April 1st. April Fool’s Day. Happy New Year? Its origins are thought to be connected with those who celebrated the New Year on January 1st and wanted to make fun of those who celebrated on a different date. (You can read the history for yourself. Did you know there are countries today which use different calendars?) Calendars make me think back to January (it seems so long ago) and the many resolutions which never materialized into anything more than good intentions or words printed on a piece of paper. I’m probably not alone.
April 1st is a great time to think about starting anew. Really. It is still the first half of the year or with a little reframing; the beginning of the second quarter. If you are looking to make some changes, April 1st is a great day to push the re-start button. (So is April 2nd, or 3rd or 4th …) Remember that change can be uncomfortable and may not come without cost.
A few hints: (They will be expanded on.)
- Start Slow
- Set small goals
- Celebrate the milestones
- Be gentle with yourself
Go ahead and be an April Fool. Write down some new resolutions. I think I’ll resolve to play a really good practical joke.
Marlayne Whitlock, LAPC
mwhitlock@ GROWcounseling.com