Every year I make resolutions. Most years I can make it about 4 months into the year before I throw in the towel. They are your standard variety resolutions such as lose weight, stop biting my nails, grow my hair long, etc etc.
I set myself 2 goals for the New Year. One seemingly simple and the other which will take practice and balance. First, I set in my mind I would get our Christmas tree down on the 1st, (sigh) there it stands accusingly this morning while I write and drink my coffee. So, it's lights will shine one more day before I "brow beat" my kids into helping me get all the lights and ornaments back into their boxes.
My second resolution was prompted in part by all the hype regarding 2012. I'm in the camp of no one knows..did the Mayans even predict their own demise? It does however get me thinking about life and how we face it from day to day. Not a single one of us knows how much time we have left on this planet. My Resolution you ask? To live like this is my last year on the planet. I'll be asking myself: Do I really want to do this...say this... watch this..live this etc. We should live like everyday its our last/ we don't really know how many sands are in our hour glass.
I realize this is rather nebulous and might be a hard one to pin down. I mean let's get real here. I'm a mom. If you are doing your job right as a mother, then there are lots of things in the day we HAVE to do...or one might not be able to make their way through the house for all the laundry and clutter which would inevitably pile up. Learning the art of "No" is the first step. Realise you are only one person and while you may be a giver or helper, there are so many hours in a day and when you over extend yourself year after year you deplete your reserves until you are running on fumes. This isn't healthy for your body, spirit or emotions. I've really practiced this "No" in the last year. Over time people realize you are a person with boundaries, and it gets easier to weed out unimportant things in your life and create a workable schedule.
Secondly, many of us as parents spend so much time focused on our family and their well being we forget or neglect to feed our own spirits. A healthy family needs healthy caregivers. What do you LOVE to do? Is it knit but those needles are collecting dust in a basket somewhere? Do you love to hike, sing, travel...whatever it is eek out time every month. I know the excuses...I don't have time...I don't have the money etc etc. Set your sights on attainable goals. While you may not have the money for a trip to Europe, maybe you have time to visit something within a days drive. I can think of several places within driving distance I haven't made time to see. A quick internet search and that number doubles. Take a picnic and enjoy the beauty around you. Recharge those batteries! Say "YES" to you.
I would love to hear what changes you are making throughout this year to take care of yourself. Feel free to post the challenges and successes! Happy New Year!
I set myself 2 goals for the New Year. One seemingly simple and the other which will take practice and balance. First, I set in my mind I would get our Christmas tree down on the 1st, (sigh) there it stands accusingly this morning while I write and drink my coffee. So, it's lights will shine one more day before I "brow beat" my kids into helping me get all the lights and ornaments back into their boxes.
My second resolution was prompted in part by all the hype regarding 2012. I'm in the camp of no one knows..did the Mayans even predict their own demise? It does however get me thinking about life and how we face it from day to day. Not a single one of us knows how much time we have left on this planet. My Resolution you ask? To live like this is my last year on the planet. I'll be asking myself: Do I really want to do this...say this... watch this..live this etc. We should live like everyday its our last/ we don't really know how many sands are in our hour glass.
I realize this is rather nebulous and might be a hard one to pin down. I mean let's get real here. I'm a mom. If you are doing your job right as a mother, then there are lots of things in the day we HAVE to do...or one might not be able to make their way through the house for all the laundry and clutter which would inevitably pile up. Learning the art of "No" is the first step. Realise you are only one person and while you may be a giver or helper, there are so many hours in a day and when you over extend yourself year after year you deplete your reserves until you are running on fumes. This isn't healthy for your body, spirit or emotions. I've really practiced this "No" in the last year. Over time people realize you are a person with boundaries, and it gets easier to weed out unimportant things in your life and create a workable schedule.
Secondly, many of us as parents spend so much time focused on our family and their well being we forget or neglect to feed our own spirits. A healthy family needs healthy caregivers. What do you LOVE to do? Is it knit but those needles are collecting dust in a basket somewhere? Do you love to hike, sing, travel...whatever it is eek out time every month. I know the excuses...I don't have time...I don't have the money etc etc. Set your sights on attainable goals. While you may not have the money for a trip to Europe, maybe you have time to visit something within a days drive. I can think of several places within driving distance I haven't made time to see. A quick internet search and that number doubles. Take a picnic and enjoy the beauty around you. Recharge those batteries! Say "YES" to you.
I would love to hear what changes you are making throughout this year to take care of yourself. Feel free to post the challenges and successes! Happy New Year!
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