Moving Forward in 2022
Atlanta Jewish Times shares our resolutions on what all of us are hoping to accomplish, avoid, and improve upon in the New Year.
Robyn Spizman Gerson is a New York Times best-selling author of many books, including “When Words Matter Most.” She is also a communications professional and well-known media personality, having appeared often locally on “Atlanta and Company” and nationally on NBC’s “Today” show. For more information go to www.robynspizman.com.
2022 New Years Resolutions from Robyn Spizman Gerson
When it comes to ushering in 2022, I think about the quote, “The only person I will try to be better than is the person I was yesterday.”
It’s amazing that we get lots of chances each year to be better, more thoughtful, to make new year’s resolutions and improve our lives. To understand someone else’s perspective and positively move forward together. We learn that even the grandest of new year’s resolutions are possible and require work.
I’m a year-round resolution maker. Even more so, an open book trying to live a meaningful, purposeful life and love out loud. At the end of most days, I reminisce for a few moments, asking myself, “how did I do?” As I replay the utterly irresistible moments that make my heart smile, echoing in my mind are the sweet sounds of our grandchildrens’ voices calling our names, the “I love yous” exchanged within our family, along with those special souls who call often and care beyond measure.
Without going into a long list of resolutions, I intend to sustain the values that add up to what a good life looks like. Empathy. Compassion. Understanding. I will do my best to remain self-aware and not self-absorbed.
When my mother, of blessed memory, passed, it was her lifetime request that we add to her headstone the phrase, “She tried.” My mother achieved an abundance of volunteer lifetime accomplishments, never tiring of trying to make a difference. We spoke every single day, and if your mother — or father, for that matter — are alive, consider yourself fortunate. After they are gone, there will be many things you will wish you had discussed, asked about or learned, and those moments are irretrievable.
On a personal note, I vow to keep the deals I made with God as I negotiated the health and happiness of my loved ones and vowed to do anything if those miracles would come true. I will keep my word and not waiver from those promises, taking nothing for granted.
As the new year arrives, I will also continue to speak up when something is not right. To be introspective when I can do better and show up if needed. To remain grateful for the generous hearts of those individuals who have blessed my life and make sure they know often and redundantly.
I hope we’ll all have the best year possible, in spite of the hardest challenges we have recently faced. Somehow, if we believe it, I think, I hope, I pray, we can achieve it. Call me a serial optimist or tell me I’m not realistic. But after all is said and done, I was raised to never give up, and 2022, like it or not, I am ready. I hope.
My message for the new year? My mother got it right. Try. And if you don’t succeed, you guessed it right.
Try, try again.
Robyn Spizman Gerson is a New York Times bestselling author and media personality and contributing writer at the Atlanta Jewish Times
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