Thursday, December 31, 2020
New Year’s Resolutions Call for Positivity, Fresh Perspective in Olympic Year
No doubt 2020 has been more challenging than anyone expected at the conclusion of 2019.
But as 2021 approaches, people across the globe are making resolutions for optimistic change in the new year – and USA swimmers and coaches are no exceptions.
Some prefer not to make resolutions but set goals. Others have already written their resolutions down – making them real – so they have something to remind them each day of what they want to accomplish in 2021.
With Olympic Trials and the Olympics happening this year, there is a lot of opportunity for optimism.
Read for yourself!
Garrett Weber-Gale
“I’ve never really been into New Year’s resolutions, but I’m consistently working to stay more organized in my life.”
Abbey Weitzeil
“One of my New Year’s resolutions is to write things down more. Goals, things I want to work on, things I appreciate, etc. Writing things down consolidates them, and I would love to hop on the trend and try it out!”
Bob Bowman
“I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I’m a pretty goal-oriented person, and the quadrennial calendar guides most of my activities. Having said that, starting fresh can be powerful so good luck to all who are trying something new!”
Michael Andrew
“I’ve never really been a big New Year’s resolution person. I often have new goals and things I’m working towards I just don’t wait until the New Year to implement them. For me, this season what I’m wanting to change the most and become better at is being routine. I love having a good routine that sets me up for success, but it's hard to always stick to a routine because life is filled with distractions. Especially when I live just steps from some of the best surf in the country. So this year is for being disciplined and sticking to routines that have been created.”
Peter Vanderkaay
“I typically don't make New Year's resolutions because I feel like it implies a temporary change of habits for the year. I've really tried to focus on making long-term, meaningful changes to make gains in my personal health, both mental and physical, as well as find ways to always improve relationships with those I care about in my life. I'm always trying to find ways to get better and learn.”
Torri Huske
“My New Year’s resolution is to be more positive. This applies to all aspects of my life. I think that sometimes it is easy to let negative thoughts cloud your mind and keep you from enjoying yourself. I’m hoping that in 2021 I can change my outlook by staying more optimistic.”
Jessica (Hardy) Meichtry
“I have let my diet and exercise routines slip while struggling with health issues in the more recent months. It’s my goal to hop back on board with focusing on my health, as well as ‘being present’ more in 2021. Swimming taught me to multitask better than anyone I’ve since met in the ‘real world,’ but that sometimes causes me to take on more than I need to in life. I plan on focusing on being present, and putting an emphasis on enjoying what I’m doing in each moment.”
Megan (Quann) Jendrick
“I'm the Parks, Recreation and Aquatics Director for a smaller city (Fife, Wash.), but we have so many programs and services that benefit not just our citizens, but quite a number of communities around us. Because just about all of our programs have been shut down this year, it has put a lot of families in an even tougher spot than what they were already dealing with given everything else going on in the world today. So my resolution in the New Year is to get back to serving the people in our area, full force, as quickly as possible!”
Jeremy Linn
“My resolution is to project my positivity more consistently and profoundly.”
Townley Haas
“My New Year's resolution is to be more active about improving my starts and turns. Hopefully, I will also have time to work on my golf game and become a better golfer.”
Lia Neal
“My New Year’s resolution is to read more.”
Zane Grothe
“My New Year's resolution will be to start taking better care of myself. This will include getting more sleep, better stretching and being diligent with good nutrition. I can train like nobody's business, but the recovery part has always been a struggle for me.”
Regan Smith
“My New Year’s resolution is to use my phone less. My daily screen time has been off the charts lately, and I’d like to spend more time away from my phone. I find myself happier and less stressed when I’m not glued to my phone and social media.”
Kristy Kowal
“My New Year’s resolution is to learn a new song on my guitar and ukulele every week.”
Eric Knowles
“My resolution for 2021 is to have no regrets by the time the Olympic Trials roll around in June.”
Tom Luchsinger
“Get back in the water! For obvious reasons, I've only been able to swim a few times in 2020. I miss it every day!”
