Friday, January 13, 2012

A New Year

Well, I have been debating just what type of post I wanted to write going into 2012.  There is always the recap of the past year ... mine wouldn't be very consistent 'blog-wise' ... my posts ranged from life events to home projects to random thoughts.  Lets sum it up by saying that 2011 was eventful in that both of my children were married ... my daughter in January and my son in July.  Life changing indeed.  The other stuff was minor.

I could always go with a New Year's resolution post but, I don't do resolutions per se.  I mean, if I've learned anything in 60 years, it is not to deliberately set myself up for failure.  It is easy enough to fall short of goals without proclaiming them to the universe.  I do, of course, get into that 'eat healthier' and 'organize' mind set each January.  I wonder if there is anyone out there who doesn't considering the play that these ideas get in all forms of media.  So, no resolutions post.

Seriously, it has gotten so that getting through the holidays is achievement enough.  I can put away the decorations and sigh with relief that I won't have to pack that stuff out of the attic for another year.  I don't want to sound like Scrooge but, it gets harder every year.  Also, by the time I get into late January, I just want to fast forward right on into spring.  Although we've had a fairly open winter this year in the Pacific Northwest, it is cold.  I'm ready to get outside, wear flip flops and enjoy some sun.

In the meantime, I'm doing what everyone else is doing ... focusing on eating healthier, doing those house projects and just finding time to settle in for the rest of the winter.  When I reflect on the past year, it is to note not only those big events but to realize how quickly it flew by.  This year will be no different.  It causes me to ponder making better use of the days that are given to me.

I need to worry less about what needs to be done and spend more time doing what makes me happy.  I need to find the time for friends and family that I don't see often enough.  We never really know how long we'll have each other.  I need to check a few things off my bucket list.  In other words, I will focus on finding more joy in the everyday aspects of life ... and in the occasional extraordinary things that come my way.


HAPPY NEW YEAR