a person to sense when it\u2019s time to cut your losses and venture out on a new path. It might be something as substantial as a job change or having the courage to end an emotionally destructive relationship. To let go and embrace change willingly is a challenging life lesson, because by nature most human beings are creatures of habit who hang onto familiar circumstances.<\/p>\n