Starter’s Day
Friday, January 12th has been called “Quitter’s Day.” By Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, most people have quit on their New Year’s resolutions. To keep from being a statistic, many don’t set goals. “If I don’t set goals, I can’t be accused of quitting,” goes the logic. Some say, “It’s too hard to keep them, so why bother setting goals or New Year’s resolutions?”
I say let’s call today, “Starter’s Day.” For twelve years, I have been choosing a one-word theme to focus on for the year. My word this year is focus. I’m focusing on the most important things: relationships, writing, reading, fitness, food, and fun. If I don’t determine this is the year to do XYZ, then where will I be next year? You might think I would be right here, stuck in the same place. However, life doesn’t work that way. If I don’t work my muscles, they atrophy. Next year may be too late to start eating healthier. If I don’t finish the book this year, it may never get written.
After my One Word Can Change the World blog, many of you mentioned you were going to pick a focus word for the year. If you did that, kudos to you. If you still know what word you picked but have not focused on it as much as you had hoped, you are not alone. Most people did not pick a word, set any goals, or resolve to do anything different. And the ones who did, have already quit on their goals, but as Jon Acuff says, “You are not most people.”
For the first two weeks of this year, I have focused so much on my book Finding Joy, that I have not been riding my bike. And for no better reason than “it’s the holidays,” I have slacked on the “no sugar” pact I made in August. Even though I am holding firm on no caffeine, I allowed sugar to creep back in via its cousin maple syrup.
My priority is to finish my book and keep this blog going, which means my life may get a little out of balance for a time. Still, my health, fitness, and relationship goals are very important. I can’t say, “I will ride my bike and spend time with my family after I publish all the books I want to write.” Somehow, all the plates need to keep spinning, even if some of them spin a little slower for a time.
If this is you, I say, let’s re-focus, reset, start again. It is never too late to get started or recommit. Doing something is better than doing nothing. If you set some goals, take this time to re-evaluate. Make your goals realistic and based on your past. If you finished three books last year, maybe your goal to read 52 this year is a bit too ambitious. Can you combine two goals like exercising with someone you want to spend more time with?
Let’s focus on our why. My why is, I said I was going to write. I want to be the person who does what she says she is going to do. If you picked the word healthy because you want to be around to play with your grandchildren, it makes staying focused easier. Let’s also focus on daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly tasks and chart our progress with something visual, like a calendar.
If your word is organized, you may pick an area of your home to get in order each month, so December doesn’t sneak up on you and you find your house looking the same as it does today. Also, preparing for setbacks and distractions will help us stay on track. Appointments and errands arise, pipes break, and friends call. If we plan to get a task finished by Thursday and something comes up, we still have Friday to get it done.
Are you in? Are you ready to do this? Let’s start again today. Let me know how your year is going in the comments below, or feel free to email me. Here’s to a new year, a new you, a new start. Happy Starter’s Day!
January 15, 2024 @ 11:43 am
I love this encouraging post! The word I chose for this year is Breathe. When my daughter was in labor in December, I would remind her to breathe. This came back to me when I was thinking about how much I hope to accomplish this year, and I’m going to need to remember to Breathe!
January 15, 2024 @ 3:56 pm
Breathe! What a great word for you this year, Vickie! You may have to post that one on your bathroom mirror. BREATHE, VICKIE, BREATHE.
Thanks for sharing your story.
January 15, 2024 @ 3:32 pm
Ahhh! Goal setting!!! Right at this very moment we (David and I) are in the throws of house breaking our new addition to the family…Malcolm our almost 12 week old Goldendoodle! Need I say more ? My exercise routine has been altered some, as well as our sleep and our normal routine schedules. Chaotic at times and sometimes exhausting! But we have always had an inside dog or two in our lives ever since I can remember, and with the loss of both our inside dogs within a year’s time, it’s that time to start a new!
My goal is to get this puppy to adulthood well trained and well loved and hopefully regain my sanity along the way!
That’s my goal!
January 15, 2024 @ 3:54 pm
Oh, Cheryl! What a great goal! I take my hat off to you and David. I can’t imagine adding a puppy to my world right now. Hope I can meet Malcolm before he gets TOO big. Thanks for sharing. You always have great stories to tell.
January 15, 2024 @ 8:16 pm
Joy, this is a great post. Since retirement 2yrs ago, I am still trying to find my new routine. I’m sure you understand. A few things, or words, I’m focusing on include: time with God, exercise, and service. I try to begin everyday in God’s word, and converse or meditate on it throughout the day. Exercise is so important, as I walk 3 miles every morning with neighbors. We often discuss our devotion for the morning. If I don’t walk, my day feels slightly off, so I’ve found the importance of this. I also have a 2 year old grandson, and I have to exercise to stay fit enough to play with him. Lastly, service is important as I pray that I will understand God’s plan for my day in serving Him. It might be volunteering, calling a shut in from church, or something random, My mother is also in assisted living in Marietta, and is beginning to slow down and have some memory issues. So, I go for a visit and take time with her. For so many years my word was “teach”, and what a blessing it was teaching for 30 years. Now, I am blessed to be retired, and go where God leads.
Proud of you and your writing,
Sherry Warren
January 16, 2024 @ 5:04 pm
Yes, retirement makes routine more difficult, but as one looking in, I think you do an amazing job of keeping those routines going and those plates spinning. You will never know how much of a difference your visits with your mom and your grandson make. Thanks for your support and your encouragement.
January 16, 2024 @ 7:12 am
Joy, the one word thing is a concept that I never fully embraced back to when I saw Jon Gordon doing it. I think the idea of “why” is really important. When I had my spinal cord injury my how changed a lot but my why didn’t. I find this particular blog of yours enjoyable today. I hope you have a great day…
January 16, 2024 @ 4:41 pm
Such powerful words, John. You shared “When I had my spinal cord injury my how changed a lot but my why didn’t.” Kudos for you for staying focused. Tragic events certainly have a way of changing us, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. So glad you didn’t let it break you–that you kept your eyes on your “why”. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing, John. Hope you have a great day too.
January 16, 2024 @ 1:05 pm
How I can relate to what Sherry wrote! And to your post about keeping plates spinning, Joy!! What a great way to keep exercise a commitment, Sherry! I’ve got to get better acquainted with my neighbors and see if I can find one willing to commit to walking to help me get out to do that and not just jog in place inside while I read a Bible lesson!
January 16, 2024 @ 4:51 pm
Yes, Julia. I hope you can find a neighbor like Sherry has–one who will keep you committed to what you know is important. You’ve been keeping those plates spinning for a long time. I know it’s difficult when you have as many life changes as you have had. Even if it’s good stress, good changes, it’s still tough. I know you will stay focused on the important things. Thanks for sharing.
Eternal Hope - Joy M Walker
March 31, 2024 @ 1:50 pm
[…] In the blog I posted on MLK Day https://joymwalker.com/2024/01/15/starters-day/ I encouraged you to either keep going or to start again. If your word was “organize,” and you […]