There's nothing as seductive as a clean slate. Its blankness boldly offers a fresh start. Flashes a ticket to the brand new you. But why do ticket-holders, sweaty with resolve, go soft so soon? Why do sweet promises have no more grip than worn out Velcro? One piece of the puzzle involves a change in perspective. A need to revise the idea of resolutions to include working out your brain along with your body! Janine Gauthier, a clinical psychologist PhD with Rush University Medical Center's social oncology unit, and Beth Zoeller, a personal trainer and the "possibilities coach" at Mather's "More Than a Café" are straight talking on the topic. They believe successful change begins by bending minds not just exercising torsos. British neurologist Oliver Sacks would agree. In a recent New York Times article, Sacks, who knows more than a little bit about the brain's wiring, urged people to consider changing their minds, instead of going on their habitual rants, aimed only at changing behaviors. "The cerebral cortex which is central to cognitive power... as well as sensory and motor functions-can be to a remarkable extent, rewired as we grow older." The brain has "mysterious and extraordinary power to learn, adapt and grow... to learn to do things in new ways." "But," Gauthier warns, "people have to set 'smart goals'- which means specifics-- like a successful recipe, resolutions require very specific, measurable ingredients," adding "it's critical that the specific goals also be realistic. It's not just 'I'm going to get in shape' but 'I'm going to run a 5K'." The possibilities coach also says, "Keep a lid on your enthusiasm. Start off slowly- the higher the goal, the sooner you're going to get discouraged." And for Zoeller, the time factor is critical. "It takes time for resolutions to become habits - people don't allow enough time for goals to become a habit-breaking a habit is hard and making it is hard - but once it's in your repertoire, it's a lifestyle." Backing this up, Gauthier adds some numbers. "Only 40-45% of Americans keep resolutions. It takes a solid three weeks to really reformulate a habit-if people can get through January and still have the same resolve, they have a better chance of that behavior sticking." One burden Gauthier urges people to leave behind-- that album of false pictures they drag along. "The ideal goal that we have in our mind is often at odds with the truth of who we are- and when we fail, that confirms the belief that we're never going to get there. To block this response Gauthier urges people to "fail forward." Give yourself a chance to be successful with small successes. Rub out the idea that not doing it perfectly is the same as failure. "If you're making the attempt, you're at least failing in a positive direction and the more you engage in that behavior, the more skilled you get at it." Like Wayne Gretzky's coach, Gauthier believes, "You lose 100% of the shots that you don't take - we have a greater chance of being successful when we take a shot, than if we don't take one at all." But taking a toolkit on your resolution journey is essential. In Zoeller's kit she'd pack some handy guidelines. "Plan ahead for the hard days; make your resolution known to people who have your back; be clear on why you're doing this; find a committed buddy; and reward yourself whenever you make it past a signpost." Both advisers bring good news for the older population, encouraging words to tuck in your back pocket. Gauthier says, "(Seniors) are asking what's going to bring quality to my life - meaning and purpose - maybe a college degree they've always wanted to get." And even though there's no data on who does best, Gauthier's gut impression is that practice makes people better, if not perfect. "Older adults may be more likely to be successful because, in their lifetime, they've had more opportunities to face challenges and get beyond them." Zoeller also casts her vote in the direction of oldsters. "Things that matter so much when you were younger, don't have the same level of importance- the 50 and better group change for the right reasons-their health depends on it, not how they're going to look-they've seen the effects of problems that have plagued them-prevented them from being a part of life." Village Voices Speak Up on Resolutions
Six years ago, Bob Stephens a retired attorney and practical sort of guy, with an intense appetite for food and all the spices of life, not only made but, refreshingly, kept his resolution. "The year that worked for me was when I joined Weight-Watchers - social pressure or, reinforcement, works well for me. People in my office recruited me-you get support and a little friendly competition going, especially with lawyers. The key thing for me was reinforcement through some system." Though Stephens allows that competition isn't for everyone, he was an impressive loser. "I lost 33-pounds within six to eight months and pretty much kept it off-it was enough for me to win me a gold star or, lifetime membership at weight Watchers - even though I was getting older, I was getting healthier. In a quest for a rich and varied life post retirement, Bob has gone on to make more ambitious resolutions. Along with his wife, Melaine, both committed volunteers and members of Lincoln Park Village - they've now pledged themselves to a new goal: establishing a group within the Village, to help people who are outside of the network. Bobbe Wolf and Hugh Brodkey have been great world travelers, but realized it was hard to keep up with the sights and sounds of Chicago when they're out of the country. "Now that we're mostly retired (with each of us involved in volunteer work) we have resolved to take Fridays off and we usually adhere to our 'no appointments or meetings' commitment on this one day of the week." "Last week, for example, the two of us made a date to go to the Art Institute to see two exhibits that we had not had time to see which were closing. And, while we were there, we popped into galleries, which we knew nothing about." "We have taken a Friday to drive out to Plano, Illinois to visit Mies Van der Rohe's Farnsworth House. There is a terrific tour and is well worth the drive. Two years ago we went to the Milwaukee Art Museum after the building's spectacular renovation. Afterwards we investigated a couple of Frank Lloyd Wright sites and ate lunch at a charming restaurant in a "new" neighborhood. Some time we would like to return to sightsee in Milwaukee on the train." "Some Fridays we simply try a new restaurant in Chicago that is open for lunch, catch a movie at an odd time or explore a new neighborhood. And, this week we're planning to go to our Grandson's basketball games." "This resolution not only takes us away from our phone and computers, it also frees us to actually play and enjoy this time of life with new and spontaneous activities that 'break the mold.'" In late in 2010, Carolyn Johnson (grant writer, grandmother and Lincoln Park Village volunteer) resolved to create a win-win opportunity, by recruiting a few neighbors to join her in her recently found passion - synchronized swimming! "But, of course, it was Lincoln Park Village that made it happen! I needed to get my butt in gear and they spurred me on!" "A conversation with Judith Spock on the pursuit of exercise clued me into her love of the water. So now we carpool out to Wright College, where we flip and turn, porpoise and barracuda, dive, scull, float, raft and chain ourselves together! All to a swinging beat, over and under the water. It's the most compelling excuse for exercise I can imagine and must be good for those pathways!" "It's never too late to earn your water wings and no one knows when its time to quit! The oldest member of our class is 91 and she's still right in the swim of things. Give me a call if you're curious: 773.348.2017" And finally, what resolutions does the Village have for the coming year? Village Board President Ruth Ann Watkins has two: "I resolve to daily pay more appreciative attention to the multiple and varied aspects that make Lincoln Park Village community a very special place. Second, I resolve to tell at least 200 people about Lincoln Park Village before the end of the year 2011 and follow-up with 20 of them throughout the year." With all this commitment, 2011 is sure to be a year of growth for us all! | 
Sunday, January 16,
Tuesday, February 8, 6:30 PM
