Everybody Does It Why Wouldn't I?

Here it is.  It is the last day of the year, and it is time to reflect.  After reading an article a friend forwarded to me recently, find it here, I am ready to make some resolutions/commitments and post them for myself and the world to see.  AND check in on my progress periodically.


1. Eat right. I know, this is usually #1 on most resolution lists, but since mid October and the birthday/Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas sugar fest that has gone into my pie-hole, I need to call it quits on sugar (at least until Valentines!) and go back to my old ways of watching what I eat.  Good bye sugar!  Your headaches will plague, your cravings will consume, but I will defeat you. Again.  Crap!  It is 3 p.m. on NYE, I have a ton of Christmas candy to get through before tomorrow!


2.  Exercise 6 days a week.  Never doing the same exercise two days in a row.  I had been exercising 5-6 days a week, until my visit to my parents.  Add in the stress eating (see resolution #1) and lack of exercise around the Seattle trip, and the scale is telling me I need to get back on the program.  That, and my routines are too routine.  If I am into walking, that is ALL I DO.  I need to change things up and change my routines.


3. Be less of a control freak.  My mother showed me just what a control freak is these last few weeks.  I have decided that it is ok for my kids to figure things out on their own.  I will still be available to ask questions of, but I need to let my kids try things and applaud them for their efforts.  They could come up with a new way of doing things I'd never thought of.


4. Take a photograph a day.  I always see this proposition, and now I need to do this!  To post or not to post is the question.


5. Make an effort to do new things creatively every week.  I love to sew.  I love to do lots of "crafty things" but need to make creativity a priority.


6. Go back to school.  I would like to go back to school and have toyed with the idea for years.  This year?  This is the year. 


7.  Do things for myself.  This is the year of my independence.  I am spending too much time looking to others for my happiness.  I need to find my own happiness.


8. Tuck my kids in bed.  You ask Hannah how her day was at 4 p.m. and her standard answer is "fine."  But, if you go into her room as she is snuggling in bed and spend a few minutes asking questions?  She will monologue and open up to tell you things you never thought of asking about.  Her answers increase in word numbers as the day progresses, I would like to be the last one to hear her answers each night.


9. Read. I hadn't consumed a book in months before going on this vacation and being forced to sit on a plane and read.  I need to turn off the tv and read.


10.  Grow spiritually.  Prayer.  Study.  Reflection.