I love this time of year - do overs, a fresh start.  And while i set my own set of resolutions that i'm eager and hopeful to get started on, i quickly forget about them in the hustle and bustle.  So, as the venerable They advise:  if you write down your goals, put your resolutions out there, share them with Friends, you are more likely to achieve them.  So, Friends, my resolutions for 2011:

Love to hear what yours are and how you plan to keep them alive and well.  I'm making a shadow box-type reminder to set on my bathroom vanity (fab idea, Tara!).  It's going to take daily reminders to keep my eyes on the proverbial ball.  Good luck with your own set of goals!

Cheers!

courtesy of http://dryicons.com

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest


Happy New Year!

It's a new, new year! Love the first day of a new beginning. 2010 is going to be an amazing year! Can't you feel it? Feel it deep down in your innermost? It's resonating there with hopefulness and excitement about the possibilities. *breathe deeply - it's there, anticipating*

This year i would love to accomplish and be so much:

• Thinner and healthier; i dream of a flat stomach and the joy of not being self conscious about my figure
• Walk everyday (and i daresay, workout *gasp*)
• Mediate and pray daily
• Be closer to JC and make Him proud
• Produce a great program for work
• Experience the miracle of a baby (but so scared, too)
• Cook more and eat healthy
• Blog more - a lot more
• Start a review of books i read throughout the year
• Finish a 2010 scrapbook by Dec 31 (that would take a miracle)
• Grow a window herb garden (raw foods anyone?)
• Start the backyard landscaping
• Decorate my office at work
• Follow all of Dr. Weil's advice for optimum health
• Be more fashionable (i'm happy to report i rang in the new year wearing a double-strand necklace *sigh*)
• Read until my brain is full of quality intellectual property (fie on you, sleep)
• Get a good night's sleep most nights (contradicts previously stated resolution and the possibility of said baby as stated above)
• Learn to use Photoshop Elements
• Take a digital photography class
• Get involved in a literacy non-profit of some sort
• Organically cultivate a great looking front yard, sans weeds and ants
  

But... i would also like to keep my resolutions. Did you know that most resolutions are abandoned by mid-February? So, as proud as i would be to emulate the noble wife of Proverbs 31 (seriously, you know a guy (King Lemuel) wrote that passage), here's my *fingers crossed* realistic list for 2010:

1. Read through the Bible in a year (started a chronological journey through the Good Book today, and you know, it was so refreshing)
2. Be more active - make that daily walk a priority
3. Write more - blogging, my book, whatever, just share this ongoing mental commentary that fills my day (here's to day 1!)
4. Family + 1

Would love to support your resolutions too! May this year be the best one yet...

Happy New Year, Friends!

A good friend sent this to me today (thanks Val!), and i heart it! A great list of things to live by.

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change...
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come...
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Wishing you peace, prosperity and happiness this year! It's going to be a great one!