Food Reflections: New Years Goals Vs. Resolutions

It’s been a tough year for me.  I’ll be honest – I don’t ordinarily give too much consideration to New Years resolutions. I think they’re silly. And after listening to this podcast by Podcast Answer Man, I feel even more strongly about resolutions. Why resolve to do something when you can just pick yourself up by your bootstraps and do it? I’ve always been a big believer that if you want something bad enough, you’ll make it happen (class or social privilege aside). Waiting for some arbitrary date to motivate you isn’t enough – hence the reason why resolutions so often fail. If you’re serious, you make change happen now. You live intentionally. You DO, not resolve to do.

This year though, I’m making goals. Well laid plans that will lead me to real change. Why now? Because it just so happens that I’ve hit my proverbial brick wall this month. So these goals, while they fall at the end of the year, aren’t necessarily New Years goals per say… They’re just goals. Goals that happen to fall at the end of one calendar year and the beginning of another.

Specifically, I’m aiming to eat more real food. Since living in Toronto I’ve really slacked off in the nourishing food department. I don’t cook as much as I used to, I don’t source or forage for the food that inspires me and as a result, I feel less good. Processed food does not a happy Kristy make.

I guess a lot of it has to do with not being able to get my paws on real, local AND organic food. I’ve talked about this on a few occasions – the lack of locally organic food in the region. Part of it has to do with my overall wellness barometer. And of course, time is always a factor. If I have to spend an entire day running from one end of the city to the other on public transit (which is often out of service) to source my weekly groceries, it just ain’t gonna happen; Not now that I live in a city where it can easily take 2 and a half hours from end to end. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

So right, goals. My goals go as follows:

1. To source one ingredient, on a weekly basis, that is entirely seasonal, organic and local. If it’s meat or dairy, pastured or sustainably wild caught as well.

2. To blog about it (and podcast! stay tuned!). This includes finding it, preparing it, cooking it and ultimately….. eating it (the best part).

3. To breathe more. I’ve literally scheduled this into my iCal so I can literally make space to breathe and be still. I don’t do that enough these days.

4. Canning. More canning. And preserving. This way I can pick up a crap ton of whatever I find and have reserves of it on hand for when I need it in the future, saving me the dreaded 7 hour trip across town.

5. ….I feel like I should have a fifth one to round everything out nicely but I can’t think of one! At least nothing food related. Can I make a goal to make Joseph Gordon Levitt my boyfriend? Is that too creepy?

I really feel like I need to re-connect with myself this way (food, not Joseph) and the people who produce my food. I know, right? It’s like, “whatever, it’s just food”. But as with any politic, food ways are so intimately tied to how I engage with the world, they’re a part of me. A part of me I feel like I’ve lost in the last 12 months. And something that I miss desperately. Plus, real food just tastes fucking amazing. Why wouldn’t I want to put more of that in my mouth?

Oh yeah, and happy Christmas everybody. I hope your Christmas day was incredible and filled with joy, laughter and good company. Be good to each other. Drink lots of rum. Be merry.

Do you make New Years resolutions or goals? What are they? Suggestions for my number 5?