This Year I Resolve To Be Happy Being Me
Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011
by Brianna Popsickle
My friend asked if I’d made any New Year Resolutions.
“No I haven’t,” I replied, knowing there was something I had intended on giving up, but had already blown in the first days of the New Year.
“I didn’t make any either,” my friend continued. “Why set yourself up for failure?”
While my sensitivity is what makes me a good friend to some, it’s what drives others (like my husband) crazy. It’s what causes me sleepless nights. I tend to take on friend’s problems as though they were my own. It can be tiring for me and for those close to me.
If I had a dime for every time someone said, ‘Brianna, toughen up,’ I’d be sipping Pina Coladas on an island somewhere.
Am I too sensitive? Yes. Am I too affected by the attitudes of others? You bet. Do I take other’s problems to heart? Absolutely. But it’s only because I care enough to be affected.
I’ve decided that’s not a bad thing.
It’s taken me this long to realize that while I can change my hairstyle, change my weight or change my job, I’ll never be able to change who I am, nor do I want to.
I have nothing to prove to anyone, least of all myself. This year I resolve to remain me. I’m going to love and laugh. I’m going to make mistakes and shed some tears. I’ll continue to strive, realizing though, contentment is not an indication of a lack of motivation, and sensitivity is not a weakness, it’s my strength.
Whoever said, “You have to love yourself before others can love you,” was on to something.
Liking yourself is a start.
This Article has been viewed 1,352 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsI think you made a wise decision-that's probably as good a fit you might find anywhere, no matter where your searching takes you.
I'm just not sure who the person in the new picture is-is that the new-old B, or the old-new...or the new-new....?
Most creative folks I know are hyper-perceptive, that's why they are good at what they do.The person in the pic is the same old Brianna who couldn't change if she wanted to. Thanks for reading and commenting Bing. Happy New Year to you and your family. I imagine it was a wonderful Christmas in the country.
I liked this article Brianna- I firmly believe that everyone should be and present themselves exactly as they are. Although I do try to improve the product- I am always me- what you see and what you hear is what you get..... unadulterated Ella...as far as you changing yourself- when you've got the best- why mess with it......Thanks for another humanly honest article- Always- EllaI like unadulterated Ella. I agree with you people should be who they are, and I don't really know how anyone can be anything different. I've learned I can't be less sensitive, because that's me. For those who tell me to toughen up I'm thinking maybe it's time they worked on being a little more sensitive. See how that works for them. Thanks for reading and commenting Ella. And as for having the best, I work with what I got, and it may not be the best, but it's definitely good enough for me. :)
I love that you broke the resolution you didn't make because your heart wasn't in it. I can't think of any reason on earth why you should change - and that's because there just isn't one. Being sensitive does make you more vulnerable, but it also makes you more alive."I have nothing to prove to anyone, least of all myself. This year I resolve to remain me. I’m going to love and laugh. I’m going to make mistakes and shed some tears. I’ll continue to strive, realizing though, contentment is not an indication of a lack of motivation, and sensitivity is not a weakness, it’s my strength." - this whole paragraph is just fabulous. You're an inspiration to me, that's for sure :)No, Ms. Stewart, YOU are an inspiration to me. I wrote this not long after reading your article about the year you'd had and how you were feeling. It's so easy for those looking in, to see all that you have to offer. (As you could tell by the comments you received) It's all about liking yourself Jennifer, why is that so hard for us? Why do we expect so much from ourselves? Let's resolve to be human this year and all that it implies. This 2011 we will simply do the best we can, and it will be good enough. :) Glad to hear from you.I think that's a pretty good resolution, to be human, just do our best and know it's good enough. We'll have to remind each other! :)Will do Jennifer! I hope 2011 is off to a good start for you.
I think this idea is just brilliant. You sound like a lovely person; others are fortunate to have you as a friend. You obviously have a sense of humour given your description. And it's probably about time you appreciated your own great qualities. Best of luck.Trust me Cat, I'm the fortunate one for having the friends I do. Thanks for picking up on the sense of humour, not everyone always gets me! We should all be less hard on ourselves and look at our strong points right? Happy New Year!
Sounds like your on to something Brianna. Perhaps it is real close to happiness. Surrender and acceptance to and of one's self is a win win situation. Happy new year.Liking yourself is probably as good as it gets and probably the missing piece to the puzzle for most people. Happy New Year to you and yours as well Linda. Thanks for reading and commenting, always good to hear from you.
hi brianna,
i agree completely.
i spent every second of my time with 3 little ones, and now that they are 3 big ones, they have left home, and i am still here.
this year will be our years to shine....pinkie promise.
and, this IS the picture i was referring to. very pretty and enlightening.
my best to you,
sueYou've given all your life from the sounds of it Susan, with three wonderful children as a reward. But 2011 will be a year for Susan, not the mom, not the wife, just Susan. You go for it! Happy New Year!
I love myself. :-) We don't need to attach our emotions and moods to other people's behaviors as you pointed out. It is a constant practice which needs to be perfected over a period of time. Very nice. Thank you.
DMI'm glad you've mastered it DM. I'm working on it! Happy New Year to you!
Absolutely not! I forbid you from being happy being yourself!:-) Ok, go ahead, you can be happy being yourself. I'll allow it, but just this once, and one wrong move, one wrong word, and you have got to be miserable being yourself. Do you understand me young lady? Now that we got that out of the way, you have a wonderful year. I guess you deserve it, but just this once.:-)See? There's that sense of humour I'm talking about David. :) Nice to hear from you and just so you know, I'm loving 2011 so far.
Hi Brianna.
This is great. You are right, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. It's just people telling you to be more one way or another. I hate that sort of thing! I like you just as you are. And everyone should read this and take it to heart.
Just please be sure, while you are taking good care of everyone else, that you do not forget to take good care of yourself as well. By taking good care of yourself and maintaining physical and mental health, you make yourself more able to do all the things that fulfill you and make you who you are.
Thanks and hugs,
Dianne
Thanks Dianne, will do. Nice to hear from you as always. Happy New Year to you and your hubby!
I think learning to accept yourself is great, but I think that's a reason to not set resolutions. When we set a resolution we are offering ourself a new chance at growth.
Personally, I don't want to stagnate and by never setting any resolutions, aren't you saying there are no new horizons - no things to learn, no ways to grow?
Isn't it pretty darn negative to say that setting resolutions is "just setting yourself up for failure"? Sounds pretty pessimistic to me. The point of a resolution (at least to me) is not whether or not you succeed, it's that you tried. . . . you made an effort and had hope for the best outcome. That's why to me at least - a New Year always means new resolutions.I hear ya Kerry. When my friend said setting a resolution sets you up for failure, I'm sure she was speaking from her own personal experience with promises to workout, diet etc. Not setting it as a resolution doesn't mean she won't still attempt to eat healthier or exercise. I don't think accepting or liking yourself means you're not open to learning things or taking on challenges. It just means that when you experience the failures along with the successes, (as most do) you won't beat yourself up over it. Some people do that with resolutions. It's all or nothing. Every day can be a new start, every step a beginning. You can set resolutions any day of the week. Some people are motivated in doing that, and if that works for them, that's the way to go! Thanks for reading and commenting. It was good to hear your view on resolutions. I hope it's a great year for you.
More comments
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.