Why I'm Not making any Resolutions for 2019

For the past few years, I have come up with a very detailed list of things that I resolve to do (or not do) in the coming year. Those resolutions, for the most part, last until the end of the school year in May, and then I make new ones for summer, and then new ones yet again when the school year starts up in August (life of a teacher, amirite?!). This year, I’ve decided not to make a list of resolutions, and here’s why.

At the start of 2017 (is it really that long ago?!), I decided that I wanted to:

  1. Apply for Grad School
  2. Lose weight
  3. Travel much more

At the start of 2018, I decided that I wanted to:

  1. Set more goals, but change them as needed with out guilt
  2. Stop apologizing for things that I have no reason to be sorry for
  3. Practice more self love
  4. Practice more self reflection
  5. Do more of whatever I like.

I can honestly, say that I…didn’t live up to my own goals. I’ve decided to push off grad school to get a few more years of teaching under my belt. I haven’t really lost as much weight as I would like to, and I definitely am not practicing enough self reflection OR self love. I hate looking back at resolutions and being like…yep, didn’t achieve ANY of that. It makes me feel like a failure. Anyone else with me?

So this year, I decided that the only thing I am going to resolve to do differently is keep my attitude consistent. I’ve spent the past few days narrowing down, into one word, what I want my overall mindset to be for the next 12 months. And that word is:

I N T E N T I O N A L

Adj: done on purpose

In 2019, I want to do everything intentionally. I want all of my decisions and choices to be done for a reason. With a goal in mind. I am all about going with the flow and winging it, but this year, I want to be INTENTIONAL about my goals, dreams, and decisions. I want every decision and choice I make to be intentional towards a larger goal that I want to achieve. That can be as small as setting a morning routine, what I eat for lunch, or what I do on the weekends.

So for me, 2019 is going to be INTENTIONAL 
What’s your one word for 2019?