I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions. I've got a wicked conscience and a Type-A tendency to push myself, so I figure those two personality traits should keep motivating me to be the best that I can be all year round. But then the New Year rolls around and it's all you hear about:
I resolve to lose weight! (I'm pregnant so that's out.)
I resolve to exercise more often! (I typically workout 4 - 5 days a week -- seems like enough.)
I resolve to give back and be a nicer person! (Gee, in 2007 I gave something (money or time) to charity every month; seems like a good track record.)
And all of a sudden I'm thinking: What's wrong with me? I should have oodles of room for self-improvement? Am I not open to it?
I quickly read Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love in hopes of inspiration. But I just end up annoyed: I resolve not to be self-indulgent (sorry to fans of the book).
I go on a quest for a resolution I haven't covered and am capable of embracing when I stumble upon the headline: "More Sun Is Healthy, Despite Skin Cancer Risk." Excuse me? "Healthy" and "Cancer Risk" in the same title -- I'm confused.
And while we're at it there are a few other things I'm confused about: Does Vitamin C really keep colds away? Should I take echinacea before I have a cold (How can I be sure I'm actually getting a cold?)? Is milk evil? Is soy worse? Are antioxidants a farce?
I've found my resolution: I resolve to rise above the healthy confusion fray.
As a well-nut (i.e. someone who is obsessed with all things wellness), and the editor of a daily health and wellness email, I tend to prickle at how the media and marketers jump on the latest study, spitting out articles or claims with little thought to the whiplash inflicted on innocent consumers who really are looking for the healthy choice.
The problem is when that study makes it's way to the morning shows what most of us will take away is "sun = good", which means soon enough we'll be slathering on the coconut oil and saying, let's sizzle! Those poor researches in Oslo (the guys behind the sun study, which by the way, says that sun exposure in moderation might help you live longer thanks to an increased production of Vitamin D) had no idea that a bunch of Americans might take their advice to mean it's ok to keep the oven on bake.
The problem is moderation is not in our vocabulary (myself included). So this year, might we all resolve to be thoughtful about what we read when it comes to our health and well-being. Might we then seek out the best resources to help us understand all of this conflicting scientific evidence, and might we then decide to live a life of (healthy) moderation.
Yes, a little sun is good.
Yes, a little (RHG-free) milk is good.
Yes, a little soy is ok. (Psst...I'm not a fan).
Yes, a little Vitamin C is good. (But it's best to get your vitamins and antioxidants through foods, not supplements).
I have also heard that this moderation thing might also be the key behind those other resolutions that everyone seems so fond of (Lose weight! Exercise more often! Be a nicer person!). Maybe I'm on to something ...