Resolutions….Do People Still Do Those?

Resolutions in 2015Maybe I’m in a cynical mood at the beginning of this year or maybe it’s because this third tri-mester of pregnancy is already kicking my rear, but I’m not feeling like making goals or plans to change my life drastically in 2015. Possibly because this baby on the way will be doing that for our family so why set myself up for failure when I really think all I’ll be doing for a few months is diapers and breastfeeding? Can I get an Amen?

And yet…..something about the fresh start of a New Year still makes me reflect and think about what I could be doing to improve myself and how our family could be a little better by this time in 2016. Last year I made some pretty simple goals with travel and fitness, nothing huge, but I felt by keeping it simple (I’m remembering that K.I.S.S. acronym here) I was much more able to focus and accomplish things rather than some grand sweeping non-specific resolution like “be in better shape” or “be a better wife.” Not that these are bad things, but HOW do I plan to do those things? This year I decided to make some categories I could focus on and put some small goals into each one. Maybe I won’t get around to starting them until the new baby will let us sleep for a 5 hour stretch, or maybe they will remain my goals for 2016, but here is what I came up with…

  • Personal growth
    • Learn to use my camera settings — I’ve had a decent camera for awhile now and my husband was kind enough to buy me a book awhile back on how to be a better photographer….I still have yet to read and apply it to my life but I want to be better about that this year.
    • Return to the gym, but be realistic — I’ve been able to keep up my zumba routine at the gym throughout pregnancy, but like I said, this third tri-mester is slowing me down and I don’t want to set unrealistic expectations for my post-partum days. (This ain’t my first rodeo so I don’t plan to be back in those pre-maternity clothes anytime soon!) So basically I’m just saying I want to stay active as long as I can until I deliver this baby, and eventually return when my body feels able to shake my booty without my internal organs falling out.
  • Spiritual growth
    • Memorize scripture as a family — We did this once before at meal times, we’d have a new verse about every week. Then life got chaotic and we moved, and moved again, and school started, etc. but I want to be better about committing ourselves to writing God’s words on our hearts and applying them into our daily lives.
    • Keep a prayer journal — It’s always done my soul good to write down my concerns and requests and thanksgivings, then to revisit them to see how faithful the Lord is….even when He doesn’t answer the way I always think He should. I want to be more mindful and putting my prayers in print will help that.
  • Family growth
    • Have a baby — Ha! But for real, if I’m truly being honest with myself I know keeping a newborn fed and clean will be the majority of my time for a few weeks/months in 2015 so why not make it a goal so I can feel I’m accomplishing something when I’m sitting on a couch for 12 hours a day nursing a baby….and maybe watching Friends on Netflix at the same time? Sounds like a win/win in my book!
    • Send birthday cards to family….on time — My grandmother-in-law is so sweet to give every member a wall calendar with birthdays and anniversaries and important dates filled out ahead of time. I want to utilize this (along with my cell phone calendar reminder) and be more purposeful about sending my nieces, nephews, siblings and parents cards on their special days. Maybe by setting a reminder at the first of every month I can go ahead and have it all ready so all I have to do is write a note and put in the mailbox that month.
  • Social growth.
    • Invite more people over for meals or just dessert –– This is one I almost hesitate to write down because I’m not the greatest meal planner and I know it’s only going to get worse as the newborn arrives….BUT until she arrives, and when she’s a few months older, I’d like to set up at least a day or two a month where we invite new people from church or friends from work or the gym or wherever into our house and share a meal….even if it is one I picked up from Little Caesar’s.

So there you have it. Just looking at it feels a tad overwhelming for this cynical attitude I’m in right now, but I think by keeping my goals relatively small with the idea in mind that a major change is coming our way soon, I’m not setting myself up for complete failure…..maybe.

What about you? Did you set goals or resolutions for yourself this year? 

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Katie
Katie left her home state of Tennessee to come pursue an interior design degree in Oklahoma fourteen years ago. She met a handsome young fella from Oregon while in school, and they decided to marry and settle down in OKC. A dog and two daughters soon followed. She has been a textile designer, showroom merchandiser, custom furniture draftsman and children’s minister, but her most challenging and favorite role has definitely been that of a mother. You can read about the adventures she shares with her family at Strawberry Ruckus. Katie enjoys reading, being creative, exploring old houses, eating peanut butter, zumba and watching complete television series all at once on Netflix.

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