I’ve been a bad blogger for several weeks. Between my husband’s cancer treatments and my youngest child’s school and band schedule, life has been hectic! But now that it’s 2013, I’m raring to get a jump start on the new year. How about you, have you made any New Year’s Resolutions? Is this the year you’re going to get in the habit of a daily cleaning routine around the house and using your spare time to do one minute chores? Or maybe you’d rather focus on weekly housekeeping chores? Perhaps you’re ready to ditch the harsh chemical cleaners and learn to make your own homemade mixes to banish the grime? Or maybe you’re ready to learn how to get organized around the house, particularly those pesky documents you’ll need for tax season?
My resolutions involve some of these very things, too. Tell you what: I’ll share mine, if you’ll share yours!
Take Back My Time!
It’s no secret that I love cleaning routines. Sometimes, though, I make the mistake of sitting down to catch up on email, blog reading and Facebook before starting in on the day’s cleaning chart that I wind up having to rush around frantically to get it all done before picking my son up from school. Then, of course, comes the evening routine — homework, dinner, dishes, etc. — after which I collapse on the sofa to watch some mindless rerun on TV while seeing what I missed on Facebook throughout the day. By bedtime, I don’t feel like I truly accomplished anything well, and it’s a very unsatisfactory feeling. Then, as I try to fall asleep, my brain won’t stop churning over the things I’d wanted to do but never had time for because… why exactly? Oh, that’s right: I needed to share my friend’s picture of cute kitty with all of my other friends on Facebook. Wait, what??? Resolution: less screen time, more serene time.
Fight The Flab!
I’m just going to say it: I’m fat, and I’m not happy about it. Although the weight has been piling on slowly (Helloooooooo middle age!), it’s now reached the point where it’s starting to affect my energy levels as well as my joints, as well as my self-confidence. Much of it can be traced back to mindless eating in front of the TV or while at the computer, so my first resolution will no doubt help with my second one. The rest of it? Well, that’s going to take actual willpower on my part. Darn it. Resolution: eat less, and more wisely.
Expand my mind!
One thing I noticed shortly shortly after my husband’s diagnosis, as I spent night after night researching the latest brain cancer treatments or anti-cancer diets, the whole process of reading and research seemed foreign to me. That’s an odd thing for a retired attorney to say; I mean, my whole life used to be about research and learning! Stretching my mental muscles actually felt good (though I wish something less serious had prompted that) and I want to keep on learning new things. Resolution: feed my brain better books!
Remember to breathe!
So, yes, I’ve made three resolutions — four, if you count this one — and at first that seems like a lot. But what they ultimately boil down to is focusing more on being present in my own life: not letting a cleaning checklist or continually refreshing News Feed become the focus of my day, not stuffing food down my throat to silence my frustrations, and not focusing so much on the grimy and gritty that I miss out on the glory and giggles, too. Resolution: be good with good enough.
Oh, and there’s one other thing I’m going to resolve: I’ll blog here more often now that Christmas vacation is over!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Katie:
A very Merry belated Christmas and a not so late New Year wish to you and your family!
As for resolutions my big one is to not focus on the political animals who run this country. Too much of a downer and life is too short. I plan of helping out more at our local food bank and senior citizen center. There are so many people who are in need of help.
I remember those band schedules all too well. There were marching band, wind ensemble, jazz band and school band. Christmas season was jammed with activities both in and out of school that it felt as though hubby and I had to make an appointment to see each other, but I would not trade a day as the memories we have are phenomenal.
You husband remains in our prayers and I hope for the entire family that he is responding well to treatment.
Great to see you back!
Hi Sue!
I’m right there with you on feeling frustrated with politics and how much stress and stupidity it involves. The more we focus on our communities, the more good we KNOW we’re doing!
Thank you for praying for my husband. Every day with cancer is a scary ride, but we’re blessed that he’s currently having far many more good days than bad!
Best wishes for the New Year to you and your family!
Guess I should proofread. Second paragraph should read “I plan on”, not of.
It’s that age thing..lol.
LOL.
Dearest Katie,
Oh, the older we get the harder it is to get it all done! Time is really the issue. A PC is a great invention but it consumes a lot of time. For us it is extra hard as we live in different time zones from our relatives. They like to chat on the phone with us at their night time, after supper but that is ‘action’ time in the early afternoon for us. For our foster daughter it is even worse. She loves to talk during her lunch hour and that is midnight for us… But I learned to take it all with a grain of salt. Why plan everything exactly like a book? Life in-between will turn out different and we have to become flexible. Wish I had more time for walks and bike rides; really love to do that and also for not getting flabby… I’m not overweight at all but we need some exercise. I’m praying that this year I get all the photos scanned and digitalized. That would be reason for doing the happy dance! Wishing you and your family the very best and especially for your husband. A positive attitude is so important and let’s hope that prayers work too.
A tight hug and all the best for another ‘short’ year.
Mariette
Hello Mariette,
You’re so right about age slowing us down. When I was younger, I could accomplish so very much before sunset, then still stay up late dancing and talking with friends. Now? If I’m not out of bed by 7 am my day is shot, and it’s all I can do to stay awake as late as my youngest just so I can see him through his bedtime routine. I cannot imagine adding in time zone differences as you face when keeping in touch with friends, family and your foster daughter!
Yet your point is excellent: life isn’t all about checklists or planning things out. It’s an impromptu performance at times, and that’s where the beauty is.
My best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful New Year! Let’s hope it’s a good one for all of us. We could certainly use one, no?