Welcome to 2024. I hope your holiday season was happy and peaceful.
Like many people, I made a New Year's resolution to be to be consciously kind this year. I made my resolution after I learned about a day dedicated to people quitting their New Year's resolutions. I had no idea that was a thing.
Thinking back to the resolutions I quit and those that I kept, I realized that the ones I'm most likely to keep are the ones that continue or enhance something I'm already doing. This year's resolution, to be consciously kind, is rooted in a resolution I made many, many years ago.
I promised myself that I would do 52 random acts of kindness. It came from a desire to return some of the kindness that was being given to me. Although I lost count somewhere around April, and I'm not sure whether I actually made it to 52, it did challenge me to become more aware of my kindness and whether or not I was giving to others what had been given to me.
My random acts of kindness are usually simple things, like holding a door for someone or reaching something off of a shelf in the grocery store that's a little too high for someone. Sometimes it's just as simple as saying good morning to someone who looks like they're scowling or having a tough time. The resolution to be consciously kind is my challenge to myself, to be the best person I can be.
I've accepted who I am, a perfectly imperfect human being. There will be times when I do things well, and then there will be times when I won't. What's important is that I give myself patience and forgiveness as I live life as a perfectly imperfect human being.
Sure, there's always room for improvement, but I've learned that self improvement, like New Year's resolutions, has to be connected to me becoming my best person in order to work. My encouragement for you this week is to be patient, patient with yourself and be kind to yourself as you live life as a perfectly imperfect human being.
Thank you for listening. Be well.
Until next time. Dr. Sheri.
Dr. Sheri L. Yarbrough is an author, caregiver, and founder of Praxis Senior Care-Giving Solutions, a consulting business that provides care-givers with practical and easily implemented strategies that can be tailored to meet their individual care needs.
View Dr. Yarbrough's weekly blog on all things caregiving from a caregiver's perspective.
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