TO YOUR HEALTH Auld Lang Syne

By Ronda Gates

This year, as 2022 blends, at midnight, into 2023, friends worldwide will abandon partying and gather to sing Auld Lang Syne. Most will mumble through the words—especially after the first verse, never knowing Auld Lang Syne (which translates into “for old times’ sake”) was never intended to be a holiday song. It was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns to encourage songsters to remember friends from our past—to not let them be forgotten. It wasn’t until fellow Scotsmen began singing it on Hogmanay, which is the Scots word for the last day of the year, that it became an expected tradition.

Today Auld Lang Syne evokes a sense of belonging and fellowship, tinged with a bit of nostalgia as we tap into thoughts, feelings, and memories of days when we seemed more connected to our lives. Within days we are sobered as we turn to practical matters. We pack the holiday lights and decorations that made the dark days of winter more bearable. We become more consciously aware of pledges, promises, and affirmations that can assure that connectedness worth striving for.

Regardless of the tact, we choose to take, there are a few guidelines that can support turning self-promises into realities. Yes, I admit; they are so important I repeat them often in LW NEW. Once again, the acronym S M A R T with a slightly different take. Goals need to be:

S=Specific:

A goal must be SPECIFIC so you can know you have achieved it. “I want to be healthy” is too vague. Instead state your goal in clear terms. For example: “I will park my car farther from the entrance to my office.” “I’ll avoid eating sweets after 5 p.m.”

M=Measurable:

How will you know when you have reached your goal? What will success look like? Without a map and milestones to assess progress, it’s not easy to know you are on track. A MEASURABLE goal might be, “Every day I will limit my calorie intake to no more than 1700 calories. Using my fitness tracker, I will also log at least 6000 steps a day. These efforts can achieve my goal to lose 20 pounds of fat by April 1, 2023. (Sorry, no sustainable quick fixes!)

A=Action-Oriented:

ACTIONS, like the measurable one above is required to move you toward your goal. That action plan should include three things you will start, stop or keep doing to reach that goal. For example, you might start connecting with one important person weekly or if meal management is a goal, stop going to the grocery store every day. Keep the habits you know can give you a feeling of connectedness to yourself and others. (A best friend to share your effort will help sustain both of you.)

R-Realistic:

Successful goals are REALISTIC and attainable. Regardless of the urgency it would be unrealistic to drive from Mesa to New York in two days. Put your goal in the framework of personal responsibilities you must maintain. Consider the resources and barriers relative to your commitment. For example, knowing it’s smart to prepare your body for activity, make time to stretch or warm up before that golf or tennis game. If you have a health-oriented goal, consider visiting your favorite motivating internet health site for tips to further empower your commitment.

T-Timely:

Any “lifestyle” change requires dedication. Successful goal achievement doesn’t happen overnight. So, assure yourself this is a good time to make a change. Will you have the time to make the effort to make your dream a reality? If a goal is not timely this part of SMART might be a benchmark for re-evaluation.

Your time is now. Your sense of where you belong in the world—your connectedness to the value of your life—is assured when you choose to live a life of healthrelated value. If you haven’t created your own wish/ bucket list to step into the management of your goals, what are you waiting for? It doesn’t have to launch on January 1 or 15th. New beginnings can take shape any time of year. This is a proactive way to practice Auld Lang Syne. Regardless of when you choose to launch your new way of life, you will discover that when they are fulfilled, the planning was more than half the fun.

Today Auld Lang Syne evokes a sense of belonging, of fellowship, tinged with a bit of nostalgia as we tap into thoughts, feelings, and memories of days when we seemed more connected to our lives.

Meantime we wish you:

A year of Health and Happiness

A year of Wealth and Wisdom

A year of Peace and Prosperity

A year of Glee and Glow

And a year of Love and Laughter

Ronda Gates, MS is a Leisure World resident who has an eclectic education in the fields of pharmacy, nutrition, fitness and counseling. One of her many hobbies includes ferreting fact from fiction when it comes to health-related news.