Melanie Margalis
“My New Year’s resolution for 2021 is to find the light in the darkness and uncertainty.”
Cody Miller
“I’ve never been very big on New Year’s resolutions. I’m a person who constantly lays out a timeline, sets objective benchmarks and then works toward goals. The time of the year is irrelevant. But I do understand how, for some people, New Year’s resolutions can be a powerful thing. It often times allows people a ‘mental fresh start’ which can be fantastic. I guess I’d answer the question by saying I want 2021 to be a more positive experience for everyone. And my goal is try and facilitate that for my friends, family and followers. I think it boils down to kindness, compassion and understanding our fellow humans. 2020 was a very divisive ugly year, for many reasons, and my hope is that we can turn the corner as a society and 1) be a little nicer to one another, 2) lift people up, not tear them down and 3) be extremely thankful for what we have.”
Ella Eastin
“I don't usually make New Year's resolutions because I think that putting new habits and routines into practice should happen throughout the year. I do, though, want to take what I have learned in 2020 and use it to make decisions and changes with a new, fresh perspective in mind. I am not sure what this upcoming year will hold, but I know it will be different from the last. And for that I am excited.”
Mike Barrowman
“I've never been big on New Year's resolutions. But if anything, I do resolve to take a little pressure off at work. I think that swimmers in general always want to do the best possible job in whatever they do. For me, heading up a crisis management structure at a global company during COVID, there were too many 'all-nighters,’ too many impossible challenges which I put 100 percent effort into. For my health and sanity, I need to live and enjoy life outside of that bubble, and thus that will be my resolution.”
Emma Weyant
“My New Year's resolution for 2021 is to try and focus on all the little details that I can and try to be the best I can be in and out of the water.”
Lenny Krayzelburg
“No matter to life throws my way, wake up every day being grateful and live with a purpose.”
Elizabeth Beisel
“My New Year's resolution this year is to start swimming a couple times a week. In the summer I was swimming nearly every day but the ocean is far too cold now, so I'm hoping Chuck Batchelor (my club coach) will let me drop in here and there.”
But as 2021 approaches, people across the globe are making resolutions for optimistic change in the new year – and USA swimmers and coaches are no exceptions.
Some prefer not to make resolutions but set goals. Others have already written their resolutions down – making them real – so they have something to remind them each day of what they want to accomplish in 2021.
With Olympic Trials and the Olympics happening this year, there is a lot of opportunity for optimism.
Read for yourself!
Garrett Weber-Gale
“I’ve never really been into New Year’s resolutions, but I’m consistently working to stay more organized in my life.”
Abbey Weitzeil
“One of my New Year’s resolutions is to write things down more. Goals, things I want to work on, things I appreciate, etc. Writing things down consolidates them, and I would love to hop on the trend and try it out!”
Bob Bowman
“I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I’m a pretty goal-oriented person, and the quadrennial calendar guides most of my activities. Having said that, starting fresh can be powerful so good luck to all who are trying something new!”
Michael Andrew
“I’ve never really been a big New Year’s resolution person. I often have new goals and things I’m working towards I just don’t wait until the New Year to implement them. For me, this season what I’m wanting to change the most and become better at is being routine. I love having a good routine that sets me up for success, but it's hard to always stick to a routine because life is filled with distractions. Especially when I live just steps from some of the best surf in the country. So this year is for being disciplined and sticking to routines that have been created.”
Peter Vanderkaay
“I typically don't make New Year's resolutions because I feel like it implies a temporary change of habits for the year. I've really tried to focus on making long-term, meaningful changes to make gains in my personal health, both mental and physical, as well as find ways to always improve relationships with those I care about in my life. I'm always trying to find ways to get better and learn.”
Torri Huske
“My New Year’s resolution is to be more positive. This applies to all aspects of my life. I think that sometimes it is easy to let negative thoughts cloud your mind and keep you from enjoying yourself. I’m hoping that in 2021 I can change my outlook by staying more optimistic.”
