You know that Twilight Zone deja vu feeling where you think "I've done this exact thing before"?Well, I've recently discovered that my life actually is on deja vu mode. I am just finishing year 4 of a 5 year journal. Each page covers one date for all 5 years, so I can look back on that day and see what I was doing in past years. Of course, the dates are all on different days of the week each year, cause that's how the years work, so you wouldn't think I'd be doing the SAME thing on the SAME day, except for holidays. But, a lot of the time, I do. It's creepy. Like how on December 29th last year, I took my kids to the dentist. Then I did it again on December 29th this year. And this just keeps happening, going to the temple with the same friend on the same day, or celebrating my birthday the exact same way. It's time to shake it up baby! So. . .
RESOLUTION #1 STOP COPYING MYSELF. GET A LIFE AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS ON DIFFERENT DAYS. MAKE MY JOURNAL PROUD!
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| I did try a bunch of new things this last year. That was a good journal day. |
I turned 40 this year. My pants are feeling tight. I hate that more than I hate Utahn's aggressive driving. So. . . .
RESOLUTION #2. HAVE PANTS THAT ARE NOT TIGHT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. IF I KEEP THIS VAGUE, I CAN DEFINITELY ACHIEVE THIS.
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| Whatever it takes |
So, back to turning 40. I am definitely feeling old, cause, sadly, I can't really control my body thinking it's a zombie, but I can control, somewhat, my self talk. And, in addition to falling apart, I'm also getting wrinkles and gray hair. So. . .
RESOLUTION #3 LOVE MY CHANGING HAIR AND FACE. THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS LIKE" SPARKLY UNICORN HAIR, CELESTIAL LOCKS, LOVE LINES, CREASES OF JOY, AND MEMORY MARKS" instead of "GRAY HAIR, WRINKLES, or UGLY MIDDLE AGED BAG LADY."
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| What's not to love about this face? Don't answer that. |
For about a year, I made it to the temple every week. I loved this, but then I became PTA President and it got harder and more spread apart. And then I got out of the habit, so it's become more like 1-2 times per month. So. . .
RESOLUTION #4 GO TO THE TEMPLE WEEKLY. MAKE AN APPT. AND KEEP IT!
Just over a year ago, I finally wrote something "for real", the words to a song, "The Armor of God" and my dear friend wrote amazing music. We are on our way to becoming what I like to call "Mormon famous" which means Mormons all over the world will know and love our song, but not really know who wrote it. You might be thinking, "Oh, they'll know," but I bet you don't know who wrote "I am a Child of God" and, if you do, it's cause you are a music nerd. So. . .in addition to my goal of becoming Mormon famous. . .
RESOLUTION #5 WRITE ANOTHER SONG WITH JENNETTE. AND WRITE A SONG BY MYSELF- A DECENT ONE THAT ISN'T ABOUT MY DOG KNOCKING DOWN MY CHRISTMAS TREE, A SERIOUS SONG, CAUSE MY 4 LINE JELLYFISH SONG IS PRETTY GOOD, BUT I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE FEEL GOD'S LOVE, NOT JUST BE SILLY.
I really like to write, so I'm going to have two about writing. I haven't quite finished my Otter story, although I've been working on it, so. . .
RESOLUTION #6 FINISH THE OTTER STORY BY FEBRUARY. WRITE ANOTHER STORY. SUBMIT AN ARTICLE/STORY TO A MAGAZINE.
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| Yes, the door is covered in otter pictures. |
Ever since I had to give up exercising, due to my leg problem, I haven't been very thirsty. This might be part of why my pants have "shrunk". So. . .
RESOLUTION #7 DRINK MORE WATER. MEASURE IT. QUIT BEING A NINNY ABOUT HAVING TO PEE A LOT AND JUST DRINK THE WATER!
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| I might need to get creative. |
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I've been dealing with anxiety for about 3 years. It was a lot better, but it's not so great right now. One of the worst symptoms is that I sometimes suddenly feel like I can't breathe, and then, well, I struggle to take a breathe. I'm not sure if it's the season, the poisonous air in Utah, my inability to exercise much, hormones, chemicals, genetics, or the planets aligning in a way that irritates my chi, so. . .
RESOLUTION #8 BREATHE. RECOGNIZE THAT MY MIND IS POWERFUL AND THAT BREATHING IS A GOOD IDEA. PRACTICE CONSCIOUS DEEP BREATHING AND RELAXATION.
RESOLUTION #8 BREATHE. RECOGNIZE THAT MY MIND IS POWERFUL AND THAT BREATHING IS A GOOD IDEA. PRACTICE CONSCIOUS DEEP BREATHING AND RELAXATION.
My kids are growing up really fast. My oldest left home in August and is hoping to go on a mission this next year. My next oldest will start his Senior year in 2018.My oldest daughter will start High School. The next two will be in 8th grade and 6th grade. My baby will turn 8 and get baptized. Time just feels faster and faster the older I get. I want to set a goal that is just for my children, so. .
RESOLUTION #9. LISTEN. WHEN MY KIDS WANT ME OR NEED ME/ I WILL CONSISTENTLY GIVE THEM MY FULL ATTENTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THEN STRIVE TO TRULY LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND. Finish studying "How to talk so your kids will listen and listen so your kids will talk" to help me with this goal.
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| They are worth it! |
I've heard that goals are accomplished by setting small goals that add up to large goals, so.. .
RESOLUTION #10. MAKE A LIST OF SMALLER, MEASURABLE GOALS, WITH DEADLINES WHERE HELPFUL, THAT ADD UP TO THESE LARGER RESOLUTIONS. CHECK PROGRESS ON THE LAST DAY OF EVERY MONTH.
Well, that's it. Ten realistic resolutions. All I really have to do to achieve them is. . . .
Try new things
buy new pants
Love my face
Serve the dead
Be creative
Drink
Breathe
Listen
and REPEAT!
What are your resolutions?
P.S. I'm relieved to report that I haven't blogged about this before, at least I think I haven't, although there's this strange feeling of deja vu right about now. . .
