Resolutions

I’ve been trying to decide whether or not I want to make any New Year’s Resolutions this year. I’d like to, but over the years, I’ve learned that I usually don’t follow through on them. I try, but the first day that I don’t do what I said I would do, I give up on the idea altogether.

There are some things I’d like to do in 2008:

I would like to write more. I feel like I don’t write enough and I miss doing it. I bought a new journal that is just the right size to fit in my purse. The cover looks a little something like this:

Only, my journal isn’t spiral bound and it has a magnetic flap closure. I am hoping that it will be enough of an inspiration to get me writing more.

I would like to read more. I don’t feel that I spent enough time reading for pleasure in 2007. I discovered a new author, but that is about it. I would like to discover several new authors in 2008, and to do that, I will need to be adventurous reader.

I would like to learn a new language. I started that trend in 2007 when I began learning American Sign Language. This year, I have decided to work on Spanish and French.

I would like to finally take an art class. Years ago, my grandmother suggested that I take an art class. I always meant to. I wish I had done it while she was alive. I would have loved to have been able to sit with her and talk about color and perspective. Now, I would like to do it to honor her, to keep her memory alive in me. I have art supplies. I have the imagination. I just need a little direction.

I would like to spend more time in prayer. When I was single, I found time to pray all of the time; in the car while driving to work, at home while fixing my hair, and any other time I was alone. Now that I’m married, I find that those times are spent talking with Stan, whether funny or serious. And we decided that it is okay because we strive for a marriage that glorifies God. Still, I feel that I have neglected that precious time I used to spend with my Father and I want to get back in the habit of spending more time at His feet.

I would like to get serious about being healthy. I’m not talking about a diet here. I’m talking about a healthy life style that includes better eating choices and exercise. I really hate it that one flight of stairs leaves me a little winded. I also hate it that my body aches in places that it shouldn’t because I’m not active enough. Since the summer, my blood pressure has gone down considerably, but I still don’t feel that I have been as active as I could have been. I also want to start getting in the habit of eating less. I still want to be able to eat things I enjoy, but I need to deal with my portions.

I would like to get organized. This one always gets me. I want to have things neat and organized, but I get lazy and think “I’ll just put that up tomorrow.” And then I don’t, and two weeks later I have a pile of papers on my desk that takes an entire Saturday afternoon to go through. I get so tired of the clutter.

Honestly, I don’t like to call these resolutions, at least not New Year’s resolutions, because I feel that New Year’s resolutions just end up setting you up for failure. So, this is just a list of things I want to strive to do beginning today.

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