I want to write the most epic New Year post in the history of New Year posts, but I know that won’t happen.
How do I know? Because this is the fourth attempt I’m making. The words keep coming out all wrong, so I keep hitting the delete key. Maybe my perfectionist leanings are showing themselves. I need to just roll with it. Maybe that should be my mantra for 2020… roll with it.
I think I’ll end with that thought… roll with it. I’m going to try this out for a bit and see how it goes as a life philosophy. I’ll get back to you with my findings, maybe.
Meanwhile I hope you have a fantastic 2020. May you be healthy, happy, and whole.
The last day of the year seems like a good time to do a little housekeeping, both literally and figuratively.
Literally speaking, I’m still slowing putting my master bedroom and bathroom back together (and don’t even ask me about my closet). Having a full on renovation really took a toll on this house. Sure, the result is incredible, but the aftermath is not much fun. Still, as I soak in my six-foot tub or indulge in a shower that’s more lovely than any other I’ve ever used, I don’t mind the mess as much.
At least I finally feel like I have some time to tame the mess. Being a teacher is really a gift at this time of year. There’s time to catch up on appointments and chores, and there’s also time to relax, recharge, and reinvent myself and my practice. Teaching is an art, and like any art it requires reflection and refinement. This time off allows me to focus on those things. Nothing like being alone in a quiet house (well, with the dog) to force you to face what’s going on around you.
What’s going on around me (or maybe inside me) is a desire to bring my life back into balance. That means more focus on home and family, more focus on long-range goals, and more focus on what success means to me. This is where paying off my credit card bill (which I had always done in the past, but somehow lost track of), cleaning up my house (it’s getting there), and working on becoming a National Board Certified Teacher (this is kind of overwhelming) come into play. Add in a few interesting life twists (all good) and you’ve got a 2019 that I’m ready to pack away in favor of a bright, shiny, new 2020. It’s going to be a busy one, but a good one, I can just tell. I wish you a bright, shiny 2020 as well.
I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions this year. I haven’t in a while. I know that I’m horrible at keeping them, and then I feel guilty, so I just avoid that whole thing.
I do, however, tend to take stock around New Year’s, which I think is pretty common.
A few thoughts I’ve had are:
Jeez, I’ve eaten a lot of crappy stuff over the holidays. Better cut that out.
Golly, I’ve gotten pretty lazy. Better get moving.
I like books. A lot. I should make time to read more of them.
That’s about it. Simple, right? And yet maybe not. So no, I didn’t make any resolutions, but I’m trying to eat better, move more, and read more. So far, so good.
Eating at home has been a help, and so has the passage of the holidays. There are fewer temptations, and less justifying this little treat or that little indulgence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m far from perfect, and just today we were discussing the fact that vegetables really need to make up a larger portion of our meals, but January is better than December was in this regard.
As far as exercise goes, the fitness challenge at work couldn’t have come at a better time. There is plenty of support for getting up and getting moving throughout the day, and it’s been helping. My Fitbit has been much happier since I’ve been giving it more steps to count each day.
That leaves the reading. I was lucky to get a new Kindle as a gift, along with a sleek new case for it, and I’ve been enjoying it. I also read a “real” book a friend loaned me a while ago, and it was fabulous. I’ve read six books so far in 2018, so I’d say I’m off to a good start.
So that’s where I am with all this resolution-type stuff? How about you? What are you trying to do in the new year?
BulgingButtons 