Forged in Fire

We’ve all heard it. We’ve seen it plastered across every form of social media imaginable. For years and years, it’s found its way off the tongue of so many throughout societies across the globe.

“New Year, New Me.”

Yeah, right.

That phrase is overused and undersold, most often with little-to-no real intention behind it.

The coming of a new year has long been the time for “resolutions” – goals and plans set by people near and far which (almost) never stick. 

Let’s be real, for a moment. How many “new-year’s resolutions” have you let fall by the way-side? Honestly?

Speaking for myself, I can account for quite a few. 

Why is it that we fall short of holding up our end of the bargain on these resolutions? Why do we fail, more often than not?

Simply put – it’s because we, as a general populous, have become attached to immediate gratification. We chase results, instead of building habits. We live in a “quick-fix” world, which is full of “long-term” problems.

So, the all important question: “how do we go about it?” 

For reference, here are some of my own goals/plans for the year ahead, along with how I intend to implement them into my lives and what habits are imperative to their successes.

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Grow as a husband and father

This is, or should be, a constant evolution. Every single day serves as a fresh opportunity to learn. As a first time parent, everything is new. My wife and I are wading through unfamiliar territory each moment in time. 

Through this newness, I gain perspective, and grow my bank of knowledge and skills in serving as a strong husband and leader for our family.

Build a community in fellowship/brotherhood

Something that I’ve lacked, or strayed from in recent years, is tight relationships with other driven and disciplined men. I believe there is real importance behind this, and aim to make strides in this area of my life by acting intentionally in seeking out time to spend with good dudes that will push me to grow as a man. As I so often say, Iron Sharpens Iron.

Increase Physical Strength

I’ve been infatuated with ultra-distance running for a couple of years now. So much so, that any other form of physical exercise was an afterthought. My cardiovascular endurance has become as fit as it’s ever been, while my muscle mass and physical strength found itself in a consistent downward spiral.

Since my most recent ultra-distance effort, I’ve committed to making strength-training a priority. Weight training, plyometrics, CrossFit – you name it, I’m applying it to my training plans moving forward. 

Run 100 Miles

A few months back, I came up short in my first attempt at running 100 miles. It was a tough pill to swallow – it still is, to be honest.

After plenty of thought and deep contemplation, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll give it another go, albeit with a much different approach, within this calendar year. 

Start a garden

Recently, I’ve taken on a strong interest in self-sustained living – growing/killing/processing what my family and I eat. Starting a garden is the first step of this process, and something that I intend to begin when the ground thaws here in Iowa come spring time.

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In short, these few things are just a brief snapshot of some things that I have in mind moving into this new year – each of which holds within them their own set of habits and actions. 

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What has become increasingly apparent to me is this:

The perfect time to start was yesterday, the second best time is right now.

January 1st isn’t some sort of magical day. It doesn’t stand for anything aside from the beginning of a fresh calendar year. Each of my current goals and aspirations found their roots in my life some time ago, all separate from one another. 

All of this to say that there is no sense in waiting – in putting off until tomorrow what can and should be done today. 

If you need to increase your physical fitness, the time to go is now. 

You recognize that your eating habits need a complete remodel, so get the ball rolling. 

Each action you take today is a vote for who will become tomorrow. Remember this, as you navigate the days, weeks and months ahead. 

Establish a sound list of priorities, set some legitimate goals, adjust your daily habits accordingly and begin your trek toward whatever it is you wish to achieve in the year 2024.

Here we go!

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