New Year's Resolutions

File and pay all my taxes, including estimated, on time, and correctly.

This is hard for me because I pay taxes in two different states and own part of a family business, and even with help from an accountant it's a big headache to get everything straight. I am slowly selling out my share mainly because of this.

Hmmmm....

I think mine will be simple this year.

1) Play the piano more
2) Read more
3) Exercise more

Drink less coffee, especially nasty instant stuff.

Go to the dentist.

And something else housekeeping related that I haven't decided on yet. Last year I had a NYR to do meal planning, and I'm still doing it! See, it can work

Zillah

I really have only one, and that's no computer in the mornings.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

I don't really make 'em but I certainly wouldn't make one to read more. Maybe to only read once some work has been done, or to read a wider variety perhaps, or to read some of those on my shelves which have just never been touched. No, I refuse to make any NYR about War and Peace!

I made that computer one Lynn... I do my writing before turning the computer on. Well, ok, so I haven't done any Morning Pages since before Christmas, but I know I will go back to them these days so no guilt there.

and I made my dental appointment for February 1st, in Singapore. It's notoriously difficult to get a dentist in the UK these days so I'm buying myself some time.

Kerri.

Drink Less: I'm off alcohol entirely until February because I'm also getting my self off sugar (again) and not only do I drink too many calories in a week for no real reason other than I like the taste of red wine, I also tend to have a glass of wine and then crave sweets. So, after the self-imposed ban, I'll cut back down to one glass of good red wine a week.

I registered for the two-man marathon again, so the next one is: Don't Kill Myself at the Start. I injured myself last time out of enthusiasm. I increased milage too fast. This time I will do as the experts tell me: no more than 10% more in a week, no matter how good I feel on a praticular day or who else I am running with.

Write in my journal every night. I have a new one I love, and I think it will help me to work off some of my frustrations with DS15 in particular to get them out that way.

Last but hardest: Do Not Take the Bait. This refers to my ongoing struggle with DS15 and the way I let him manipulate me by playing into his attempts at emotional blackmail. The earth does not need to revolve around his perceived needs, and it is OK for me to say no without guilt! DSIL gave me a great pep talk New Year's Eve after witnessing one of his badgering tantrums because I wouldn't let him leave the family party at the spur of the moment to go to a teenage party without supervision. He threatened to get all Fs for the year in school if I didn't let him go, and after she gave him a sound tongue lashing, she gave me a great "ignore him" talk. I'm such a sucker for guilt though. This one will be a great internal struggle. She suggested I call her and talk about the weather next time he starts in. I'm gonna try it!

is the same age, 15, and last year pulled the same crap with me and DID fail the 8th grade. Well well well, wasn't that intelligent? Guess who is hurting now? Not dear old mom, in fact I got a break from the high school routine for one year. This also means that he won't get his license till later....wow I'll be saving money there too. Oh did I also tell you that because of his stupid behavior, I have a gun safe FULL of game systems and hundreds of dollars of games to go with them! Hmmmm Ebay is looking pretty good!
heh heh heh
Marlene, the mother from hell muhahahaha!

I've been mulling this over. I need to keep it simple because I have so much that I feel I "need" to do and never get to which makes me even more neurotic than I would normally be.

My resolution is to get a handle on my eating disorder. I'm scheduled for an intake this Friday with a counselor that works out of my Dr.'s office to address it.

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

After years of not even making New Year's Resolutions because I couldn't see the point in setting pro forma goals that I hadn't the slightest intention of meeting, I had an idea this year: New Year's Intentions. The result: I am actually on the way to fulfilling my Intentions.

(which, for the record, are:
1. Learn java
2. Improve my baking
3. Learn to sew (& knit)
4. Keep my home cleaner
5. Continue to reduce smoking)

A New Year's Resolution is basically an ultimatum: we tend to single out problem areas and assign to ourselves the task of making improvements, whether it's ending some bad habit or taking up a better habit, etc. The fulfilment rate is the stuff of one-liners because it is hard to bring our full selves to goals that we are imposing on ourselves. Moreover, it's almost impossible to get rid of undesirable behaviours without having something very specific to replace them with.

