| Are you like the millions of Americans who, year after | | | | to your parents or your children and to say "yes" to |
| year, make New Year's resolutions that they don't | | | | yourself. |
| keep? Have you made a vow to lose 25 pounds, | | | | 4. Take care of yourself - your body, your mind and |
| exercise four times a week or save monthly for your | | | | your spirit - through exercise, proper food, rest and |
| retirement? Noble goals - but do you keep them past | | | | relaxation. Set aside quiet time for yourself and do |
| the end of January? More crucial than setting broad | | | | whatever pleases you - garden, listen to music, soak in |
| goals is setting achievable ones and then putting them | | | | the bathtub. |
| into practice. | | | | 5. Bring gratitude into the forefront of your daily routine |
| Baby Boomers in the Sandwich Generation are | | | | by acknowledging your blessings. Make a detailed note, |
| especially stressed by the responsibilities they face | | | | each evening, of three positive experiences of the day. |
| from both their growing children and aging parents. | | | | As you do, appreciate what you have to be thankful |
| Miranda feels physically and emotionally exhausted as | | | | for: the connection to friends and family, the meaning |
| the year draws to a close and vows to make some | | | | that comes from being needed, the fullness of your life. |
| changes in the New Year. "I love my parents dearly | | | | 6. Reach out to your friends for social support. When |
| and want to help them out as much as I can but I need | | | | you are at a low point is the time to receive rather |
| to be there for my kids too. Impossible as it may | | | | than give. You have been there for close friends when |
| sound, the only way to do both is to set aside some | | | | they needed you in the past; now let them take a turn |
| time for me too. I know that I'm absolutely no good to | | | | at comforting you. |
| anyone if I don't take care of myself." | | | | 7. Find something to be joyful about each day. |
| Like Miranda, you can set some goals for yourself as | | | | Laughter is, in fact, a potent medicine and much easier |
| you look forward to the New Year. Here are 9 tips for | | | | to swallow than a handful of pills. Surround yourself |
| making and implementing meaningful resolutions that will | | | | with people who approach life with a positive attitude. |
| help you deal with the pressures of the Sandwiched | | | | Let your creativity flourish as you engage it. |
| years: | | | | 8. Draw upon your strengths - both personal and |
| 1. Use part of the Serenity Prayer as your new | | | | spiritual - as you put one foot in front of the other and |
| mantra. Make an effort to "have the serenity to | | | | do what you have to do each day. You know best |
| accept the things I cannot change, the courage to | | | | what sustains you in difficult times - love, duty, loyalty, |
| change the things I can and the wisdom to know the | | | | faith, hope, compassion, bravery, forgiveness. |
| difference." To remember the phrase, write it down | | | | 9. Create boundaries to protect yourself. Don't beat |
| and leave it where you can see it - on your night table, | | | | yourself up for the mistakes you make - learn from |
| the refrigerator, the front seat in your car, your desk at | | | | them. Rather than give up, allow yourself the |
| work. | | | | opportunity to regroup and try something else. Keep in |
| 2. Recognize that you don't have to do it all alone. | | | | mind that you are human and not all knowing. You |
| Decide to get help when you need it from other family | | | | deserve another chance. |
| members. Be firm about asking your siblings to lend a | | | | Remember that this stage of your life, as are all |
| hand with your parents; clarify your partner's | | | | others, is a process of inevitable movement. One day |
| responsibilities in caring for the children. The Internet | | | | your children will be grown and your parents will be |
| can be useful in identifying local community resources | | | | gone. What you will have then are the memories you |
| that are available to you. | | | | have collected today. Resolve to take care of yourself |
| 3. Set limits. Paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln, you don't | | | | this New Year so that they will be ones you can |
| have to please all of the people in your family all of the | | | | cherish. |
| time. Trust yourself to know when it is ok to say "no" | | | | |