A New Year

I’ve hemmed and hawed (spelling?) about posting about the new year…alas here I go.

My Thoughts on the New Year…

I love the fresh start of a new year.  A clean slate feels wonderful and it gives me an optimistic outlook for the year ahead as we make plans and attempt to be intentional with our lives as a family.   

I’m not good with goals.  I’ve heard all of the recommendations: Set realistic, S.M.A.R.T. goals.  But, I still dislike the process of setting them and am very rarely successful in achieving them.  With that said, I’m not much for resolutions either.  Even though I am a type A, “beaver” personality (#12 at this link) I prefer to be internally motivated by my mood to accomplish tasks at home than to be on a schedule that says I should be doing something by a certain date.  In some ways deadlines motivate me, but if it’s one I set myself I know I can break itJ

Recently, I was reminded of the unrealistic expectations we put on the new year.   As a Christian, I believe that the Holy Spirit is at work always and it is no more powerful on January 1 than it was on December 31.  In other words, if I want/need to make a change in my life, I have the power of God behind me always.

With all of this said:  I like the fresh start, I don’t like goals, and God is not limited by our time parameters; here are my thoughts for 2014:

• I’ve been very conscious the past few months to work against my nature of being a black-and-white/all-or-nothing thinker.   I’ve been striving for a balance in many areas which has impacted my thoughts for the new year.  This year I want to continue to strive for balance.  Practically speaking this means I am not starting on a strict diet and exercise routine that I know is not sustainable.   Instead, I am focusing on eating within reason and exercising regularly.  I am 32 years old.  I will not weigh what I did in high school.  I carried my two babies each for nine months and my body shows it.  I will never have the same body shape that I had pre-pregnancies.  This not meant to be negative self-talk, it is realistic self-talk.  
• Even though I don’t like goals, I like to plan:)  So, we’re making plans with our finances, vacation time, time with friends and family, birthday celebrations, etc.  There is much to look forward to!  
• I do not know what the year ahead holds, but I am grateful for where I am, who I am today, and those I share my life with.

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. ~Chinese Proverb