In true Christina fashion, my "New Year's" post is a little late. It's not as late as my Christmas cards though! Those are about 7 years behind. I actually have 2 sets of cards that I purchased but never wrote on. I even had one set of cards that I wrote on and addressed but never mailed. I keep thinking "This is the year I will mail Christmas cards". Sometimes I even get the notion that I will include a family letter. You know, the letter where I tell you all the wonderful and amazing things we did so you may ooh and aah appropriately. Or, what the heck, you can ooh and aah inappropriately. (Not sure what that would even sound like...)
2012. I must admit, 2011 has been hard for our family so I was ready to see 2012 get here. Not that a calendar change would automatically make all things better but there is something reassuring about saying "Last year, we went through...". Not sure why that is easier. We are still facing some of the same things but it seems like we have a bit of a new start to it now. Tackling it with fresh perspective. Or maybe I'm just feeling optimistic today.
New Year's Resolutions. I've never been a big follower of this tradition. Not sure why but it just never clicked with me. It seems a lot of people have grand schemes that fall flat before the they ever get off the ground. Good intentions but no follow through. (I'm counting myself among the "lot of people".) I think instead I will face each challenge one by one. Some changes are small and some are bigger but can be broken down into manageable pieces. I am now thinking that improving my spelling skills should be on this list. It took me 4 tries to type manageable correctly.
I'm not going to start listing all of the ideas in my head but I'll start with one or two. I have already accomplished two goals recently. One, I actually posted to my blog. I kept saying I would but then it would be a month since my last post and I would feel pressured to come up with something amazing to say to justify the long delay. Not that I think anyone is losing sleep over the delay. Occupying their day staring longingly at my page waiting for a new posting. Second small goal, I managed to watch an entire episode of Biggest Loser without snacking. Why does this show lead me to snack? You'd think it would lead me to the elliptical but no. I've heard three other people talk about this recently so I know I'm not alone.
See, my goals are not lofty. They are relatively easy (although I was tempted by some leftover Christmas candy last night watching Loser). Perhaps instead of long term goals I should think one day at a time. Today, I have to go the commissary. This is not my favorite thing to do especially with the monkeys along for the adventure. So, today's goal is to approach the commissary with a better attitude. Not muttering under my breath when someone blocks the entire aisle. Not thinking they should have a driving class requirement to use the electric scooters. Not sighing when another "vertically challenged" person asks me to get something off the top shelf. (Seriously, I don't mind doing this but why is it not OK for me to ask a shorter person to get something off the bottom shelf? I haven't tried it but I'm sure the response would not be favorable!) Not scanning the freezer section for a space large enough to put a 9 year old in. Or a 10 year old. Or maybe both. Not wringing my hands at the urge to shove the bagger out of the way and say "Good grief, I'll do it myself" when they take my carefully separated groceries and place one frozen item in every bag.
Hmm, perhaps my attitude towards the commissary is worse than I thought. In an effort to break this into more manageable pieces (whoo-hoo, got manageable right on the first try!), today I will attempt to go to the commissary and return with my groceries and my children. OK, maybe I could try a little harder than that...