Jessica (Hardy) Meichtry
“I have let my diet and exercise routines slip while struggling with health issues in the more recent months. It’s my goal to hop back on board with focusing on my health, as well as ‘being present’ more in 2021. Swimming taught me to multitask better than anyone I’ve since met in the ‘real world,’ but that sometimes causes me to take on more than I need to in life. I plan on focusing on being present, and putting an emphasis on enjoying what I’m doing in each moment.”
Megan (Quann) Jendrick
“I'm the Parks, Recreation and Aquatics Director for a smaller city (Fife, Wash.), but we have so many programs and services that benefit not just our citizens, but quite a number of communities around us. Because just about all of our programs have been shut down this year, it has put a lot of families in an even tougher spot than what they were already dealing with given everything else going on in the world today. So my resolution in the New Year is to get back to serving the people in our area, full force, as quickly as possible!”
Jeremy Linn
“My resolution is to project my positivity more consistently and profoundly.”
Townley Haas
“My New Year's resolution is to be more active about improving my starts and turns. Hopefully, I will also have time to work on my golf game and become a better golfer.”
Lia Neal
“My New Year’s resolution is to read more.”
Zane Grothe
“My New Year's resolution will be to start taking better care of myself. This will include getting more sleep, better stretching and being diligent with good nutrition. I can train like nobody's business, but the recovery part has always been a struggle for me.”
Regan Smith
“My New Year’s resolution is to use my phone less. My daily screen time has been off the charts lately, and I’d like to spend more time away from my phone. I find myself happier and less stressed when I’m not glued to my phone and social media.”
Kristy Kowal
“My New Year’s resolution is to learn a new song on my guitar and ukulele every week.”
Eric Knowles
“My resolution for 2021 is to have no regrets by the time the Olympic Trials roll around in June.”
Tom Luchsinger
“Get back in the water! For obvious reasons, I've only been able to swim a few times in 2020. I miss it every day!”
Melanie Margalis
“My New Year’s resolution for 2021 is to find the light in the darkness and uncertainty.”
Cody Miller
“I’ve never been very big on New Year’s resolutions. I’m a person who constantly lays out a timeline, sets objective benchmarks and then works toward goals. The time of the year is irrelevant. But I do understand how, for some people, New Year’s resolutions can be a powerful thing. It often times allows people a ‘mental fresh start’ which can be fantastic. I guess I’d answer the question by saying I want 2021 to be a more positive experience for everyone. And my goal is try and facilitate that for my friends, family and followers. I think it boils down to kindness, compassion and understanding our fellow humans. 2020 was a very divisive ugly year, for many reasons, and my hope is that we can turn the corner as a society and 1) be a little nicer to one another, 2) lift people up, not tear them down and 3) be extremely thankful for what we have.”
Ella Eastin
“I don't usually make New Year's resolutions because I think that putting new habits and routines into practice should happen throughout the year. I do, though, want to take what I have learned in 2020 and use it to make decisions and changes with a new, fresh perspective in mind. I am not sure what this upcoming year will hold, but I know it will be different from the last. And for that I am excited.”
Mike Barrowman
“I've never been big on New Year's resolutions. But if anything, I do resolve to take a little pressure off at work. I think that swimmers in general always want to do the best possible job in whatever they do. For me, heading up a crisis management structure at a global company during COVID, there were too many 'all-nighters,’ too many impossible challenges which I put 100 percent effort into. For my health and sanity, I need to live and enjoy life outside of that bubble, and thus that will be my resolution.”
Emma Weyant
“My New Year's resolution for 2021 is to try and focus on all the little details that I can and try to be the best I can be in and out of the water.”
Lenny Krayzelburg
“No matter to life throws my way, wake up every day being grateful and live with a purpose.”
Elizabeth Beisel
“My New Year's resolution this year is to start swimming a couple times a week. In the summer I was swimming nearly every day but the ocean is far too cold now, so I'm hoping Chuck Batchelor (my club coach) will let me drop in here and there.”