Anyone given any thought to New Year's resolutions? I swore off of them about 10 years ago (I made a resolution to never make another resolution!) but my WW leader mentioned something a few weeks ago about the on-going decisions to have a healthier year...and taking steps to make that so...which has caused me to give a little thought to what I think healthier really is.

I've heard that there are 3 aspects to health -- mental, spiritual, and physical...and that our health, productivity, and happiness rest on a balance of these, a lot like sitting on a 3-legged stool. When one leg is shorter than the others, we lose our seat. And I thinkI'm learning that it is almost impossible for me to make any lasting progress in one area while neglecting the others. So, with that in mind, I'm thinking that I'd like to try to make some progress in all three of these areas.

For the mental part, I would like to continue to get organized (which means attacking that nasty procrastination habit!) -- as the years pass, it seems like keeping the details under control is the key to a LOT of my serenity (and helps me not to binge as often!) AND I would like to read more books this year (maybe I should just read some books on getting organized. Hey, that's the ticket!)

Spiritually, I would like to be closer to God this year. To seek and do his will w/more courage and fewer excuses. And I'd like to be less judgemental; more compassionate and merciful. This reminds me that sometime in the past I began to pray that God would help me be more consistent. And I know that he is trying to improve the part of my character that LOVES to start things and HATES to finish them.

Physically, I would like to continue to move toward more consistent, good health habits -- to include more healthy foods in increasing proportions in my diet, do less unnecessary obsessing about what I can and can't eat, and get good, consistent exercise...and hopefully lose a few more pounds to boot!

I should probably print this out and tape it to my bathroom mirror!

These are all big goals which require baby steps...nothing new about that. So, maybe I should start praying for patience too!

No number goals for me this year. I think that's a good thing. I don't think I have EVER met a number goal w/a time limit -- so, to heck w/that! And even if I did manage to see a number (and I think we all know what type of number I'm talking about!) by a certain day (this is pure speculation on my part, you understand. I have NO first hand knowledge of such a phenomena!), I'm not sure that number on that day would reflect much at all of what I'm here for and all that I want to do w/my life. Don't get me wrong. Losing weight for many of us is and shall be one of the greatest character building contests of our lives, I think. Facing day after day the never ending challenge of saying "No" to what we want and Yes" to what we need is one of the hardest things in the world. People who haven't struggled w/this the way we have may have no idea what it is to face that dragon day after day. Sometimes we poke him with our swords, but sometimes he pokes us right back! We may never be able to kill him (though sometimes he goes to sleep for a bit and that's a GOOD THING!), but as long as we don't give up and quit, he can't kill us either.

How in the world did I start out writing about New Year's resolutions and end w/some crazy dragon-slaying metaphor? I need a life!

I would love to hear everyone else's thoughts on this subject, if you have a minute or two.

Have a great 2002. It's a gift!

Love,
Sooner

New Year's Resolutions? I don't believein them. I think they are a false sense of trying to put order in your life, somewhat akin to climbing the Himalayas with a toothpick. I agree with what you're saying Sooner, the three aspects of our lifes that so easily get out of control.

If I had a "resolution" per se there would be two of them. First and foremost that my family was healthy, secure, and content. The second is to add to that family with another bundle of joy. Both of these can only be accomplished with a little work from me and a lot of God's blessing.

All other things fall by the wayside as I see it, the first 'resolution' encompasses myself as being part of the family. I know I can control my eating habits and I know that the weight doesn't have to be a part of me if I let it be that way.

So tonight I toast the New Year--here's my bottle of water! Clink!

I believe that I want to create a family resolution. I would like to do a family makeover. I need to make my boys more responsible for cleaning the house, this would also help me so that I do not have to do it all.

I would like to plan on meals in the evening, with all family members present, including a prayer before the meal begins.

I need to sort the boys clothes, they have way too many, an some of them do not even fit.

I need to reorganize our home.

I need the family to be on a schedule, with bedtimes, reading times and stuff like that.

I need to be more organized with my meal planning and doing my chores during the week so that the weekends could be spent playing and enjoying my boys.

I need to quit being so lazy and move around more, I need to make exercise a part of my life, as well as my family's.

I need to eat healthy and behave healthy.

I do not know if these are resolutions or just my wishes, I can start them anytime, but I am starting them today as a part of the New Year and a start on the new Me!

jenny

I really should be cleaning my kitchen and doing the dishes, Sooner but the little guy is busy playing (read...making messes) and the big kid is at wrestling practice. I read this post shortly after you had posted it and have been thinking about it since.

I gave up saying that I will lose a gazillion pounds by the end of the year and get rid of all the other little nasties in my life. But this year I am vowing to make changes and they may sound very corny indeed.

I want to live life bravely and with balance and with sanity. I want to continue this "nesting" thing that has been going on around my house. I want the darn basement cleaned up and made into a playroom for the boys......OH POOKY>>>>>>when are you coming my way?????? I want I want I want!!!! I want to love my dh and my boys the best that I can...they deserve it. I want to be more prayerful and realize that it is my stubborness and unwillingness to yeild that gets in the way.

As to my eating and my weight, well, I don't seem to have the hunger that drives getting to the goal stated on the weight charts but I also don't seem to have the hunger to compulsively over eat at a moments notice. Although I do have moments of great emotional hunger, they are less and somewhat in perspective. Life is not perfect, I am still not in onderland and may never be but that is pretty good progress at least for me. I have not been on the scale for months but I feel pretty good. I want to eat sanily and low carbish most of the time..I just feel better when I do.

So that is the scoop from here...live life everyday to the fullest, love my family, be sane and balanced...I can do this right? RIGHT!

love ya!
peach

Peach you're crackin' me up! I would love to come and do your basement, alas money and time are my greatest enemies! Happy card making!

you mean that one nickel I am going to send you won't cover your expenses??????

see peach diving under her sofa cushions yet again!

ROFLMAO!!!

When you get done at Peach's, come down south. My daughter wants a room like Miree's!! Can you do Barbie? You could make a million!!!

Peachie, can you and Pooky come my way when you have converted your basement to a playroom for your boys? That is my wish for my basement. I think it would be the answer to the clutter problem in our house. I think that my boys want that also.

Please, please, please, help me!

Looking forward to your visit, sorry but my couch only contains pretzel crumbs.

jenny

Hey, I am only one woman with 2 hands!!! (although I think they should equip Mommies with 8 after they leave the hospital with their new babies! ) I'm telling ya, the business I could get--got me thinking now...

I LOVE these "resolutions!" So much good stuff to think about. Thanks!

AND -- while you guys are planning, how 'bout coming to Iowa and helping me knock the wall out between my kitchen and dining room and do a remodel? When DH asked me to write a list of what I wanted for Christmas, top of the list was New Kitchen (he got me long underwear, hunting boots, and gloves -- at least the underwear was silk...).

I w/you, Peach, on the "nesting" thing -- it's just so much fun to work w/space and light and color. I'm not that good at it yet, but I'm getting better.

Gotta fly, ladies!

Sooner