Wednesday, January 6, 2010

New Year's Resolutions

I know we are already a few days into 2010, but the holidays (and my birthday!) are a bit crazy, so I never have time to sit and think about what I really want to accomplish the next year until a few days after the whole shebang calms down.  This year I have a lot of going back to the basics to do.  Last year I didn't even attempt to make New Year's Resolutions because there were so many unknowns--would Dr. C find a job?  Would Miss B be living?  How would T-Man and Fearless handle a big move? How would they handle a new sibling?  How would they handle starting school?  What would daily life be like after our child with Down syndrome is born?  It as really just too overwhelming (plus I was pregnant and hormonal!) so my goal for last year was just to survive.  Just ride out the waves and crawl to the finish line.  And that's pretty much what I did.

I'm done with that though--just surviving gets pretty boring after awhile and I feel the urge to move upward and have those Hallelujah! times and to THRIVE.  I've been thinking a lot lately about the things to do to feel happy--and I keep remembering a talk I heard by Dieter F. Uchtdorf called Happiness, Your Heritage.   I specifically like the part where he talks about our need to create, he says:
The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.
You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

With that in mind, I wrote my list of New Year's Resolutions.  I'm sharing them with you all because I do much better with following through if I know other people are keeping tabs on me.  Someday I hope to have better internal motivation, but until then, ask me how I'm doing. :)  Some of them I have already been working on and I just need to tweak or be more consistent about, some of them I used to do but just couldn't over the past year, and some of them are totally new to me. 

Here they are, in no particular order:
  • Read the scriptures every day
  • Say personal morning and evening prayers every day
  • Write in my journal at least once a week
  • Run consistently again, complete a 1/2 marathon and a full marathon
  • Go to bed by 10:30PM (this is probably going to be harder than finishing a marathon!)
  • Be five minutes early for all appointments, meetings, church, etc. (also harder than a marathon!)
  • Complete one sewing project per month (I finally got a sewing machine for my b-day and Christmas--I'll post on my new little love later!)
  • Complete one craft project per month
  • Write down one thing I love about my husband and one thing I am thankful for everyday
  • Perform one act of service for someone else everyday
  • Laugh more, scold less
I think they should all be attainable, but it is going to require work and effort on my part.  Wish me luck!

What about you?  What are your goals for 2010?  What are you going to do to make 2010 the best year ever?  Let me know and we can help keep each other motivated!

P.S. In the "create" mode, I'm also adding a new blog list of blogs that inspire me to create something--and that have instructions on how to do it.  Let me know your favorite blogs that inspire you to create so I can add them to the list!

8 comments:

The Mussertons said...

I have to ask about your new machine, I want to upgrade mine and would love to hear what you think of your new one. Great goals and I am with you on picking up a few new challenges this year. Good luck!

Adrienne said...

Great goals! I need to add some of those to my list. Just starting sewing myself and it's fun and frustrating at the same time! It's takes time I guess. Good luck on keeping your goals!

Kristen's mom said...

Seriously! I love your resolutions. I don't remember hearing that talk but I am for sure going to look it up. Good luck on your goals.

Dax, Ian, and Jude said...

Carrie, you are always so inspiring to me! I'll be checking in regularly! You know my big goal is my 365 days of walking/running. I also am trying to get more into couponing (I'm going to message you about that one). One other goal is to read one book on parenting and one book on marriage over the course of the year. I love yours about writing down one thing you love about your hubby daily. I think that would be a really concrete way to help my attitude toward him daily!! love it!

Tricia said...

Just found your blog.... I love it. Our babies are very close in age. so right away I feel a connection...not to mention most of our resolutions are the same.

It's nice to meet you!

Nicole said...

Good luck on your list of goals for the year! As far as creative blogs go, I really like homemadebyjill.blogspot.com and angrychicken.typepad.com

Have fun creating!

Jenny said...

Great goals, Carrie. I'd started my list but you inspired me to add a few I hadn't considered yet. I loved the marathon comments, since it seems like far too many things seem so difficult and I have to remind myself--you've run a marathon, you can do this! :)

I'm excited to hear about your running, since I know how hard it was for you to not get to run when you'd trained so long and far before. I remember when I found out you were training for one and I thought "wow, how is she doing that?" you were such a great example, and now that I've done it, I really believe anyone can if they want to, you don't have to be one of "those" runners, I always felt like a marathon was beyond me. anyway, I'll get off my running soap box!...excited to hear about 2010 for you and your cute family.

E. Lee said...

For crafty inspiration I love to go to Craftgawker.com. Everything is so beautiful, and though the items are for sale rather than to show you "how to" make them, it's cool to know that people crafted the items with their own skill and creativity. If they can do it, I can do it, right? ;) Have fun in 2010, and happy, happy (belated) birthday Ms. Lashauna (sp?). :)

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