New Year, 2025. Aspirations (NOT resolutions!)

I’m not into NY’s resolutions or pie in the sky goals that are hard to achieve.

But there are different ideas that might be floating in our head that this fresh start, 2025 can motivate us to act on.

It might be a place to visit, a room in your home to improve, a change in your daily habits, a word that will be your mantra, a list of to-do’s — or as I’ve said before “ta-da’s!” - things that make you happy and you accomplish!

For me I do see the new year as a fresh start - also I always feel a little tentative - what good or not so good will the new year bring???

Share any thoughts, aspirations, words, lists - whatever you’ve got or whatever you’re thinking about making part of your 2025. No one will check on you later to make sure you’ve followed through. :slight_smile:

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I am having a work “fresh start” as I will be semi-retired - left a position I was in for 24 years last week and am starting a new but familiar position next week part time. I feel so fortunate for this “fresh start” at age 65.

My 2025 aspiration is a word.

Space.

It has different meanings for me. More space between work and home life. Making more space in my home by continuing to reduce my “things” imprint so I have more space in my home (which for me is calming). Creating space to explore a couple of new hobbies. Local travel “space” - be more intentional about visiting new places even if just a couple of hours from me or very local.

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I aspire to spread more light in my little world. I want to lift up others in whatever way I can, even if it’s just a small thing that makes someone feel better or happier. I get caught up in how things are, and I want to be a small part of how things can be.

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This is very much what I’ve been talking to H about for the new year. He has a large detached garage in which he set up a workshop, CNC, etc. and spends hours out there. I only have a 3 ft area in our laundry room for crafts and sewing. I am determined to get our guest bedroom cleared out and then set up a work table and maybe a sewing cabinet (Sauder has one I like.)

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How about…purge. I’m getting rid of everything in the house that we agree we never use (e.g. pool table with cover for ping pong). I want a small puzzle table instead…the kind that has a cover so the cat can’t whack at the pieces.

I always :crossed_fingers:t2: for our kids…that everything works out the way it should for them!

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One of my aspirations for 2025 is to become involved with new people and new activities. That will be challenging for me as I am such an introvert, but I need to find ways to stay engaged in our community. I really withdrew from things I enjoyed this past year and I need to get back to doing the things I enjoy and finding new activities to enjoy!

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I’m planning to go back to the line dancing class at the senior center. When I went before it was lots of fun, low pressure and a little uncomfortably aerobic which, let’s face it, can only do me good!

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I’m signing up for some art classes this year and I want to get back to playing piano more regularly.

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Be more optimistic

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And if I can’t, be better at faking it!

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I usually start a small health improvement in January - give up soda, walk at least a mile every day (became 5 out of 7), eliminate evening snacking, exercise classes that focus on strength and balance. I’ve continues all those so need to come up with something for this year. It will likely involve less sugar (dreading that but I need to). I’m also aspiring to get up earlier and go to bed earlier. I’m retired so I can sleep in but even on the days when I have an activity scheduled at 9 I’m always running late.

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I like trying new activities, helps me feel young. I started running at age 54. When I retired 4 years later, I decided to try new activities. During Covid, online zoom class was good distraction. The paddle boarding in Hawaii in a sheltered no-wave area in Waikiki Beach was delightful, though I’ve not done it since. Snow shoeing turned out to e good exercise and lots of fun. (I bought a cheap pair on Amazon but have not had a lot of snow to use them.) This winter I intend to get microspikes like my husband’s (he raves about the traction) so that we can safely do so some mellow winter hikes in nearby Rocky Mountain National park.

Pickleball has been a big game changer for me (see my related these). Decent year round exercise plus tons of new, easy going socializing.

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Last year I did a thirty day yoga challenge online (only 20 minutes a day) and I really enjoyed it but didn’t stick with it after the thirty days, so I am trying again this year. I also need to clean out the closets in the guest rooms and get a new front door.

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This is one of my goals too. I got more involved in two art associations last year. And there are a couple of things at the library I’m eyeing. I have a friend who does a lot of weekend hiking with a various local groups which sounds like a great idea as well.

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I had my 2 week post-op check up this morning following minimally invasive back surgery. I can tell that things are better, but I am aspiring to get more relief through physical therapy pilates sessions. A friend has recommended her excellent therapists and my surgeon said I could start in February following 6 week post-op appointment. Right now following this path sounds like a good idea, but I hope I will have the intention to really give it a go and to see if I can get some good results.

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In my mom’s last year and after her death in April I gained back about 15 of the 70 pounds I had lost over the past several years. I want those gone again.

While mom was sick, so many things got put on the back burner. This year, we are landscaping the front yard and replacing flooring in the house.

Those are apsirations.

A word for the year … grace. For myself and others. I feel like I have really grown this past year and that my relationships with everyone – my kids and dh and my sibs – are so much better. Grace is something that I’ve worked on for a while.

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As you said, aspirations not resolutions -

I’d like to get my life more in order (preparing for death stuff - not in a morbid way, just needs to get done).
Continue to exercise regularly.
Drink less (Since retirement, I’ve/we’ve found we drink more than we used to, and it would be healthier if we didn’t).
Possibly find something new to learn or become involved in. I haven’t thought much about this, but given it’s a good idea to continue to learn new things I need to think about this one.

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I’ve been doing more hip mobility work, and I’ve been feeling really good… so I really want to do two races this year.

My parents are taking us on a German Xmas market river cruise next year, so I want to get my speaking ability up better to my reading/listening ability. I did a few Easy German video chats last year and just dropped them because Wednesday at noon is just too much of a pain. Saturdays at noon should work better, but it’s not a beginner level. So I want to try to do more of this all year.

Piano I might try to learn a new song. I worked hard on one when I was 50 and then dropped it.

One of my kids gave me a German cookbook. Cooking is NOT my thing, and reading it is a challenge. But I want to try to make at least one thing out of there each month. That should be doable.

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  1. I want to join the Book Club at our renovated library.
  2. I restarted a meetup group with over 55 women. I’d like to make it consistent.
  3. I want to clean out some cupboards in the kitchen, and bathrooms.
  4. I’m joining our local JCC with the Medicare silver sneakers and want find a group activity.

It looks like my aspiration is to be around people more. I’m extroverted and have sort of isolated myself in retirement.

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Snow skiing. I would like to return to the trails after a long hiatus.

Weight training. I would like to return to daily workouts with weights.

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