N.E.W. S.T.A.R.T.–Conclusion

We have come to the closing article of our “NEW START” series, and at the same time we are coming to the close of another year. The time of year joyfully known as the holiday season. A season of family gatherings and holiday banquets that showcase our favorite dishes and desserts. With all the upheaval of normalcy we’ve experienced this year due to the Covid crisis, the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners will be an indulgence many are looking forward to.

That being the case this may not be the best moment for everyone to begin every aspect of “NEW START” because of the level of enticement present at these festivities to invite us to inconsistency.

Though the best time to do something better for our health is always now, and there may be some with the willpower to resist such strong temptations, experience has taught me that many will find the struggle overpowering when confronted face to face with their favorite pie, or beckoned to come and kiss their favorite cake. Especially in these environments of family, friends, and fun.

However immediately following this season of celebration is the “New Year.” A time well known for its resolutions to make some type of new start. Many resolve to eat better, while many others resolve to become more active, and still others resolve to have more self control. But wouldn’t it be a wonderful experiment if a group of us would resolve to implement all eight principles contained in the NEW START acronym?

Even if we decide to wait until after the holiday season to implement strict changes in our diet, we can right now set our mind and resolve to apply all eight of these NEW START principles at the top of the year. Beyond that we can begin even now to implement some of theses principles as a way of preparation for what’s to come.

We can begin to add more fruits and vegetables to our diet now, even before we take on the full challenge of restricting our eating habits. We can become more active now, even before we commit to a more vigorous exercise commitment in January.

We can be mindful at this moment to drink more water, and to spend a little more time outside in the sunshine and open air. We can even now begin to practice having smaller portions of those things we feel are not for our best benefit in preparation for the more rigid practice ahead of us.

We can attempt to give ourselves more rest presently as we restructure our lifestyle to consistently have the needed time for rest after the new year. Most importantly, we can not afford to wait to exercise trust in God. This is the one principle we must make every effort to grab full hold of now, because it is His grace that will allow us to find sufficient power to successfully make a “NEW START.”