Thinking about a new year

Everybody on the QuiltArt list and on blogs I read have been talking about New Year's resolutions. Some people prefer to call them "goals" with the idea that calling it something different makes a resolution less intimidating. I don't know, it sounds about the same to me. I have gotten some good ideas from reading what others have written, others just make me tired, but here are some of my thoughts about changes I'd like to make.

1. Most of the good things that have happened to me in life have not resulted from having set it as a goal and worked toward it. Most have resulted from seizing an opportunity—usually something that was not previously on my radar and therefore was never a goal. Often the big changes that have occurred in my life were made around my husband's job. I know—not very enlightened or feminist of me, but it is what it is. But in nearly every case, that change has revealed to me an opportunity for me to do something interesting, creative, challenging. So I wonder if resolving to remain open to unexpected opportunities really qualifies as a resolution. I think it does.

2 Diane wrote a great blog entry about Joy. It really resonated with me. Everyone keeps talking about what hard times these are, and I, like many, find myself really caught up in worrying about the economy, obsessing over what the stock market is doing to my retirement savings, wishing for something better. That stuff is all real, but even more real is how great life is at so many levels and even watching the birds at the feeder out my window is an occasion for joy. Family and friends are great sources of joy for me, and this one, in particular, is my role model for how to live joyfully.

3. Rayna's list included this: "Ninety days Choose something that you would like to accomplish or change within the next 90 days. It's a more manageable length of time than a year and then you can do it again." That also made some sense to me. I find eating healthy and controlling my weight an ongoing struggle. Once again, I plan to tackle that perpetual problem and think maybe giving up all sugar and white flour for 90 days might be a way to get my habits back on track.

4. Relax. Everything doesn't have to be such a big deal.

5. Don't let other people's stress get to me. It's their problem, not mine. But it feels like my problem.

6. Go to bed earlier. That was a resolution last year. (No wait, that was two years ago. Time flies.) I did for awhile, but fell back into my night owl ways. Now I am reading that my lack of sleep is going to a) make me fat and b) kill me. Wow. I'll try again.

7. Use my Waterpik more consistently. I'm getting old, my teeth are really old. I'd like to hang onto them. But, jeez, that thing really makes me gag.

8. Art. Do more.

Eight seems like enough. If I could accomplish #2 and #4 it would be a successful year. If I can accomplish #7 my friendly hygienist, Brandy, will be happy.