New Years' Resolutions

Tis the season for New Years' Resolutions.

What is your's this year? Lose weight? Read through the Bible? Stop drinking soda pop?

If you are like most people, it really doesn't matter where you land on you resolution. Give it a few weeks, and the resolve will have disappeared.

Why is it so hard for us to stick to our New Year's resolutions?  I have a theory.

Most resolutions ring hollow because they are made in isolation.  They focus on things we know we should probably fix, but they never come to fruition because they lack any accountability.

We like to make New Year's resolutions, because we know, in reality, they are really toothless tigers. If we don't follow through, there really aren't any consequences.  So if we're really serious about making substantial change in our lives, we need to do so in community, not in isolation.

I've been learning this in my quest to run a 5K before I turn 40. This wasn't a choice I made in isolation. It's one I made in partnership with my wife. We made commitment in August...and here we are moving into the New Year and we're still consistently working toward the goal.

In August, I wasn't doing any physical activity. For the past 10 years, I really haven't done much in terms of physical activity. I got busy in my 30's and physical fitness wasn't really a priority. I gained weight and could climb two flights of stairs without wheezing. As a matter of fact, I don't think I ever had run a mile in my life up to that point.

But, together, Victoria and I made our little commitment (can you say "resolution"?). We've been exercising three times a week (with a small break for Christmas) for more than three months. As off today, I'm able to run a little over 2 miles in less than 20 minutes. I can run a mile in about 8 minutes, 50 seconds. Not breaking any records, but not bad for an amateur like me.

Had I made such a commitment on my own, I guarantee it would not have lasted past the first run that humid evening in August. But Victoria and I joined in this together...and that has made all the difference.

We encourage each other and hold each other accountable. We're spending more quality time together. Sharing the goal in common has boosted our self-esteem. I can breathe!!!

The point: we can effect great change in our lives when we join with others in the journey. When we try to do it alone, we are likely to fail quickly.

I'm not sure if Victoria and I will reach our goal to run a 5K by 40, but we're still on track because we're doing it together.

How about you? What do you want to change in 2010? If you really want to move the needle, don't "resolve" in isolation.

Find a partner.

Resolve together.

Enjoy the journey.