Don’t like resolutions? Try setting an intention for the new year
An ALS diagnosis changed how this columnist approaches the new year
A few days ago, a friend asked if I’d made any New Year’s resolutions. “No,” I replied, shrugging. Then I changed my mind and answered “yes.”
Seeing her bewildered expression upon my contradictory response, I knew I had to explain. I used to enjoy the tradition of making resolutions every year. The whole process of setting goals and checking in on my progress throughout the year motivated me to stay on track. But that was before I was diagnosed with ALS. When that happened, the idea of making resolutions seemed pointless. Eventually, though, I found a way to set gentle, achievable goals, and I’m excited to tell you about how I did it.
If you’d asked me what my New Year’s resolutions were when I was a newly diagnosed patient, my response would’ve been, “To survive another year.” The shock of being told I had a disease with a dismal life expectancy, along with trying to figure out what the disease actually was, dashed my hopes of a happy future.
By the second year after that, having learned about the many limits ALS would impose on my life, my attitude toward resolutions turned cynical.
For example, when friends would set goals to lose weight, I’d think, “Lose weight? My goal is to maintain my weight or even gain a few pounds.” When health experts on TV urged viewers to walk more and take the stairs, I’d scoff, feeling lucky just to be able to locate an accessible entrance to a building and fit my mobility scooter in the elevator.
Fortunately, in subsequent years, I discovered how beneficial mindfulness can be for patients with ALS. Practicing mindfulness helped me stay safe. I paid attention while eating and walking, and to how I’d move throughout the house. That helped me avoid falls, choking, and other near-disasters that would happen when I’d get lost in my own thoughts.
Additionally, the constant awareness of my body, breathing, and mood had a calming effect on my thoughts, especially the runaway ones involving grim scenarios. When the next January arrived, although I didn’t feel quite ready to make a full-fledged resolution, I did set a New Year’s “intention” to “simply be.”
Fast forward to 2025, and I’m still practicing mindfulness. I’ve since added a few more positive life habits to my days, including additional self-care practices, moderate exercise, and a sense of purpose.
We all experience different journeys with ALS, and living with any chronic health condition makes it difficult to set New Year’s resolutions. But we can set intentions.
So what’s mine? To continue to learn to live well while living with ALS. It’s not a traditional resolution, but it has just enough challenges for me while still remaining flexible.
Have you experienced what I did early on in my ALS journey? Do you make or avoid New Year’s resolutions? If you make them, I’d love to know what they are. Please share in the comments below. Join me as we learn to live well while living with ALS.
Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.
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