There are many reasons why people struggle to keep their New Year’s resolutions. One reason is that they may set goals that are too ambitious or unrealistic, which can be discouraging if they are unable to achieve them. Additionally, people may not have a clear plan or strategy in place for how to achieve their goals, which can make it difficult to stay motivated and on track. Other factors that can contribute to the difficulty of keeping resolutions include lack of support from friends and family, lack of accountability, and other competing priorities or obligations.
Here or some challenges:
- Lack of motivation: It can be hard to stay motivated when you’re working towards a long-term goal, especially if you’re not seeing progress or if you’re facing setbacks along the way.
- External distractions: There are many distractions that can pull us away from our goals, such as social events, unexpected responsibilities, or simply feeling overwhelmed.
- Internal distractions: Our own thoughts and feelings can also be a source of distraction. For example, we might feel anxious, stressed, or uncertain about whether we can actually achieve our goals.
- Limited time: It can be difficult to find time to work on our goals, especially if we have other commitments or responsibilities.
- Lack of accountability: It can be helpful to have someone to hold us accountable and keep us on track, but this isn’t always possible.
Overall, it’s important to be realistic and patient with ourselves when it comes to setting and working towards goals. It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place for how to overcome challenges and setbacks, and to seek support from others when needed.
I started this challenge on day 108 and now we are at 75 days left. Time flies if you stick to your resolutions. Likewise, with only 14 days left until my marathon, there is little that I can do at this point to change the outcome of the marathon – instead it is about combining the hard work of the past several weeks and maintaning focus for a little longer.
The Ekiden:
Ekiden is a long-distance road relay race that originated in Japan. The word “ekiden” comes from the Japanese words “eki,” meaning “station,” and “den,” meaning “leg.” The race typically consists of a series of legs of varying distances, which are run by different team members. Ekiden races are popular in Japan and are often held in conjunction with regional or national festivals. The most famous ekiden race is the Hakone Ekiden, which is held annually between Tokyo and Hakone and attracts top runners from around the world.
In an ekiden race, a team of runners completes a long-distance course by running a series of legs of varying distances. The race begins with a starting gun or signal, and the first runner takes off from the starting line. The first runner runs a designated leg of the course and then passes a “tasuki,” or sash, to the next runner at a designated exchange point. The second runner then takes off, running their designated leg of the course, and passes the tasuki to the next runner at the next exchange point, and so on. The race continues in this manner until all the legs have been completed and the final runner crosses the finish line. The team whose runners complete the course in the shortest time is declared the winner.
I think the Ekiden is a great example of resolutions mattering – not only does it take tremendous personal preparation, but you also have to be sure to help your team win and not let them down!
Phrase of the Day:
Here are a few Japanese phrases that are commonly used on New Year’s Day:
- “Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu” (あけましておめでとうございます): This phrase means “Happy New Year.”
- “Shinen ni oiwai shimasu” (新年にお祝いします): This phrase means “I celebrate the new year.”
- “Shinnen no akegata ni” (新年のあけがたに): This phrase means “On the morning of the new year.”
- “Nen mae yori yoroshiku onegaishimasu” (年前よりよろしくお願いします): This phrase means “I hope for your kind consideration in the coming year.”
- “Nen mae to onaji you ni” (年前と同じように): This phrase means “Just like last year.”