A New Year's Intention is a different matter entirely. Instead of picking out undesirable behaviours and trying to stamp them out, the New Year's Intention is some positive aspect or aspiration from inside ourselves that we seek to express fully. Instead of imposing upon ourselves an ultimatum - separate yourself from these habits or risk feeling you've failed in another 365 days - we're offering an element of our selves the chance to come into its own. Instead of pulling away, we are drawing towards.

It's only been a few days into the new year, but I think I'm going to make New Year's Intentions my New Year's tradition. As far as this year's Intentions go, I've kept my kitchen sink empty, floors, counters, and other surfaces completely clean, and stuff organised for two weeks straight now, cut my smoking in half again, already sewed the first stitches on a hostess apron I'm working on with my mother, and figured out what it was about my baking that was causing me to bake what my mom swears she did not refer to as 'cookieturds'.

Not bad for 3 January.

Elisa, you're amazing. I bet those "cookieturds" were pretty funny.

I've been mulling mine over for a while now. There are lots of things I should do, but the ones I'm concentrating on are:

1. Clean my desk (and study),
2. Return to my exercise routine (discontinued for the months of November and December), and
3. Do some writing, even if it's just for me.

I've made progress on the desk already, though it's by no means clean yet. I've been frustrated because I make a start, then get busy with other things and the desk returns to its former state before I ever get it completely clean. Somewhere I read about a woman who cleans her desk every New Year (maybe in an article here?) It seems like a good time to clear it off and start over.

Jenny:)I have pre schoolers and after reading some of your comments I am beginning to think my potty trainning battles are easy compared to dealing with teens. As for New years resolutions mine are as follows:
1) Exercisce more
2)improve typing skills (being on this ite should help, I really never use the computer)
3) keep a cleaner home ( I am neat, but not always clean)

...EVERYTHING! Yikes.

Seriously, number one would be the tonnage.

Number two would be achieving simplicity, which ironically encompasses an awful lot of changes. I know that made sense to someone out there.

One day at a time....

Julie
"We must have patience for love, born of an accidental look." --Me

Hi I'm new here but I've been lurking for a long time. This is as good a time as any to start.

1. Use my ped. and walk 10,000 steps per day.
2. Eat 5 or more fruits and Veggies per day.
3. No more procrastination exercises! Just Do It! is my new moto.
4. Make time to be creative everyday. Making or doing some craft or creative action everyday just lifts my spirits.
5. Let go of the extra stuff in my house and my life. Simplify.
6. Letting go of control. Namely my 18 yr old Dear Son. He needs to grow and make mistakes. Hopefully not bad mistakes.
7. Live each day fully. Remembering how precious it is.
8. Oh, and the big one. Learn how to knit left handed! I've tried for years. This year I'm going to do it!

There's a funny New Years Resolution generator at http://resolution.geek-foo.net/ Mine says that in 2006 I resolve to bring back disco. Seems as likely as my getting my file cabinet under control (which is my actual NYR).

shyeah.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

I resolve to get potty trained - thanks guys!

I've come up with three goals for the year, things which are simple and achievable, clearly defined, and above and beyond the general getting control of stuff ethos which I plan for this year.

1. Reconnect with God (pls don't help me with this one unless I ask for it or it will flop!)
2. Find a 'real' secondhand bookshop, the type with 'the smell'!
3. Try out some traditional homemaking crafts/skills (and knitting isn't even going to make it to the list!)

Right now I'm waiting for a plumber I expected to be very early and I'm wondering whether he forgot me!

Kerri.

What will my husband the drummer say? And he just started up with the trumpet again. Maybe being married doesn't count . . .

I otherwise resolve simply to go with the flow!

NOT IN THIS LIFETIME!

Re: NY Intention 2 (Improve Baking)

On my weekly visit at my mom's place, I for the first time made brownies completely on my own (apart from a few brief consultations with DM), and they came out delicious!