Why It's OK If You're Not Making New Year's Resolutions This Year
It’s been a while since I last wrote a piece like this. It is a piece of me, something that I never gave myself credit for — living my truth.
Every year, all the setting of New Year’s resolutions stir my anxiety. It was just the other day when I found myself having an anxiety attack. “Why?” I had to ask myself (over and over again). Particularly, it was because of the unrealistic pressures and expectations I put on myself.
Most of us ring in the new year with loved ones, whether that be with family, friends, pets or a significant other. Whatever the case may be, there is no “right” way in how one chooses to spend their holidays.
This past holiday season was one of the most difficult ones for me, where both my anxiety and depression flared up. Even with weekly therapy sessions, often I felt like my journey was destined to be doomed, especially when I found myself hiding under the covers the day after Christmas, crying my eyes out.
And that is just the reality of the holiday season for many — we survived it, regardless of what might have triggered or convinced us that there was no hope. That is why this upcoming year, it is OK to be part of the system of not wanting to set all of these “to-do lists” come the new year. It is OK to just live in the moment and take it day by day.
Unsplash image by Matthew T Rader
Natalie Rodriguez is a writer, filmmaker, and mental health and trauma advocate from Los Angeles, CA. She is also a survivor of anxiety. depression, and abuse after experiencing both throughout her childhood and some adolescent years. Her anxiety and depression had heightened during her junior year in college, which motivated her to start talking about mental health in both her writing and film projects. For previous and upcoming work, be sure to give her a follow on IG @natchristinerod or X @natchrisrod.
natchrisrod