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The Problem with

Resolutions

any of us mark the Building on smaller changes we’ve been making and setting
M beginning of the new short term goals that encourage gradual change are more likely to
help us stay on a positive path. Giving ourselves grace by allowing
year as a time for big
life change. We plan to exercise more, eat a reasonable margin for error can prevent us from completely
healthier, stress less, save more, spend less, throwing in the towel when our resolve wanes.
etc. Those are certainly great changes to The motivation for our goals is a big indicator of our success.
by Michelle Avola, incorporate, but do we need to wait until When we set a goal that motivates us, as opposed to trying to
Executive Director, January every year to make them? Do we please someone else, it is easier to stay focused on the reward. For
Director of NPC throw in the towel if we’ve failed before example, if we try to lose weight to please a significant other, as it
the month – or the week – is even over? gets more difficult, we may resent the goal (or the person we are
The answer to both of those questions is an emphatic no. I’ve come aiming to please). If losing weight holds value for us personally, we
across some good ideas to help us be successful that I will share, are more likely to keep making choices that lead to success.
but maybe there are some things we need to consider first. Coming up with enjoyable, or at least not dreadful, ways to
Life is made up of moments and choices. Every moment accomplish our goal will also help us see it through. Sticking with
or choice doesn’t have to be a life altering one, but each is an the example of losing weight, doing things like recruiting a friend
opportunity. An opportunity to slow down or keep a frantic pace, or neighbor to walk or bike with, signing up for cooking classes
forgive or resent, be grateful or wish for more, stay calm or spew that focus on delicious and nutritious recipes, starting a friendly
angry words, have faith or worry, bike to errands or drive, walk competition among friends, and finding new hobbies that promote
after dinner or park in front of the TV, use the phone to catch being active help too.
up with a friend or spend hours on games or social media. Little Just like a lengthy to-do list can be overwhelming for even
moments and choices help us develop our habits – for the better or the most die-hard overachiever, coming up with a laundry list of
the worse. resolutions is a sure way to achieve none of them. Committing to
Every time we choose biking for errands instead of driving two or three changes we want to make for the right reasons have a
those few miles, we enjoy health benefits. When we choose calm in much greater chance of success.
a frustrating situation, we reduce our stress. When we take a walk As we welcome 2019, let’s embrace each moment and choice as
after dinner with a friend or loved one instead of watching TV, make this our best year yet! Please visit www.naplespathways.org to
we build a relationship and burn calories. When we show courtesy learn how we are working to make Naples safer and more enjoyable
to someone biking or jogging on the roads we share, we promote for biking, running and walking.
safety and everyone’s well-being.
One problem I have with New Year’s resolutions is that we Michelle Avola is the Executive Director of Naples Pathways
seem to believe they need to be big things, or a stark change from Coalition (NPC), a non-profit organization that works to create safe,
what we’ve done before. I’ve read that between 54% and 87% of bikeable, walkable communities in Collier County.
New Year’s resolutions have gone down the drain by February For more information or to join, visit the NPC web site at
1. I’m not saying we should throw out resolutions entirely, but I www.naplespathways.org or contact Michelle directly at
believe we need to change our thinking about them. michelle@naplespathways.org.

96 Life in Naples | January 2019