Ways To Improve Your Life in 2009
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Making a Resolution Every Day
I have this theory that New Year's resolutions don't work. I'm not saying that you shouldn't set goals for yourself, I just think that you shouldn't place too much emphasis on this golden day, resolutions should be made daily, not just once a year. After all, life is a work in progress, and New Year's resolutions are your way of saying you only plan on improving yourself once a year. Is that the message you want to send to your subconscious?
"Would you mind not standing on my chest? My hat's on fire."
Quitting Smoking
My daily resolution I'm struggling the most with right now is to quit smoking. This is one of the most difficult and painful things I have ever had to do in my life. Some days I look like a heroin addict suffering from withdrawal, my addiction to nicotine is so all-encompassing. I fall off the wagon at least once every 2-3 days, which means that I have a long road to travel in the upcoming year. I will be tobacco free, though. And I will sit huddled under blankets clutching my teddy bear while watching re-runs of old Dr. Who until I am completely nicotine free.
Quit Smoking Today!
Find a Job That Means Something to You
A friend of mines parents once said something that I think is very profound. "Honey, we don't care what you want to do in life, as long as you love it. If you want to be a garbage man, you go for it. Be the best garbage man you can be and we'll be proud!" Right now, I'm unemployed again, and honestly, I'll take any kind of work at this point. But, I'm resolving on a daily basis to keep my eyes out for a job that will give me that sensation of worthiness... the pleasure of helping others and a salary, with benefits, to boot!
- Find Jobs. Build a Better Career. Find Your Calling. | Monster.com
Find the job that's right for you. Use Monster's resources to create a killer resume, search for jobs, prepare for interviews, and launch your career.
Write Every Day
This one is easy-peasy for me. I'm not looking to become a published author anymore, there's no longer the fear of success or of failure. I just want to write. A lot. About nothing, everything, something... it really doesn't matter. Perhaps there is a book somewhere in me, but maybe that is where it should stay. ;) I'm loving my time here on Hub Pages, that's enough for me.
- Writing.Com: Writers, Writing, Poetry, Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, Poetry Contests, Writing C
Writing.Com is the online community for creative writing, fiction writing, story writing, poetry writing, writing contests, writing portfolios, writing help, and writing writers.
On Reading
Stephen King wrote this fantastic book about how to become a published author. He mentions in his book that one of the most important activities an author or would be author can involve themselves in is reading. When he says "Read!," he means it, too. The man is a more prolific reader than he is an author. I've always been rather lax about staying abreast of current events, but I've made the decision that reading the news of the world is important. I think mostly what he is talking about reading is the work of other authors, but I've always felt that writing, really good writing, comes from the grit of real life. As a parent and an adult I need to stay more current, other than smoking this is probably my most important goal I can set for myself.
- BBC NEWS | News Front Page
Visit BBC News for up-to-the-minute news, breaking news, video, audio and feature stories. BBC News provides trusted World and UK news as well as local and regional perspectives. Also entertainment, business, science, technology and health news.
The Other 2009 Hubs
- Next Generation Reading Technologies and Devices For Visualized Reading
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- Reducing stress
Many of us live a stressful lifestyle without really being aware of it. Modern life exposes us to many pressures, producing a stress response from our system, including the release... - 4 months ago
- Top Ways to improve your life in 2009
Hubmob!!!!! Improved Life. To improve your life in this the year of 2009, doesn't it go fast the years?, soon I'll be bald and have no ears. Life has a habit of getting us down and for one thing, we all... - 11 months ago
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Comments
nicely written hub
Nicole, I agree completely this is why the gyms are full to capacity for the month of January and then start to filter out again come February and March. I also think that people try to do too much at the beginning of the year and get completely burnt out. Great hub!!
Well done Nicole. Resolutions to improve ourselves should be done and kept all year long. Remember to post a link to your hub on the Forum so all the other hubbers can see it.
No, get that book out of you onto paper (Do we still say that?) I had one in me for more than twenty years and am finally getting it out. Don't wait too long.
P.S. Check out the website at http://web.mac.com/maalim. I pull it down in three days.
Good advice. You must keep up with you intend to do and not do it halfway because you cannot succeed. Try, try again. Success comes after 9 tries for some. So, there is hope for you to quit smoking.
It is important for all of us to read and listen to the news that is happening around us, so we will not be caught by surprise when disaster strikes.
Julie-Ann Amos: Ah, yes, instead of New Year's resolutions we could have the private club of cool people who do "Valentine's Day" resolutions. Awesome idea. It also helps explain to me why every year the salon is booked solid for the month of January, I always wondered about that.
Lgali: Thank-you, your money saving hub is fantastic, movie prices here are about $10 a ticket, don't get me started on how much a "movie date" is at a first run theater. You can find Lgali's 2009 hub here:
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Save-More-Money-in-
Triplet Mom: I completely agree. Thanks for taking the time to comment on my hub, I appreciate it. I was a chess club geek, btw, I fully support your decision to learn to play chess with your kids. Triplet Mom's hub on learning something new in 2009 can be found here:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Ways-to-Improve-Your-Life-
Princessa: Aw, shucks... Thanks. Thank-you for reminding me to post my hub to the Hub Mob weekly, too, I re-read the instructions and remembered to add in the RSS feed as well... I loved your hub, it was so upbeat and spoke to me in many ways. Like most women I've had issues with body image at least in some points in my life, I think I'll keep your advice in mind in the upcoming years. Fantastic job! You can find a link to Princessa's hub here:
einron: Thank-you so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate your input and encouragement!
