The ‘To Don’t List’ for 2025
I’ve learned the hard way to not make lofty New Year’s Resolutions…
As most of us can never seem to live up to them.
We are well intentioned…. But perhaps things tend to wane and we fall back on those habits we most wanted to change.
If you are ‘one of those, you aren’t bad or necessarily weak. It’s just human nature to fall back on what is familiar and comfortable.
We can make personal goals, career goals, relationship goals, financial goals. All are necessary and valid. How many goals are enough or too much? I believe that depends on the person and their motivation and their ability to multi-task.
So, instead of lamenting about the need for ‘new goals’, why not look at it in reverse… What do you not want to do?
What are those things you need to shed from your life? What things do you need to do less frequently?
What things will make you feel happier and give you a better outlook and ‘sense of control’?
Such items can include changing bad habits, improving communication, starting a new activity you’ve longed to do but haven’t… or any number of things. A word of caution - Speaking of lofty, if you want to be disciplined about your goals, DON”T start out by thinking, ‘I want to be a Broadway star this year, or’ I think I have information to help find a cure for cancer’…. or some ‘out there’ goal.
Keep in mind that goals are frequently achieved as part of a process - a progression over time and realistically can and should be carried over a period of time. DON’T put too much pressure on yourself thinking, ‘this has to be achieved by this exact date.’ Time is fluid and should be somewhat flexible.
Set a priority list;
Suggestion - Choose a personal goal, a family goal and a community goal serving the greater good.
Make the list short, specific and relatively easy to attain, for if not, we as humans, quickly lose interest and move on.
Therefore, as it pertains to me… Many of my’ to do’s and to don’ts are a continuation of items I’ve been working on for a long time..
In the spirit of transparency here are my current ‘To Don’ts’
DON’T- expect too much of yourself on a daily basis;
DON’T - expect that your expectations/standards and points of view will be embraced by others all, or even part of the time;
DON’T ‘keep trying’ to win people over, especially when it is clear they don’t want to be part of your circle;
DON’T sacrifice fun for responsibilities all the time;
DON’T feel compelled to ‘be interesting’ when sharing with others.
Rather, ‘to be interested in others’ right off the bat, (at least 50% of the time,) will also reap rewards.
DON’T put advocacy first and business second as you continue your path of success...
This is a good list for me. It is a perpetual list that I keep working on, always with an eye on improvement versus perfection! Perfect doesn’t really exist! We all have faults and frailties which we should also embrace. Faults and frailties help us be vulnerable. Sometimes they lead to resilience. Sometimes frailties can be seen by those who love us as ‘adorable’ or challenges that build character. Whatever our faults, they make us human.
Finally I need to remind myself and the masses - an important TO DO-
Temper every decision to achieve a balance including TIME TO RELAX!
( P.S. - Thanks to the Lazyboy commercial’ for ‘planting the seed’ about our TO DON’T lists! Ahhhh! )
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
AND BEFORE YOU GO….
1) Please consider hiring me for consulting on a variety of projects. Fees are negotiable for a short time in observance of the New Year holiday; SERVICES AND MERCHANDISE PAGE-
https://donnagore.com/store
2) This is a vry important 2025 goal to achieve. Please help to pass the word and sign the petition about the Essential Caregiver Bill
https://donnagore.com/blog/essential-caregivers-they-are-no-longer-the-best-kept-secret