Forget those New Year's resolutions...Set goals instead

December 28, 11:50 AMGardening ExaminerRobin Ripley

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By setting goals rather than making resolutions, you
increase your chances for success.

I have never been one to make New Years resolutions. The idea that you can will yourself to immediately do something or stop doing another thing is too black and white, cut and dried, for most people to make a success. 

I prefer to set goals.

There are few worthwhile activities that don’t benefit from setting goals instead of making resolutions. Goals are where you are headed. They require a plan with incremental steps. If you fail at one step, you try again or modify your approach, but you don’t give up on a goal.

Some goals may take a lifetime to achieve. Some goals will never be fully achieved, although the journey toward the goal nevertheless is worthwhile and rewarding.

Now, that’s not to say there aren’t some activities that don’t benefit from a decisive resolution--like resolving to stop beating your wife or to finally quit betting the mortgage money on the ponies. Those types of intentions, I think, do benefit from cold turkey abstention. But, for the most part, I think most of us can benefit from establishing annual goals rather than resolutions.

Here are some of my ongoing goals for my gardening activities.

Stop and smell the roses – When my to-do list is longer than my time-I-have-to-do, I often get caught up in a frenzy of activity and neglect to enjoy my surroundings and successes. Savoring a ripe tomato warmed by the sun. Burying my face in the heady smell of fresh basil. Stretching out on the newly mown lawn to soak up the sun. Stopping to listen to the sounds of the wind and the birds. These are nature’s gifts for the hard work and should be enjoyed.

Garden mindfully – I must remind myself constantly that being present is more than showing up. Being present is being mindful of where I am and what I am doing right now. It means not living in the future of my to-do lists or the past with my regrets. Being mindful means slowing down, although it doesn’t have to be slow. For me, being mindful means focusing on one task at a time. Multi-tasking is too distracting and not conducive to mindfulness.

Ask for help – I sincerely regret that the people in my life cannot automatically read my mind when I need help. Because they can’t, I need to remember to ask for help with some activities—digging holes, carrying heavy bags of garden soil, reaching tall branches for trimming. More often than not, the men at my house are willing to help—they just don’t know what I want to have done. And since they can’t read my mind, I must tell them.

Share the bounty – Every year I try to plant a wider variety and fewer wildly product vegetables, such as zucchini and squash. And every year I still have too many zucchinis and squash. Often I have an overabundance of tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables and herbs. This year, I will intentionally plant too many of the most popular vegetables to share with the local homeless shelter, food bank or women’s shelter. Now, even more than in recent years, the fresh vegetables and fruits are needed as people get back on their feet.

Stop being so critical of my efforts – In general, I am a positive person. But I also have a bit of a perfectionist tendency, particularly regarding order and tidiness. Let’s face it: Gardening is not always orderly or tidy. I will continue to remind myself that perfection isn’t the objective. Just because things are not perfect does not mean I have failed.

What are you goals? I would love to hear from you. And happy New Year.