Let's get real here. I do not make resolutions. Those that know me REALLY well...like well enough to make it past my social filter...know that I am not much for holidays. Especially American holidays. Honestly, most of them are dumb. Thanksgiving? Dumb. Yes, let's give ourselves an entire day to gorge ourselves as if us Americans don't do that all. year. long.
Any-who....Really, people, January 1st is a day just like any other. All of these resolutions being made might last a week; a month if you're really optimistic. For those of us that go to the gym year round, January is THE WORST. You can't find a machine and have to deal with crowds which is enough to scare an introvert like me into staying at home.
About all New Year's Day is good for is some good football. Except this year...when the Fiesta Bowl just shouldn't have happened at all. I've mentally crossed it out and will just anxiously await the fall 2014 season. Did anyone see that coming? Really?!
We could follow this kid's lead and turn our New Year's resolutions into a New Year's REVOLUTION. That would be productive. What do we want to revolt against? Miley Cyrus? A&E? The polar vortex? (Insert any national hot topic that is currently lighting up my news feed in place of actual news that matters.)
Ok, sarcasm aside....I really do enjoy January and the first 3 months of the year in general. Somehow, fall is always a CRAZY time for us. And it all culminates in the most stressful time of year....Christmas. Come January, our family can settle down, take a breath, and recharge for the rest of the year. We can reflect on the past year and mentally prepare for the year ahead.
I like to think of January more as a month of reflection instead of resolution. It's a great time to mull over the happy times, and try to learn from the not so great times. 2013 was a big year for our little family: JP and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary, and one short month later, two became three. It is a HUGE adjustment to add a new little one, but one that I wouldn't take back for anything.
I'm not sure if being a new mama is the real culprit here, but I blame a lot of things on it. I am more sentimental (still not much, but more than I was.) I am much more emotional (especially things like birth, death, etc.) And everything seems like a MUCH BIGGER deal than it really is. Trivial decisions regarding Henry's life seem so insurmountable because it involves THE REST OF HIS LIFE! OMG!
That being said, there are things that I am hoping to be better at moving forward. These aren't one time things, they are commitments that I am hoping to make for a lifetime.
1. I have been reading this blog a lot lately, called Hands Free Mama, and it makes a lot of good points about parenting that I would love to model. I want to use kind, encouraging words with my children, rather than always pushing them to be the best at every single thing possible. I know this will be a struggle with my kids, because it is a struggle for myself. In my constant effort to strive to do better, I rarely appreciate the good in anything I do. I don't want the same for my kids.
2. Although I have come to terms with the fact that my body may never look like it did pre-Henry, I do want to get back into running. I love it. I miss it when I take a hiatus. I would love to run a half-marathon this year. We'll see.
3. I want to read more. I am a read-a-holic. I have read substantially less since Henry's been around, so I am trying to set aside time every time for me to read. Even if it's only 15 minutes, it's something small that I can do for just me.
On my list:
The Black Count
Gone Girl
The Monuments Men
Reconstructing Amelia
Scripture and the Authority of God
Becoming Myself
What Alice Forgot
Lean In
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
The reason I Jump
The Eternal Wonders
I Am Malala
The Circle
The Lowland
Three Little Words
Silence
Man that's a lot of books. Don't you worry. Don't underestimate the degree to which I am addicted to reading. Honestly. This list won't last me the year.
So there you have it, folks. A short, but sweet list of my "non-resolution" New Years Resolutions.
I like to think of January more as a month of reflection instead of resolution. It's a great time to mull over the happy times, and try to learn from the not so great times. 2013 was a big year for our little family: JP and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary, and one short month later, two became three. It is a HUGE adjustment to add a new little one, but one that I wouldn't take back for anything.
I'm not sure if being a new mama is the real culprit here, but I blame a lot of things on it. I am more sentimental (still not much, but more than I was.) I am much more emotional (especially things like birth, death, etc.) And everything seems like a MUCH BIGGER deal than it really is. Trivial decisions regarding Henry's life seem so insurmountable because it involves THE REST OF HIS LIFE! OMG!
That being said, there are things that I am hoping to be better at moving forward. These aren't one time things, they are commitments that I am hoping to make for a lifetime.
1. I have been reading this blog a lot lately, called Hands Free Mama, and it makes a lot of good points about parenting that I would love to model. I want to use kind, encouraging words with my children, rather than always pushing them to be the best at every single thing possible. I know this will be a struggle with my kids, because it is a struggle for myself. In my constant effort to strive to do better, I rarely appreciate the good in anything I do. I don't want the same for my kids.
2. Although I have come to terms with the fact that my body may never look like it did pre-Henry, I do want to get back into running. I love it. I miss it when I take a hiatus. I would love to run a half-marathon this year. We'll see.
3. I want to read more. I am a read-a-holic. I have read substantially less since Henry's been around, so I am trying to set aside time every time for me to read. Even if it's only 15 minutes, it's something small that I can do for just me.
On my list:
The Black Count
Gone Girl
The Monuments Men
Reconstructing Amelia
Scripture and the Authority of God
Becoming Myself
What Alice Forgot
Lean In
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
The reason I Jump
The Eternal Wonders
I Am Malala
The Circle
The Lowland
Three Little Words
Silence
Man that's a lot of books. Don't you worry. Don't underestimate the degree to which I am addicted to reading. Honestly. This list won't last me the year.
So there you have it, folks. A short, but sweet list of my "non-resolution" New Years Resolutions.
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