Resolutions

A new year always brings talk of renewal, change, and resolutions. It is only natural at the start of something new that you want to do things differently and hopefully better. I often set my personal goals against upcoming events or other milestones such as my birthday. And usually I feel a sense of renewal at the beginning of each new year.

Not so much 2009 though...

There are plenty of self-improvement resolutions I could make, but I am seriously lacking motivation. December 31, 2008 went and January 1, 2009 arrived and I felt no cosmic shift. I sat up with Holden, Emeline, and Owen watching Dick Clark kiss his lovely wife at the stroke of midnight and then we all rolled over to snooze the first few hours of 2009 away. Honestly, I could use a few more months of that.

But feeling the pressure of the media (or maybe that's just our too tight jeans squeezing us) Ben and I have made the same resolution as about 1/3 of the people who even bother making them anymore... weight loss & fitness. We really do want to shape up, but that extends my resolution to getting up early to prepare a BIG breakfast for us every morning. And of course, having a healthy dinner ready every night (no later than 6pm). Then that adds on being organized enough to have healthy meals planned day in and day out and keeping the house stocked with healthy snacks. Ugggh... suddenly my list is way longer than Ben's.

I have a feeling that I will end up like the 85% who break their resolutions (at least temporarily), but I have faith in myself (and Ben) that we will end up making positive changes over the next 12 months and beyond.

The kids and I talked about resolutions/goals: what they mean; why people make them. When they head back to school on January 6th their teachers may ask them if they have resolutions. I want them to be prepared with their own thoughts not just what the kid before them said. They each told me what they wanted to do in the new year...

Holden: do good in school; read the Bible more

Emeline: go swimming this summer

Owen: "play games... well... just play with blocks" (a direct quote)

I love how Emeline and Owen's resolutions are all about fun. Holden has the maturity to set actual goals although I am sure he'd agree that swimming and playing games are definitely on his things to do list for '09.

Now here's a resolution I know I can keep: help the kids reach their goals... and not just the ones they've set for 2009, but whatever they choose for the rest of their lives.

But swimming sounds really good...