Oh hi, it's me again.

Well, one month of 2009 already gone. And I never got around to posting my resolutions. Well that's OK, let's just say I used January to really refine my priorities and goals for the year. What I was thinking I'd like to accomplish on January 1st has changed and crystallized into some simpler, but more impact-ful decisions. Sounds to grand doesn't it? Well, not really. It's just life.



Resolution #1

I will bring my own bag instead of using paper or plastic. Even for things other than groceries.



Resolution #2

I will remember that LOVE is a verb.

I will quit trying to change my spouse into a happy, go-lucky optimist, because he really isn't one and it is making our marriage very tense. So I will do my best to point out the good side of things, without being preachy or naggy. When he gets into one of his funks, I will not go all Pollyanna on his ass, nor will I get frustrated with him for not seeing how our thoughts shape our reality. I will either support him by listening attentively, or ask him for what he needs from me, or if I can't be objective, I will tell him I need to think about it before I react, and go from there. I can't keep taking it personally, because it really isn't. He is stressed. He is worried. That is his reality, not mine. I will love him, because I love him. I will do my best to accept him for who he is today. I will be present with whatever our marriage brings and try to not to be so judgmental.



Resolution #3

I will parent as mindfully as I possibly can. I will accept that I am human and will not always do the "right" thing. When I regret how I have handled something, I will acknowledge it, apologize and ask for understanding. I will remember that my children are my equals, they are just younger and less experienced than I am, and that is the way it is supposed to be. I will look for the teachable moments, but I will also look for the learnable moments. My kids are so cool and such fantastic individuals. I will do my best to guide, teach, enjoy, support, and accept my boys for who they are. I will remember that this is their lives we are talking about. I will try my best to take me ego and pride and pre-programmed ideas out of it and just let my heart guide me. I have wonderful motherly intuition. I will trust it, because I have never regretted doing so. I will tell them often how much I love them. I will let them know I trust them to do what is right for them. I will empower them. I will remember that they are children and that they have lots of time to learn "grown-up things". I will take their issues and worries as seriously as I take my own. And I will let them know, often, how cool I think they are. And lots and lots of cuddles and hugs while I can still get them.



Resolution #4

I will live below my means. I will do my best to realize that "stuff" is not what it is about. Money is a resource to help you attend to your priorities and reach your goals. It is not about pride or status. I will do this by simply spending less. I will acquire less stuff. I will look for non-spending solutions whenever possible. I will use my money to further my values and goals. I will expect my spending to have a high ROI. I will save up for things I want. I will remember all the incredible things I already have, and do my best to be grateful and content.



Resolution #5

I will be lucky! I am going to affirm that I am lucky and I will expect lucky things to happen to me. I will also keep track of what lucky things come my way. I will be open to possibilities and say yes more to see what opportunities it may bring. I will express my gratitude daily for all the amazing experiences I have.



Resolution #6

I will reach out to others more. I will call someone to catch up every day. I will do things for the people I care about and support them through their days. I will send cards and letters. I will really listen so I can remember the details. I will HUG (I've never been much of a hugger). I will smile at strangers and strike up conversations when possible. I will be open to what others have to bring into my life, and I will gladly share my gifts with others.



Resolution #7

I will make myself a priority. I will do the things that make me happy because I am every bit as deserving as everyone else. I will cultivate joy in my life. And fun. I will find hobbies that I enjoy, and that give me some time away from my family. I will pursue my interests, even if I have to do them alone. I will see the movies I want to see. I will attend the lectures I am interested in. I will figure out what makes me fabulous (blond hair? pink toes? fab boots? waxed legs? jazzy underwear?) and find the resources to make it happen for myself! I will find ways to learn and enjoy myself. I will be proactive, instead of waiting for it to be a convenient time for everyone else, or for someone else to think of ideas and activities. I will buy myself the gifts I want, the flowers I think are pretty. I will paint the cabinets the color I like. I will journal and blog and collage and imagine so that I keep in tough with my real feeling and desires. I will LOVE me!



Resolution #8

I will walk more. I will walk to keep myself and my kid's and my dog's bodies healthy. I will walk because I am fed up with the quality of the air in this city and am sick about the idea of not letting my kids out to play because the air quality is dangerous. I will walk to put less money in the pockets of people that don't deserve my money. I will keep that money for me and my family. I will walk to have a sense of my community and what is going on in my neighborhood. I will walk and say hello to my neighbors. I will enjoy the feeling of blood pumping in my legs and heart.



Resolution #9.

I will cultivate a home that is peaceful and comfortable. I will not get sucked into the idea that it needs to cost a lot, or that it has to be perfect, shiny and new. I will look for creative, thrifty ways to craft my home into the place I want it to be and a place my family is comfortable and happy. I will make each one of our bedroom's a sanctuary and a personal expression. I will declutter the extraneous and enjoy the cherished. I will learn new skills and take pride in our home!



Resolution #10

I will find a way to make some money for our family. I will do something I enjoy and am good at. I won't do something that is beneath me or that I find boring or disagreeable. I will give marketing for our business the importance it deserves and make sure that each piece has the right message and goes out on time.



