I’m Not a Quitter- I Just Need More Time by Pennie Hunt

Did you know the second Friday of every January is​ Quitters Day​? I didn’t. This was brought to my attention this week. By the second week of January, most people who set a New Year’s resolution have given up on their big audacious goal.

The target they wanted to hit seemed exciting. It sounded good at the New Year’s Eve party when they announced their resolution. They were going to make a change and stick to it!

 At first, they were determined. But the shiny ring they hoped to grasp lost its luster quickly. It is hard work to change. Instant gratification didn’t happen. The resolution plan was flawed. So that was that. They quit.

Does this sound like you? Resolutions are hard to keep.​ Motivation wains. The glory of the idea deflates. Statistics vary, but around 88% of people who set resolutions fail by the end of January. Hence “Quitters Day” was born.

I haven’t made resolutions for years! I do like picking a word for the year. For the past 12 years I have picked a word that guides my thoughts, actions, and intentions. I write about it and share my word every year. I place the words in spots that I notice like my desk and bathroom mirror- to keep it front and center in my life.

I thought of some great words​ for this year, but then I began reviewing my word from last year and how it worked for me.  
My 2024 word was “CREATE.”  I announced this last year in my column, so I pulled my writing out to review what my plan for the word was. This paragraph hit hard: 
 
“This year I hope to create more of this calm beauty in myself, my life, and my world. I will do this by making time for things I love doing. Time for painting more, sewing more, cooking more, reading more, writing more, and speaking more. All the things that put me in that space of creative calmness. I do have a few things in mind that I plan to create this year that I expect to be fabulous. But I won’t be pushed by a list of goals or an outline of projects and steps to completion. I will be guided by the gentle journey of creating.” (Pennie Hunt 1-2024)

I love the intention. I felt calm reading it until I realized I hadn’t done a good job at most of it. I hadn’t painted more, sewn more, tried new recipes, or read more books than normal. Was I a quitter? Do I need to join the 88% and admit to failing?

I reread the lines, “… I won’t be pushed by a list of goals or an outline of projects and steps to completion. I will be guided by the gentle journey of creating.”

I don’t think I failed. I didn’t quit. I just needed more time to work on my word.  I decided to do something I have never done - repeat last year’s word again this year. I decided to give myself more time to create. More time to paint, read, cook, sew, write, speak, and do all the things I love doing. More time to be guided by the gentle journey of creating.

It isn’t about a day that marks failure or quitting. It is about learning lessons. I need to work on the lesson of making creating a priority in my life. Check in with me next January to see how I did.  
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                                                    Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                           We all have the ability to create beauty in life.
                                       Allow yourself the time to create it. 
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​YOUR TURN...        
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