Making resolutions to your self should come when it is affirmed in your mind and being. When you feel the need to do something or change something in your life, it needs to be done as soon as possible. Waiting until the New year seems phony to me and I believe many make resolutions then....just because.. and that's why they don't last very long.
Right on, laringo! I completely agree with you, it does seem phony. Thanks for taking the time to read my hub & comment. I think the affirmation process is the most important part in changing your life, (other than making the change itself, of course!,) you have to be of one mind when deciding to take your life in a new direction.
I enjoyed this hub, thanks for the insight and ideas to make this the best year yet!
Thank-you, roastedpinebark for taking the time to read and comment on my hub! In regards to having the best year yet, I hope we all find something we can improve upon over the next year and stick with it!
I never keep my new years resolution, so i figure to use reverse psychology this year. I am going to gain weight this year!
Excellent ideas. I am creating my own meaningful work, and I am not going to give in and take a J-O-B no matter what!!! Love SKs ON WRITING! It is a wonderful book!
I'm sure there's a book in you somewhere...just keep writing and it will find you.
eovery: *lol* Think it will work? Remember, intention is the most important part of changing your life for the better, your mind & body must be one when you decide something needs to be improved. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on my hub, you made me laugh out loud.
justmesuzanne: It is a fantastic book, isn't it?!? I wish you all the luck in creating pieces of work you value and appreciate, it may not be a J-O-B, but hopefully it'll keep some food on the table while you persue your dream. I love it! Congratulations. Thank-you for taking the time to read and comment on my hub, I really appreciate it.
pressingon: Oh, my, no. Well, maybe. Probably not, though. I don't think I have what it takes to really follow through on a piece of work of that length. If I co-wrote something, however... *ponder* Either way, thank-you, I appreciate you taking the time out to read my hub & comment, I'm focusing on the writing more than the idea of being published and I feel good about that.
So do you have a milestone reviews in place. Like in the first 6 weeks this much progress then in next 12 weeks and so on. I found that during my exercise and diet resolutions having a milestone helped me to tune better to keep my resolutions. Btw hope you are able to keep up your quit smoking resolution.
countrywomen: Not really. I'm just taking it one day at a time. I have some really huge incentives when I eventually manage to quit smoking, besides the obvious, better health and more money in my pocket, so I'm really certain that I'll quit all together soon. As for my other goals for this year, they've been easy to keep up with so far. Thank-you for taking the time to read and comment I appreciate it.
Hi Nicole - I hope that you conquer your smoking urge and that it is not too horrendous as you struggle through - the writing sounds good - I have a couple of books on the go but will have to make myself knuckle down this year to complete...harder than it sounds...especially when you just want to write hubs....cheers and good luck for 2009...
ajcor: Thank-you so much! I appreciate your support, everyone has been really fantastic. I wish you all the luck with your books, you know you can do it if you just stick to a schedule and keep writing. I hear you, though, hubbing is highly addictive. I really liked your Hub Mob article for 2009, I've killed several vacuum cleaners in the last three years, and neither of the apartments two washing machines are working right now, a real pain in the you know what I'm talking about. ajcor's 2009 Hub Mob page can be found here:
Thanks for the link Nicole - very nice of you....cheers
Very nice article nicole winter. Thank you.
ajcor: You're very welcome!
Kulsum Mehmood: Thank-you very much, I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
Great hub Nicole - I believe when you stop growing you start to die.
Hey, UnkCoothd, thanks for taking the time to read my hub & comment. I love your attitude!
We all know smoking is going to kill us sooner than if we don't smoke. I used to smoke and found that the best way to stop is to just stop cold turkey, then avoid the situations where you used to smoke as best you can until your resolve strengthens.
Hey, BrianS, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, I appreciate your advice. Yes, cold turkey is probably the best way, but some people need a little extra support. Personally, I like the gum an awful lot, it really seems to help make it bearable enough to keep ones resolve up.
I guess quit smoking is really very hard to do. To quit suddenly is not good for the body, since it doesnt have time to adjust. To write every day is equally hard, hope you have the determination to make it work.
Writing every day has proved to be much easier than I originally had thought, but yes, for me... quitting smoking is really difficult. Thank-you for taking the time to read and comment, Siew Cheng, I appreciate it.
quitting smoking is really a difficult one. i accept it, bcz i failed so-many times. about this hub: nice one, i really appreciate your way of presentation.
I wish I could write a hub at least once a week! I marvel at people who have the ideas to write everyday. Sigh.
sukkran: Thank-you! So you did eventually quit smoking? Congratulations!!!
Feline Prophet: Ah, gar. Yeah, I'm not writing a hub a week, but I am writing on a daily basis. It probably isn't good, but it's there, ya' know? Who knows, maybe some stray strand of B.S. I'm scribbling down will spark an idea for something else that is really incredible somewhere down the road...
Does leaving comments everyday count as writing? But (deep sigh) I can't even seem to do that! :P
*lol* Sure it does, Feline Prophet. Also writiing notes to your children about bringing their errant items home counts, too!
Julie-Ann Amos says:
11 months ago
I agree they don't work. In fact, I like to make mine NOT at New Year but say february etc so i don't get hung up in everyone else's rush to the gym, class, hairdresser etc! I like to do mine separaratly too so people don't keep asking how it's going for a few weeks then forget about it the rest of the year!