So there you have it. I see a lot of "being present" and "living in the now" and being "mindful". I also see quite a bit about loving and accepting, enjoying and fun! I think it boils down to authenticity.

I know that the world has some challenges to overcome. I also know that a bazillion wonderful things happen every freakin' day that no one hears about. I'm going to focus on the positive. I'm doing to do my part to make this planet, my community, my family and my life a better thing than it was last year. I am going to do my best to "be the change that I want to see in the world". Really it comes down to individual actions. I'm excited about this year. I see this year as a time to get back to basics. To cultivate. To learn and improve skills. To prepare. As a catalyst. I also see it as a time for joy, happiness, gratitude and fun. But I see everyday as a time for those. I see those as the purpose and point of life.


Peace!

Intentional Living

This is the book I am currently reading. It has really made me rethink a lot of ways I go about my daily life. What could be more simple than understanding yourself better and making some positive changes? I highly recommend it.

Here is a picture of my darling family in Costa Rica in August. Our friends S and R got married on this beach. Isn't it breathtaking?

Vacations often get me thinking about how little we truly need to be content. We took 2 games, some crayons, a couple of matchbox cars and a few DVDs and we were fine for 3 weeks. We lived in a 400 sq ft apartment and never felt cramped. Then we come home to a spacious house that is crammed with junk we think we have to have. It is always a stark contrast and gets me thinking.

Since I've started working I am really lucky to have an office right by a local thrift store that accepts donations. I have been trying to bring a bag of unused or un-needed items to donate everyday. Our closets feel more spacious, the kids room's are starting to feel moderately neat, my kitchen doesn't feel so cramped. And we haven't missed a single thing. My plan is to go through everything before X-mas and just get rid of a good portion of it. Then I can organize the rest.

I am still working on getting my health simplified. Exercise is on hold because I finally had foot surgery to correct the plantar fasciitis that just wouldn't heal. I already feel much better but it will take at least a few more weeks before I can start working up to a decent workout again.

Foodwise I am working on making sensible decisions. I am basically following Bob Greene's Best Life plan. I'm in phase one, day 2, actually. I am focusing on eating a healthy breakfast, not skipping meals, avoiding alcohol, and eventually boosting my activity level. Easy-peasy. I'm also personally working on a simple menu plan that is easy to shop for and prepare, but is mostly fresh, local and organic. The CSA has been awesome. My garden was just a few tomato and pepper plants. The tomatoes died but the peppers have been great. I'm really working on not throwing food away and not spending a fortune as well.

I'm going to try to be diligent about keeping my blog updated. Then I might actually share the address with someone!

Excess

Excess. If I had to sum up in one word the source of my issues the word would be excess. Let's build on my 3 biggest issues, being too fat, in debt and disorganized.

Too FAT
Well it's pretty obvious. Excess calories creates excess body fat. So I've been thinking about where my excess lies. I love fruits, whole grains, and veggies. I could be a most the time vegetarian if the family hadn't completely revolted. I don't generally even eat that much chocolate, though I do LOVE chocolate. I think I am drinking my calories. Starbuck's and alcohol to be specific. After having a big night out recently that went on into the wee hours of the morning I realized I drank at least a 6 pack. If each beer had 200 calories, I easily drank a days worth of calories in beer. Never mind the dinner prior and the late night snack attach that resulted. So I have decided to not drink on the weekdays. I've also decided to quit getting drunk. I feel so cruddy afterwords. Another excess is fast food. Z and I grab lunch out most days. Can't be great for either one of us. So I am also going to say fast food only on Wednesday to Mommy Group and Saturday (for M). And last but not least R and I have decided not to eat after 7 pm unless we are out for something special. That should curb boredom eating.
And to really put a twist on things I told R this morning that I've budgeted $100 for each of us to buy gifts for each other at Christmas. If I haven't lost 10 lbs by Christmas morning my gift goes back the very next day and $100 goes to the Republican Party. I would rather die!!!

Debt
Obviously debt is spending in excess of what you earn. I vow to faithfully use my Financial Peace wallet to track all spending. I also vow to use my YNAB spreadsheet to budget and keep myself accountable. No new debt!!!

Clutter
Clutter is excess stuff or necessary stuff that doesn't have a system. So I am all set up on Flylady and vow to organize and declutter 15 minutes a day. I also vow to not bring home new crap. There are things I want and need. There are millions of things I don't.

So there you have it. I am editing myself. No more excess. Enough is really enough.

So I've been thinking about simplifying for A LONG TIME! But I am finally there and ready to start breaking it down. I like to soak and think in the tub and this morning I had a moment of clarity. I am re-reading Elaine St. James Simplicity Reader for the billionth time and one chapter talks about figuring out what really makes your life complicated. And I finally boiled it down to 3 major things: 1) Disorganized home 2) Unhappy with my body 3) Debt. That pretty much sums it up. Now it's time to figure out how to simplify these things!