Resolutions in Recovery

For most of my life, I was never keen or enthusiastic about making New Year’s Resolutions. I might jokingly declare I would do “one good deed a day” or broadly proclaim I’d get healthier in some vague nutritional or fitness endeavor – without any real measurable results or plan for sustainability.

The past few years, however, my attitude has changed. On the other side of 40 years old equipped with a better appreciation of time, and combined with a renewed sense of purpose in sobriety, I’ve been consistent in setting both New Year’s Resolutions and numerous personal and professional goals.

I have a daily/weekly task list I track with mostly short-term goals – including everything from “buy groceries” and ”fold clothes” to “schedule meeting” to “follow up with Bob.” A running list helps me keep on top of life.  

More importantly, I’m also setting more substantial long-term goals and working hard to achieve them. There’s some meat behind the efforts, too.

I created my first resolution list in late 2023 (for 2024):

1. Stay sober

2. Work on the 12 steps of AA

3. Work out five times a week

4. Lose 10 pounds of fat

5. Make sober friends

6. Rekindle relationships with old friends

2024 results? Six for six!

• I’m still (gratefully) sober.

• I made it through the 12 steps – a vital shot of adrenaline to my underlying sense of character.

• I expanded my workout regime to six days a week and religiously adhere to my fitness program – only missing more than one day on two occasions (after surgery and after a case of norovirus).

• I lost about 30 lbs. of fat within a year of sobriety.

• Some of my new best friends are pals I’ve met through AA and other recovery avenues.

• I have rekindled relationships with some of my oldest and dearest friends via regular coffees, lunches, get-togethers and other activities.

Here are the goals I set in late 2024 (for 2025):

1. Get my book published and launch a marketing and PR campaign to support it.

2. Reengage in Tae Kwon Doe (or some form of martial arts) at least 1x per week; get my oldest daughter enrolled, too.

3. Support extracurricular activities for all children.

4. Work 12th step – act as trusted servant at home meeting, speak to patients at treatment facilities, meet and mentor newly sober.

5. Meet with financial expert/mentor to boost finances.

2025 results? Five for five!

• My book is out (and it garnered some positive attention and purchases).

• My oldest daughter and I began a Tae Kwon Doe/Hapkido/Kick Boxing twice a week in May 2025. She earned her first belt promotion. I’ve regained most of the skill, flexibility and knowledge I possessed since I completely quit practicing marital arts about 10 years ago.

• My oldest has found her niche in martial arts, has become a talented pianist and loves to swim. My second daughter began her journey on organized team sports and was regularly and somewhat unexpectedly scoring goals during soccer season – basketball began a few weeks ago and t-ball is scheduled for spring. My youngest boy is only 3.5, so he is mostly working on not being a complete shithead. (He did participate in a preschool concert in Dec. and didn’t run off stage to sit in his mother’s lap, which is a start.)

• I’ve rigorously engaged in 12^th step work (giving back, volunteering). I speak regularly at recovery centers – including Hazelden Betty Ford, Eosis’ Beauterre Recovery Institute and twelve step groups. I’ve been the trusted servant at two AA groups this year.

• My finances continue to improve – credit score continues to climb, debt free and boosted savings.

That’s two years at a 100 percent clip. I want to keep the action rolling. So, without further ado, here are my goals for 2026:

1. Earn my second degree blackbelt and test into our new martial arts school (as a teacher/instructor).

2. Expand my book’s message of hope, recovery and finding purpose/meaning by seeking new speaking engagements beyond the recovery community to a variety of professional groups and organizations.

3. Work on my spiritual health – continue to explore a relationship with my higher power and stay engaged at our community church.

4. Move to a new house – we’ve outgrown our 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom home.

5. Maintain several goals/resolutions from previous years – fitness regime, book promo, 12^th step work, support children, nutrition, finances, etc.

None of these goals should be too far out of reach, yet nothing is possible without time and effort. Here’s to growth and sustained success in 2026. Happy New Year!