I don’t normally make New Year resolutions. They just haven’t been my style. While it’s a nice thought to have a fresh start on day one of the new calendar year, I’ve realized that you don’t need to align any changes or promises to yourself with any calendar date if you don’t want to. If you need to make a change, you’re free to start on any day of your choosing. But 2020 has been an exceptionally difficult year. We are living through a global pandemic. And while there is much to celebrate as the vaccinations
slowly start to roll out, it will be awhile before life returns to normal. And it will take a long while before all of the world’s countries are able to offer this treatment to their citizens. So while there is some light, it’s still a ways off in the distance. And yet, this isn’t even the worst pandemic the world will see. I may not be around for the next one, but science tells me there’s going to be one, and I really hope and pray the world will be better equipped to handle it. I’m falling a little off topic here, but with all of
this stuff floating around (quite literally, since the virus is airborne), I feel like this is the year I need to actually make some resolutions for the New Year. So here goes:

1. More Self-Care – Self-care is quickly becoming like one of those overused marketing buzzwords, but having actively ignored this for a very long time, I realize that it’s not something I can afford to do anymore. So for 2021, I’m going to work at increasing the amount of time I spend for
   myself each week. One extra hour across the week – shouldn’t be too hard, should it? The list that follows here will provide more than enough to help me use that time up!
2. More Plants (for a month) – I tend to eat a lot of plant-based foods as it is in my current diet. I don’t eat a lot of meat, and very little fish. My Achilles with going Vegan will be in the other foods I enjoy eating – milk chocolate, cheese, chewy candy and the gravy on poutine. While I
   had already successfully committed to adding more plant-based foods into my routine, I would like to go nuts and commit for a full month. I haven’t done this before and now seems like a good time to try. To be honest, this cannot happen until after the holidays at the earliest
   because there are a lot of treats in the house and no one here to eat them but me. So I have to get that all out of the way before I can do this. (I know myself well and there is no way any of these treats will be wasted.)
3. More Fresh Air – I trained for my first half-marathon in the middle of winter. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I did it! As I’ve written before, walking gave me a chance to be still and breathe some fresh air during the first lockdown. I am already dreading January and February,
   but I need to be really disciplined to make sure I get outside and breathe a couple of times a week. It will be too tempting to just stay inside and wallow in the warm house and comfort food for a few months.
4. More Books – I really enjoy reading so this isn’t a chore or some hardship to endure. But as my mind wasn’t very settled this year, my ability to concentrate on a book weakened. I have a long list to get to, but I also have reading for the courses I am taking. So I’m going to conservatively
   plan for a book every two months. I’m almost embarrassed to write this one down because I really could get through a book a week back in the day. But I’ve got to start again somewhere.
5. More Patience – Patience has never been one of my strong suits. (Just ask my younger sister.) But I have found in the weight of this year, I have become increasingly impatient. (This is really kind of funny when I think about it, because I had nowhere to go or to be for most of the year.) But I think working on this will pair well with some of the stillness and peace I’m trying to achieve in my mind, so it seems like a logical and helpful resolution to add.

And that’s it. I’m sure there are a few more I could add, but five seems like a reasonable place to stop for now. Can’t wait to check back in a few months and see how it’s all working out. Wish me luck!

Amanda C.

I’d like to say I fall into the “sandwich generation” – and while I have no children of my own to care for – I find myself falling somewhere in between caring for my mother and caring for my sanity. When I am not working, I have the honour of helping look after my amazing mother, who has suffered 2 strokes in the past 11 years. Being a caregiver is not for the faint of heart, and if I am being honest, it can be a crappy club to be a member of. I have fallen down more times than I care to count through this journey, but while channeling my incredible stubbornness, strength (both of which I come by honestly,) and several F-words (Faith, Family, Friends and Food), I keep getting back up. IG: @Coolman_Eh