I really don't like the idea of "resolutions" I always feel like I've failed at New Year's Resolutions. However, I have set some "goals" for 2012 and I feel like I've gotten off to a pretty good start! Of course, my poor hubby has been sick so I haven't had much of a choice but find things to do around the house. So far I have cleaned out 4 closets and 3 rooms. I'm talking serious deep cleaning. I removed all the furniture from the room and cleaned the room from the top down (ceiling fan, door frames, shelves, etc.) and I've cleaned each piece of furniture before I put it back in the room. I'm trying to just clean one room a day so I don't get burned out. I've never deep cleaned my whole house before. I will even admit that I've never even cleaned the windows at my house. So...I'm trying to make some changes. I've already taken one load of stuff to Good Will and I'm working on a new pile now. I hope to have the whole house deep cleaned very soon!
As for my goals, they aren't that hard and maybe if I write about them on here I will be slightly more accountable than I typically am about goals. I want to eat healthier, I want to create a home emergency kit and the big things I want to do are: 1. Finish the many unfinished projects around my house; 2. Be a better neighbor; 3. have child-like faith; and 4. have a child's delight in the world.
What do I mean by this? Well, I'll tell you!
As for the eating healthy, I've already started! For Christmas I got the wonderful cookbook Power foods which says it has 150 recipes with 38 of the healthiest ingredients. I went to Kroger today and bought ingredients to cook out of this cookbook every night this week. Tonight I started slow and easy! Egg Salad Sandwich. Sounds simple, right? It was!! To quote the book, "Egg salad sandwiches are often loaded with mayonnaise, but this version relies instead on ricotta and yogurt for creaminess. Watercress and whole grain bread are other healthful updates. Eggs, of course, provide high-quality protein in addition to a variety of other nutrients, such as choline." And...it was YUMMY!! The recipe made enough for 4 servings. We each had a sandwich tonight and we'll both have another for lunch tomorrow. Hopefully this will help my confidence in the kitchen and with healthy cooking!
The second thing I mentioned was creating a home emergency kit. I know this may sound silly but its not. We now live in "dixie alley". The most dangerous tornado path in the US, even more dangerous than the original "tornado alley" in the mid west! In the month of May for two years in a row our area has experienced heavy rains and flooding and...ever hear of Reelfoot Lake? Yeah, that place was created by an earthquake and we live on a major fault line! Possibility of another major earthquake? Likely! I don't want to be considered a "crack pot" about preparedness. So, why the sudden change of heart? Easy, the tornadoes, floods & people constantly talking about the likelihood of another major earthquake in our area. Also...Decoded. Ever watch it? It comes on the History Channel. For anyone that enjoyed the book or movie "The Da Vinci Code" then you'd love this show! There is a crew that constantly investigate myths, rumors and legends much like the Dan Brown novels. So, a few weeks ago the episode was about the Mayan Calendar. The episode was freaky, I won't lie but I don't believe it all of that. However watching the show did make realize that no matter what emergency happens in my life we are grossly under prepared! So, I would like to make a home emergency kit. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. So...that's on the to do list.
Okay now for my big four. First up was finish the projects around my house. I have a project closet in one of my guest rooms and it continues to grow! Since I am on a clean up and clear out mode I've got to take care of this! The most frequent "project" is making picture albums. Some other craft projects are in there, too. Once I get done deep cleaning the rest of the house I'm going to start on that closet. I'll try to take some before and after pictures when I finally start. Wish me luck!
My second goal is to be a better neighbor. That's my generic term. To quote a movie, "I want to give my highest self". And I don't always do that. To quote a great writer, Hunter S. Thompson, "Anything worth doing is worth doing right". So, I guess I better start living right. I used to do a lot more volunteering but for some reason I've gotten out of the habit. I've gotten out of a lot of good habits. I'd like to try to be a better friend, better volunteer, better donor, better person...aka better neighbor. Example: Today I was at Kroger buying a mountain of groceries (it's bunko at my house on Tuesday, too!). I was in the dairy section reaching for the milk at the same time as someone else. As I look up to smile and give an apology for getting in that person's way, I turn smile on my face to see a burn victim. My mind immediately wondered if he was a war vet. He looked to be about my age. For whatever reason, God was with me in this moment. I continued to smile, I didn't flinch or show any signs of sympathy. It seemed to be exactly what the guy needed. He smiled at me and HOLY COW! His smile lit up the place. We exchanged pleasantries and went on our merry way but I must tell you his smile, above and beyond his injuries has stayed with me. My small smile to a stranger did more for my heart and I like to think his than anythign else I've done today. That smile didn't cost me anything and our pleasantries did take any time away from my day. I hope to give more smiles in 2012 and receive a few, too!
My third goal is to have child like faith. Ever read the book, "Heaven Is For Real?" In the book the father is a preacher, a man of God, and he said that one of the best experiences he gained from his son getting sick was regaining a child like faith. I know it may sound silly but when my mind goes to panic mode I can stop myself by chanting over and over again, "Child like faith" and what I mean by that is to put it all in God's hands and stop trying to control my situation whatever it is. As soon as I do that I instantly find peace. I need to have more child like faith in my life, not just in my panic moments but in all moments and that is something I want to work on this new year.
My final goal is to find that child like wonder for life. All my friends are having or have recently had kids. For them I'm sure they all rediscover things through their children and I've gotten to experience some of that with them. Why do we have to become jaded, boring adults? When do we forget about the zest of life and just go with the grind? I want to find the joy in the small moments as well as the big ones. Right now I'm laying in the bed, watching a favorite show, sipping a mug of hot chocolate, my tummy is full and I've got clothes in the washer and dryer. That is a luxury that most folks don't have. Instead of thinking of my life as boring and I'm not doing anything exciting on a holiday weekend I am very happy to be warm, happy, full and blessed.
For the few that read this I hope I get to hang out with you all in this new year and that we create wonderful memories...and remind me to bring my camera so I can record all the great memories!
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