No chips (FOR ME)

This new year’s resolution will be different

It’s almost mid-January and many people have already fallen off the New Year’s Resolution(s) wagon. But not me! Before you cheer me on, congratulate me, remind me that there are still 11.5 months to go, or stop reading this post in boredom/angst/disgust, I will tell you I think I’ve found the secret to sticking to a resolution. Intrigued? Willing to read more? (I hope so, because I am a thriller writer and everyone knows the secret to being a good-to-great thriller writer is capturing the reader’s attention by introducing a question or series of questions in his/her mind and then trickling out or holding back the answer(s) as the story unfolds.)

Previous (failed) attempts

Before I reveal the “secret” of sticking to a resolution, (this is part of trickling out/holding back) I will acknowledge that this is not based on any clinical evidence or behavioral research or—heck—even my own experience of making it through an entire year without stumbling or falling flat off that proverbial wagon. But I will say that, so far, it’s working and I have a good feeling it will continue to work throughout the year—not something I have felt or even experienced with past resolutions. These have included (more trickling out/holding back) the usual health-related standbys like “exercise more,” “drink more water,” “eat less junk food,” as well as more New Age-y attempts to “practice gratitude,” “be happy with who/how I am right here, right now,” and “breathe in hope, breathe out acceptance.” That was last year’s and even though I still like the phrase, I’m not sure I even remembered it past Week 1, let alone acted on it!

The 4 S’s that will lead to success

But this year’s resolution is simple, specific, satisfying and not that big a sacrifice (FOR ME). It is, in two words, “no chips.” In more words, it is “I am giving up potato/corn/cheese-like chips and similar salty snack foods.” Simple because I can remember it (without writing it down!) and that makes it easier for me to DO. Specific because it is one food group that I can eliminate from my diet (not like giving up chocolate, which comes in a bunch of forms—liquid, soft, hard, baked, plain, creamy, cookie, cake, yummmm.) Satisfying because I know that salty snacks are pretty much empty calories, so giving them up is a worthwhile goal. And finally, here’s the kicker that may be the REAL SECRET TO SUCCESS--it’s not that big a sacrifice (FOR ME.)

Knowing I can do it

I write that realizing I amped up my intake of chips all last year for reasons not fully known to me. Maybe it’s because chocolate wasn’t cutting it any more as my go-to choice for a treat, or because my lunchtime sandwich looked so lonely without its sidekick of chips, or because I just wanted the salt or the crunch or both. Whatever the reason(s), I still say it’s not that big a sacrifice (FOR ME) because I went for years without chips (unlike chocolate…but I digress, again!), didn’t miss them, and know I can get back to that place. Maybe that’s the biggest “secret” of sticking with any resolution….knowing it can be done!

How about you? Any resolutions for 2013? Believe you’ll stick with them? Any “secrets” for success?   

 

PM Kavanaugh writes character-driven thrillers spiked with romance. Her debut novel, DIE RUN HIDE, is available through Crimson Romance, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iTunes, among others. She blogs regularly for MVRWA and can be found on Facebook and Twitter under pmkavanaugh.