How Can You Make Your 2021 Better?

It’s still Christmas Day (depending on where you live), so why think about New Year’s? Because it takes extra time for us to do anything, so we chronically ill need to get a head start on New Year’s planning.

But how can we plan? Weakness, fatigue, or lack of time might stop us. Anyway, why should we plan? Since we can’t do very much, plans won’t make any difference. Right?

Most years, I tend to feel that way. But then I remember lessons from the past. Plans help me make the most of my time. Agendas help me save time by not having to figure out what to do next, a more efficient use of time. But why should I even be concerned about arranging when and how to do something? Why not just do what ever I feel like doing?

This year, especially, these are important questions for me. Maybe this whole post is for me. Some of my physical issues have changed, making it very difficult to accomplish what I have in the recent past. I need to reflect on what I am doing with my life, then come up with some new plans that fit my new goals.

So, what about you?

Rather than resolutions, do you need to re-examine your life: where you are physically; what is important to you; and where you’d like to be.

So back to the original premise—the chronically ill and New Year’s planning.

What should we consider?

What are some guidelines?

I am indebted to my brother John for his Facebook post that began this train of thought. He quoted the old saying, “Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting a different result.” And he concluded by thinking that if your life isn’t working, maybe it’s time to make some changes.

I don’t know that I—or you—are necessarily making mistakes, but if what we have been doing isn’t working maybe we do need to think about some changes. And what better time than New Year’s?

Learn by looking at your life

• Where are you now?
  • Have there been recent changes affecting your abilities?
  • If so, do you need help coping? Medically, practically, or emotionally?
  • Are the changes temporary or permanent?
• Do your life goals need to change, or just your approach to them?

Change what you can

• If your changes are so severe that your life goals need to be adjusted:
  • Realize that is a tough situation not easily remedied.
  • Re-examine what is important to you, what your talents are, and what your remaining strength is.
  • Talk to family, friends or a counselor, as appropriate.
  • Pray.
• About coping:
  • In the medical area:
    • Research to find out which provider can best help.
    • Get a referral, if needed, and make an appointment.
  • With practical issues:
    • Think about where you can obtain help.
    • Can a friend(s) fulfill the need?
    • Do you have financial resources to hire it done?
    • Can Social Services help?
  • In the emotional realm:
    • Assess the severity.
      • Can reading a book help?
      • Could a trusted friend or pastoral counselor advise you?
      • Or do you need to contact your primary care physician for a referral?

Live better

Now that you have re-examined your life and come up with possible plans, follow through, put them in practice, and take pleasure in a better life.

But, maybe everything is working just fine and your evaluation has reassured you. Great!

Enjoy 2021 in peace.

To wrap it up

We’ve taken time to reflect and reevaluate our life goals and think about how to achieve them. Now, we can move forward with purpose in our lives.