New Year, New You

So here we are -- a few days into the new year. By now, everyone has pretty much decided on their resolutions for the new year, one way or another. Some choose to do them, others think they are silly. And some, myself included, try not to call them resolutions ... 

To me, "resolving" to fix an issue puts too much pressure on something. "By the end of this year, I will have fixed ..." --- it just sounds so ... harsh. Rigid. What happens if you haven't fixed the issue? Well, we all know. You get this sort of let-down feeling ... or you just don't care and continue the resolution over again. After putting the same list out there year after year without doing anything about it, it almost becomes sort of a joke, right? 

To me, the new year is a sign of a new beginning. And of course, like anyone else, there are things I'd like to do differently. Things I'd like to change, do more of, less of. But its not a problem to resolve, to fix ... instead its a goal to be set ... without an end date. Something indefinite. "Today is a new day -- and I'm going to START working towards a goal ..." but there's less mention of when that goal needs to be accomplished. 

At least in my book. 

And in my book, my goals have always been the same old tried and true failed goals. So this year, I decided it was time for something different. Time to focus on bigger aspects ... by doing smaller things. 

Focus on Self: 

     by living healthier. Getting back into the gym -- its somewhere I actually enjoy being, but found myself at less and less as the year was coming to an end. Eating better -- there's not diet plan, or strict "can eat/can't eat" routine ... but a concious effort to put more fruit and less chocolate in. 

     by spending more time doing the things I enjoy doing. Reading a good book. Painting my nails. Getting a haircut more than once a year. As moms, I think we all feel better when we take the time to do little things for ourselves. 

     by doing more for my family. Even though this seems to go against the goal of taking care of myself, when you think about it, really its doing exactly that. By spending time with the ones I love the most, doing things we enjoy the most, it gives that self satisfaction. Baking for my husband and his coworkers. Playing games with the kids. Taking pictures of them as they are having fun with Mom. All things I enjoy, and seeing their love and gratitude makes it that much better. 


Focus on the Little Things: 

     by cleaning the house a little each day. A clean house makes for a more organized, less chaotic mind frame for me. But sometimes, it gets away from us all -- and that always leaves me feeling out of control. A little each day helps keep the crazy away! 

     by paying attention to, and writing down, funny things the kids said or did each day. I'd love to have a  journal, when its all said and done, that I can look back on and remember how silly and loving and  enjoyable all the moments of their childhood were -- and not just how stressful certain stages might be. And eventually, how cool would it be to give to them as they got older? 

     by reading the 365 Day Love Dare. Although this one seems to have an end date in sight, I'm not going to get caught up in worrying if I missed reading a day. I'll just pick it up and give it my attention the next day. As long as it eventually gets finished. To be able to put my all into my marriage, and give all my love --  pure, unfiltered, complete love -- to all of my relationships. There's nothing better. 



So there it is -- vague goals with specific tasks to help accomplish them. But no end date in sight. Because really, aren't we all a work in progress? What's the use in end dates, anyways!? These goals are written down and posted at my work station in the kitchen -- the one place I spend most of my time coming and going from, therefore putting them right in front of my eyes. We'll touch back from time to time to see how they are going! 

Do you make goals or resolutions for yourself? 

What do you want to do differently in the new year?