You say you want a resolution....

...Well, you know
We all want to change ourselves
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change ourselves

(Adapted from the famous Beatles lyrics) 

Credit: Happy New Year 2008 (UFO) by heritage futures

Two days into 2008 -- how many times have you heard, read or said the "R" word? When you're asked about your New Year's resolutions are you at a loss? Excited to share them? My usual response it to say I don't make them; I set goals and objectives on an ongoing/as needed basis -- usually whenever I have to work on my professional development portfolio.

Over the years, I've become more reactive than proactive -- by necessity to cope with a busy, unpredictable schedule over which I have limited control. Such is the nature of direct patient care. But this is not necessarily good or bad, right or worng -- or so I've convinced myself. It's just the way it is. Sometimes the most important thing I can do every day is show up at work, identify the priorities and deal with them. But I'm getting off track....

This year I think I may embrace rather than avoid resolution-making because I've read some excellent resources during this Season of Self-Improvement. Here are my favourite New Year's posts, which are inspiring me to make goal-setting and behavior change manageable and meaningful.
7 Essential Tips
Fresh Starts and Modest Changes 

Do you have any food resolutions? To tell you the truth, I hadn't thought of creating any until I read this post. I'd like to adopt/adapt all of them but according to Leo, I should just focus on one. I'll let you know which one I choose in a future post. I'd love to hear your food resolutions in the comments section.

But whatever resolutions or goals you or I set, perhaps we can begin the process by keeping in mind the 100-Mile Diet authors' words:

Take time; go simply; choose connection over consumption; live deeply in the place you find yourself. Remind yourself to care.
From the 100 Mile Diet blog post of December 24th, 2007 

Silken Laumann's Keynote Address at the DC Conference

I began taking notes at the beginning of Silken's presentation, A Shift in Attitude: Finding Your Passion, but I soon put down my pen and just listened. Did she speak for 30 minutes? 60 minutes? 600 minutes? I had no sense of time. Yes, she was that engaging.

Even if I had taken detailed notes and could tell you exactly what Silken said, I would not be able to convey how she said it. With vitality, warmth, and honesty, she shared personal stories about her dreams and fears, successes and failures, and commitment to improving children's health through activity. She is an exceptional person. A truly great Canadian, athlete, and mom. A role model for girls and women.

"We want to be good at what we do." According to Silken, this is the answer to "What connects us all?". So even though I'm neither an athlete nor a mom, I was able to relate to Silken's stories, which are now inspiring me to get uncomfortable and push outward, to dream and move beyond what I think is realistic.

Some Silken links:

Her web site: Silken Laumann

Her book: Child's Play

Her thoughts on lifelong learning: The Confidence to Dare: Silken Laumann’s Bold Approach to Learning