Have you created your New Year’s Resolutions? I did. My list was alarmingly similar to the one I made last year. And the year before that. Let’s see how my progress is so far. 5 stars is perfect, 0 stars means I haven’t made any progress.
1. Don’t swear
I’m having a hard time with this one. For the most part, I don’t like to hear people curse, but every once in a while one of my creative friends comes up with descriptive and aptly timed phrases like “fucking ho-head” or “dick wad” and they make my day. Perhaps I should revise this resolution to be “Don’t swear in front of the kids”.
2. Paint or write every day ***
While I was 5 days into the month of January before I was able to commence with this resolution, I have been faithful about writing or editing something nearly every day since then and I painted yesterday. It wasn’t a museum quality piece, but after not painting for 6 months, I had to start somewhere.
3. Start a blog *****
Pretty happy about this one. Whether I can maintain is another story.
4. Eat more Fruits and Vegetables **
This is one of those items that has been on my list since 2001. I’m a reasonably healthy eater, but definitely have a problem with the next item...
5. Eat less sugar
This has been on my list since birth. I’ve always had a sweet tooth. I could eat sugar/chocolate for breakfast lunch and dinner. And up until the last 3 years or so, it hasn’t slowed me down (as one might suspect about consuming large amounts of sugar). Now that I am in the throws of middle age, I have started to see some negative effects. While I truly believe that sugar is toxic and addictive, it’s not like cocaine or heroine; I never eat enough to make me throw up or need a shot of adrenaline pumped into my heart. Unlike illegal drugs, sugar is available everywhere. I don’t have to slump to a back alley and make an expensive illicit deal, I can go to a gas station, a vending machine, grocery store or bakery and conduct a perfectly legal, relatively cheap transaction in broad daylight to get my fix. Every day since January 1st I’ve woken up and said “today is the day”, and by the time I get downstairs, I’m already headed to the pantry for a cookie for breakfast. I ate an entire bag of chocolate chips (my ultimate nemesis) in two days. I’m disgusted with myself. I will keep trying.
6. Make some $$$ *
In the past this has come under the guise of “get a job” or perhaps more politically correct “get a job outside the home”. Which is tricky enough in this depressing economy, even further out of reach when my hours and travel are severely limited because of my other full time job as a mom/cook/maid/taxi service/tutor/bookkeeper. So this year, I’m going to think outside the box with some sort of home-based business.
7. Plan a summer trip
We are only two weeks into January, I have to cut myself some slack.
8. Be Thankful***
I’m getting better at this. Here are a few things I am thankful for: my parents and in-laws are healthy, my kids are thriving, my husband has a job outside the home, my sunny studio where I write and paint, my awesome, supportive friends who like my blog, days filled with sunshine, my cute dog (pictured below on the chair in the living room where she is absolutely not allowed), a relatively good metabolism to burn off those chocolate chips.
9. Be Selfish **
Just doing items 2 and 3 is being selfish enough for me. I’m also sitting here with a head full of mayonnaise and a face slathered in oatmeal and yogurt, so taking care of myself is also high on the selfish list.
10. Clean out drawers (done!)*****
I know this is rather tactical, but when your house has been on the market for over a year, you can’t imagine what is stuffed in my drawers (and my kids’ drawers were unspeakable). This task, while menial and somewhat degrading, does provide me with a sense of accomplishment, cleanliness, discovery, and organization (after my initial disgust, procrastination, and swearing!) that allows me to start the new year with a fresh mind and spirit.
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