I Hate New Year’s Resolutions
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ”
It is the Monday after New Year's, and reality has sunk in, and if you hadn't felt it before, all the new diet and exercise commercials would not let you forget. All the fancy holiday meals and the treats you would be rude to turn down have now come to roost. The extra holiday weight is now weighing heavy on your heart and mine. I hate that I am so concerned with how much I weigh as if it were the determining factor in whether I am acceptable. I grew up in a family on my mother's side, which suffered from obesity. Weight was a constant conversation and underlying phobia. But, there is more to you and me than just what the scale announces, no matter what the media pronounces.
Please, do not make dieting one of your New Year's Resolutions. Making dieting a resolution gives your weight too much power over your life. Instead, other changes in your daily routine to address what the scale states. In Kaki Okumura's article, "5 Things You Can Do When You Have an 'I Hate My Body" Moment," she recommends doing things that make your mental health better, rather than focusing only on weight loss. She calls us to "Go on a walk (or some sort of exercise you enjoy)." Like the old phrase states, "A body in motion stays in motion, a body at rest stays at rest." A walk brings joy and energy back to our lives.
Okumura continues, "Donate clothing that doesn't fit you." Please don't keep the small clothes around because it is like a constant, depressing reminder. Plus, there is joy in knowing your gifts are helping others. Next, "Treat yourself like a loved one." If you wouldn't say something to your sibling, parent, or dear friend, then have the compassion to refrain from saying it to yourself. We are often our own worst enemy. When you hurt and dishonor yourself, you offend God. The last of Okumura's examples I want to share is, "Every time you look in the mirror, don't look away until you can find 3 things you love about yourself." Degrading yourself because of your weight has become a habit. Replace this harmful habit with a positive one. Remembering three positive things about yourself reminds you that you are worthy and of value.
When our weight becomes the center of our lives, our self-worth is based on something other than what God intended. We are made in the image of God, and God values us beyond how little we weigh. Therefore, I want to focus away from dieting and onto what God does value. Focus instead on being compassionate, loving, productive, and ethical in your life. These are some of the things God values. Then, think about who you should be trying to impress in this life. God! The only reason God might care about our weight is for our overall health, not because we might look sleeker in a particular outfit. Caring for yourself, physically, emotionally, and spiritually will provide overall better health than a New Year's diet. Now pass me that moderately sized dessert, then, let’s go for a walk together!
