Well, 2011 wasn't by far the worst year I've ever had, but it wasn't the best either ...
I have dealt with a lot of health problems (some old, some new & scary), found out that some people that I thought were my friends (my BEST friends) really were NOT (THAT was a pretty devastating blow !!), and a few other things that I really just would like to leave back in 2011 ...
I don't make New Year's resolutions ... EVER ! This year, however, I felt that some things needed to change & that maybe if I broke my rule & made some "resolutions," perhaps I would be more apt to stick to them !! So, here goes:
#1) My number one, first & foremost resolution is to let my light of Christ shine brighter than it was last year !!
#2) Get my "fitness" on !!
I was super, super, super slack with working out in 2011. I have made a vow to work out 2-3 times a week at least. If I can do more, then I will, but with my health so up & down some days, I decided I should start slowly !!
#3) Cut myself some slack !!
I'm my worst critic !! I always have been !! I'm harder on myself than anyone else could EVER try to be ... Ask my mom !! I have always pushed myself & when I couldn't live up to the hype I created in my mind, I belittled myself beyond belief, tore myself down & flat out let myself have it for not being "perfect." Well, newsflash for anyone who thinks otherwise (TOTALLY joking here ...), I'm not perfect & I never will be. So, resolution #3 is to not be so hard on myself when I fail. I inevitably will fail. I'm human. Time to accept that it's okay.
#4) Read my Bible every day.
I was doing really well with this & then I stopped. I have no excuses. I need to do it & so I will.
#5) Try not to be so judgmental.
It was hard for me to acknowledge this one. I like to think of myself as open-minded. I'm not. Okay, well verbally I am, but inside, I'm just not. I think things & feel things that I may not say out loud, but they are still there nonetheless. It's not something I am proud of & I have vowed to strive to think good thoughts & not automatically see the worst in people. Focus on the good & good things will happen.
#6) Let go & let God ...
This should probably be up there with #1 ... I am really bad about praying & asking God to take control of a situation that I have not fully given to Him. While I may not know a whole lot about some things, I am certain of this : God takes charge of the wheel & does not need me as a back seat driver.
#7) Change the way you look at things & the things you look at change ...
You can't change other people & you can't make them do what you want them to no matter how much you want to or how much you love & care about them. But you can change the way you handle things & the way you look at them.
Enough said ...
#8) Do a better job of keeping my 365 Days of Thankful Blog Project on track.
I got a little behind with the holidays ... I'm a natural born procrastinator, but I am trying to make a more conscious effort to do my blog entries every day & not have to make them up !!
#9) Spend more time with family !!
Life is SHORT !! As a child, you think that people will live forever. So, the first time someone passes away, it is a totally devastating blow. Not that it isn't a devastating blow EVERY time someone passes away, but the first time is most definitely the worst ... Losing my cousins, my grandparents ~ that was hard. Losing my father was a loss that I don't think I will ever fully recover from even though I know that I will see him again some day in Heaven ...
For some reason that I will never be able to explain, the inexplicable feeling of doing everything in my power to see my family at least once a month from here on out (unless I move to another state again) came over me during the holidays. I want to make the most of my time with them, because you just don't ever know ...
So, those are my New Year's resolutions for the year. Pretty tall order, huh ? Well, as I said, I set pretty high expectations for myself & I very rarely do anything small. I know I can do it, though. I believe in me, and with God's help, I can do ANYTHING.
