Showing posts with label Susanne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Susanne. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

What are resolutions?

What's your view on resolutions? My opinion of whether to make them or not and even what they are has changed over the years, and I think I've finally come up with a definition that works for me. Many times in the past, I've failed at keeping my resolutions because it's just so hard to remember to do them. I've tried making short lists with just one or two things, hoping I will do better. But inevitably, they fall by the wayside. I get tired of feeling like a failure.

This year, I'm looking at my resolutions differently. I don't see them as something I need to be perfect at right from the start. I think that's unfair. My resolutions are habits I want to develop, but they aren't currently part of my daily routine. They are goals I want to progress towards. This view allows me to fall but also requires me to get up, dust myself off and try again. It's a process, a journey. Yes, the purpose is to reach your destination, but you've got to do some travelling first.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

My Resolutions

Adios 2010. We had some fond memories, but don't let the door hit your bum on the way out. I really won't miss you. HELLO 2011! We're going to be best friends, I just know it.

I was originally going to write one post per resolution, but I've changed my mind. I've decided I'm not going to have big, complicated goals this year. I hope my resolutions will have a noticeable impact on me by the end of the year, but they're going to be easy to follow. Some may seem silly, but I'm hoping to turn these little things into habits. I BELIEVE in myself.

1. Put on lipstick and mascara every morning. There's two things my picture-a-day project has taught me. The first is that I look better with my hair down. The second is that I really need to wear at least a little make-up, otherwise I'm completely bland and plain.

For YEARS when I got ready in the morning, I'd put my clothes on, pull my hair back, and head out the door. Rarely would I look in the mirror. I didn't care. But this picture project I started out of the blue and have somehow miraculously stuck with has changed my perception of myself. I have to see myself every day. I don't know why I used to look past my reflection in the mirror. Well, I do. I didn't like what I saw and but I didn't have the desire to change it, so why be disappointed on a daily basis. But times they are a-changing.

2. Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. Eat less fast food. Drink more water.  Self-explanatory, I think. I eat out for lunch almost every day. This needs to stop for both health and fiscal reasons.

3. Start walking. I'm not really the type to go to the gym, but I think I can handle walking. I'd like to be able to work up to running without getting winded. Ideally, I'd like to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) by my half birthday (March 4th). I'm not sure that'll happen, but I'll try. If nothing else, I vow to walk a half marathon. Of course that will be many, many hours of walking. On second thought, how about I play the half marathon thing by ear.

4. Read one book a week. There are so many books I want to read, but I never get around to them. I figure I can read at least one book per week.

5. Write thank-you notes. I've never been good at this. I need to learn to be more courteous and grateful to others.

6. Take more pictures.


7. Stop procrastinating and be on time. I'm a master at putting things off and waiting until the absolute last minute, which usually means I show up 15 minutes late to just about everything. I really dislike this characteristic about myself. I think it's disrespectful to other people to show up late or to not put everything you can into something you've promised to do.

8. Get organized. I have too much stuff for the size of my home. A lot of things need to find a new place to live, either in the trash, Good Will, or in someone else's house.


9. Serve others more.


10. Pay cash for as many of my purchases as possible.

There's my list. It's long, but I think it's doable, and it represents changes I sincerely want to make in my life. ::raises glass:: Here's to a fabulous New Year!

My New Year's date

Sammy was less than enthused about getting a New Year's kiss and posing for a pic. It was all I could do to keep from laughing.

Friday, December 31, 2010

The First Four Months

I'm ending the year with a video of the first four months of my picture-a-day project (9/4/10-12/31/10).


Thursday, December 30, 2010

Turning Off Autopilot

I had high expectations for 2010. I made plans. But almost nothing was accomplished. This past year, my life was on autopilot. In 2011, I'm taking my life back. I'm not going to let things just happen to me. I'm going to take control of my surroundings and the people in it. Starting with my ex, or rather my soon-to-be ex-husband.

My first act of taking hold of the reigns was filing for divorce. In NC you have to be separated for a year before you can file. We separated three years ago. I never filed. I kept waiting for the right time. Why? There's no good reason I can think of. I finally asked myself, "is this important to you?" Well, yes, it is. "So why aren't you making it a priority?" Ummmmmmm. I FINALLY filed on December 9. He was served on the 17th. We have to wait 30 days to petition the court for a date. My lawyer expects the divorce to be finalized around February 3rd. We will have been officially married (including the separation) for 9 years and 4 months.

I have resolutions for the coming year, I just haven't organized them yet. If you were to ask me what they are, I could probably tell you a couple, but I'm pretty sure I have more. I'm going to dedicate the first week of the new year to writing down my resolutions. Each one will have a blog post, I just don't know how many there will be. They'll probably look a lot like last year's resolutions.