By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
The new year always seems to require work. With each passing year, we challenge ourselves to be better, whether it’s by dieting, exercising, committing to religion, reading more, or saving up for retirement. The most ambitious among us create smaller goals within our resolution to tackle individually, assuring your 2022 victory. At least, that’s how I am.
I used to love the hustle. I’m the kind of person that would run for student government, and work 40 hours per week. Even in my spare time, I would relax by making to-do lists, prescribing enrichment “fun” activities like creating art to sell on Etsy, hiking with a friend to move my body, and attending my weekly singing lesson. As I mull this over, I realized that I didn’t even know what it’s like to relax. I just kept running.
We aren’t born with a natural desire to hustle. It’s embedded in our brains through social media, among other influences. Scrolling through a highlight reel of someone else’s life, it is easy to forget all their downtime and negative moments. It can seem as if those unrecorded moments don’t exist at all. Therefore, all we see is an endless virtual trophy case, not an autobiography. How can we, as real people, compete with only the highlights? We work harder. We apply for essay writing competitions, cook photo-worthy meals, plan bachelorette blow-outs, and pretend our walk to work is a strut down the runway. T aw awhis competition never ends! No one is declared a winner because there is no finish line.
You may be tempted to post your 2022 new year’s resolution on social media. You may desperately seek social approval of your keto cleanse, devotion to combat climate change, or monthly donation to charity. However, here’s my challenge to do something radical: don’t set a resolution. Don’t center your life around a goal to heighten your social status. Don’t turn living your life into work.
Instead of projecting outwardly, try to set intentions inwardly. A goal is achieved by accomplishing a measurable result, whereas an intention is simply a focus or mantra to explore for an undetermined amount of time. For example, you might choose to live slowly this year. This may seem vague, but you could chew your food thoroughly, pause between chores, and read books rather than watch the movie versions. Living slowly could mean choosing a new career path, practicing meditation, or starting a gratitude journal. It’s not a race, but rather a state of being.
Talk with your partner, friend or family about your intentions for the year, and perhaps you’ll be able to work together. Practice mindfulness and try to exist completely centered in your body, aware of any sensation (like sitting in your chair) or input (perhaps the whistle of the wind). Read every word on a page rather than skimming it. Taste the spices in your dinner rather than gulping it down.
This year, my intention is to become more involved in my community. I hope to meet friends at church, volunteer at a nonprofit, and support local businesses with my purchases. I recently moved back to South Jersey and am letting go of negative thoughts surrounding the move. Instead, I am stepping into appreciation and curiosity. I am thankful to have the opportunity to write for this magazine, and if you see me on the streets, ask me about my intentions. I would love to connect.
