How I Did on my 2004 New Year’s Resolutions
I made these resolutions last December as I started thinking about the new year. As the year has only a few weeks remaining, it’s time to look at how I did and where I want to go next year. Today: How I Did.
10. I will complete all my gift shopping for next year by March first, taking full advantage of the after-Christmas, New Year’s, Inventory Reduction, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day sales. Nope. Didn’t make this one. Maybe next year.
09. I will set my house in order, completing all of the onerous jobs like the piled-up laundry and ironing and the sorting of paperwork, so that my home is a haven of rest and peace rather than a source of stress. Making good progress on this one. Laundry’s not piled up now, but ironing still is. I’ve gotten the paperwork down from 12 boxes to 4, and we’re doing well on culling extra clutter in various areas. We had a BIG yard sale in September and got rid of a lot, and I have some things in local consignment shops and on Ebay. So the clutter is still there, but there’s less of it..
08. I will find a job that is less stressful, less demanding, and more congenial to my interests and my personality. Wow! I wasn’t really doing much on this one until I got laid off in early June. And now, I have this awesome job that I can LEAVE at 5 without guilt. And I love the people I am working for — they are really nice and patient and not over-demanding. I’ve been here since the last week in July, and I feel as if I went to Heaven.
07. I will set aside 15 minutes daily to nurture my spiritual life. Not doing so well on this one, though I did get the Bible on CD and listen to it some nights before bed and on Sundays. I need to do better.
06. I will set aside 15 minutes daily to nurture myself. Some days I make it; others not. But I’d say I’m definitely doing it more than I did last year. So that’s progress.
05. I will set my financial life in order, eliminating debt and interest payments. I will set up an emergency fund and start contributing to an IRA and college funds for my children, so that I do not suffer stress from financial worry. Well, I was doing fairly well on this until I got laid off. I had to pull most of my money out of my IRA to get us through, and the emergency fund that was up to $500 in June is now back at $0. But I have managed to pay off three credit cards. And I refinanced my house, which lowered my payments and freed up some more money to pay off the remaining debt. I’m down to about $12K now, from a high of about $25K.
04. I will follow my diet and exercise programs and lose the last 75 pounds by Thanksgiving. I’ve been letting myself have too many indulgence foods, and sleeping in too much (which means no time for exercise). I will have to be harder on myself about illegal treats. I was exercising fairly well for a while, but I have let that slip. I’m going to start again on Monday and make myself be faithful.
03. I will finish my first book and set about finding a publisher. No. Didn’t make it. Well, it isn’t going anywhere; I can try again next year. I think I am trying to do too many projects at once. I need to focus on just ONE book at a time. Then I might actually DO something.
02. I will teach at least one CPR class per quarter, so that I can help others and give back to my community. Haven’t made this one, either. I’ve got to do this to keep my certs. Next year. But I have done some things for the community, like helping at our church’s soup kitchen and stuff. So I am giving back, just not in the way I wanted to.
01. I will spend more time with my children, taking them to the zoo and to the park, reading to them, and just revelling in their presence. I will be more nurturing and more playful, remembering that they are children for only a short while, and that I must nurture our relationship now, because tomorrow will soon be past. I’m making progress here, though I am still not where I would like to be. I do make more surprise stops at the playground and the ice-cream store than I used to, and we’re reading a book together — we make it through at least one chapter a week. And each son gets one hour with me each week while the other is at basketball practise. We go to the library and check out books, then we read together while we wait to pick up brother. I’m also getting better at going back to them when I blow my stack or get too busy to attention them, apologizing, explaining why it happened, and asking forgiveness. My mom used to do that with us, and I think it’s one reason I have such a good relationship with her.
Tomorrow, I will review and revise these resolutions so that I will be ready for the New Year.
1 Comment
I’m in the process of formulating a list of resolutions myself. I’m not sure I’ll post them though. I’ll have to see how it goes. Congratulations on your success!