Here it is the 4th day of 2010 and I still haven’t fully acknowledged or verbalized what my resolutions will be. I didn’t want them to be the same old, “I resolve to lose weight” or “I resolve to pay off all my debt”. The problem with those is that the first decadent dessert or cute outfit I cave into lets in a tinge of guilt that manifests to the point where I usually abandon all resolutions by the middle of the year. Not this year. Of course I would love to lose weight (especially with my 25th high school reunion in 5 months) and I’d love to pay off my debt (though with my student loans and house it’d be unrealistic to say it’s going to happen in one year, thus making it a “resolution” verses a long term goal is setting myself up for failure). Instead, this year, I decided to make resolutions that are more of life philosophies that I can live by every day, but that are “self-forgiving” so I am never consumed with guilt.
This year I resolve to…..
Give less advice and give more “shoulder and ear”. No matter how well-intended, advice (whether solicited or not) always seems to backfire. If you’re right, they are mad that you were right and they went against your advice. If you’re wrong, you are the reason for their “failure”. Of course much of this has to do with my adult children, but it can apply to my entire life.
Look forward more and back less. This does not mean stop being nostalgic – I love remembering my parents, my childhood, etc. This means stop wondering why something didn’t go one way and move onward and upward! I’ve always said, everything happens for a reason, yet I’ve spent so much time over analyzing “why”. Looking forward to what is yet to come and what God has in store for me tomorrow, rather than wondering why he didn’t give it to me yesterday or even today is a good life philosophy.
Pray more and worry less (or not at all). God is ultimately in control. He knows what I need before I ask. He has His eye on the lowly sparrow, so I know He has His eye on me. There are things that are in my control and then there are things that are ultimately up to God. (Let’s not get philosophical here, I realize ultimately EVERYTHING is up to God, we could go down this debate, but He does give us freewill).
Laugh a whole lot more. I laugh a ton and I am happy most of the time, but I need to spend more time seeking out laughter. This means finding the humor in most things (where appropriate) instead of the bad. I’m usually pretty good at doing this, but of course there is always room for improvement.
Live out in the world more and in cyberspace less. Because I work on a computer all day and then many of my hobbies involve a computer, I have formed a huge “rut” that involves sitting in my chair. I don’t want to give up my hobbies – genealogy, photography (yes, part of that involves the computer), writing – but I need to form a healthy balance. I used to be outside a few times a week and I really enjoy it – I’ve just been consumed with other hobbies. It’s time to remember the outdoor hobbies I love, too!
Be better at keeping in touch with friends & family. With Facebook, email, free long distance, etc. there is absolutely no excuse for losing touch. Life isn’t so busy that I can’t call/email or even snail mail more often. I have so many “older” dear friends that I’ve done a really cruddy job of keeping up with. I know the phone/email works two ways – but I was always so good at being “the glue” that kept us all together. I love my new friends, but, you know what they say – “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” (I think I learned that in Brownies when I was like 7) It’s so hard to find good friends – why do we let them slip through our fingers because it’s not “convenient” to keep in touch??
Read more and watch TV less. It’s not that I am a TV junky – it’s usually just white noise while I’m doing other things, but it’s on. I’m going to turn it off and get off the computer and read all of those books I’ve been meaning to read – including and especially my Bible.
I could probably blather on, but I think it all comes down to this – in 2010, I resolve to make God a bigger part of my life – which will help me accomplish all of the above goals. In 2010, I resolve to be a better me.
The day has finally come.
1 month ago



