A Simpler 2015

So, it's early December and I am already thinking about my resolutions for next year.  I am a sucker for self-improvement.

My theme is one that I have used before in my life, but I am having a hard time sticking to it.  My theme this year is once again to simplify my life.  With two lovely little girls and a dear husband, my goal is to spend as much quality time with them as possible (and also with my extended family, which really just feels more like my immediate family.)

I also am exploring food and health again.  I find this is my most passionate topic as of late.  I want to grow, buy, and cook good food.

So, here's my list of ideas for my resolutions in 2015 with the overarching goal being simplicity.

1.  Delete my Facebook account- I will talk to Audrey about this more.

2.  Resign from coaching Varsity volleyball.  It takes too much time away from my family and teaching.

3.  Spend more time planning and preserving my garden this year- I need to CAN my fruits and veggies- I will talk to Joann and the Barbs in my life about this.

4.  Possibly downgrade my smartphone to a "dumbphone."  Save money and time.

5.  Increase my monthly payment on my last undergraduate student loan.  Perhaps pay off this year?

6.  Read more books from the library to myself and my girls.

7.  Cook more meals at home.  Meal planning system- Jill gave a good idea for this.

8.  Regular saunas.  I feel my SISU return in the sauna.


I need to choose all of these things, but will decide on which ones to focus before January 1st.  I think some of the big time suckers could really help me in the other areas.  It's all about the time.  My most precious commodity.

I might do some 30 day challenges with my resolutions to see if I can get many of them to stick?

Practicing Mindfulness: My Resolution

It's a frigid New Year's day, and I am home sitting in my fluffy blue bathrobe drinking strong coffee.  I just read part of my book, after savoring my yummy rice pudding for breakfast.  My family is sleeping in the bedroom, and my dog is sleeping below my chair.  This feels good.

My New Year's resolution for this year reflects my current mindset of simplification.  I have always been a proponent of simplifying in life, but sometimes I lose sight of this.  Like Emerson and Thoreau, I would like my commitments to be limited to a few, and ones that I've chosen, not ones that have been chosen for me.  Our lives are truly frittered away by detail. 

So this year, I have one resolution:  to be more mindful.  I want to consistently be aware of myself and make smart decisions about my time and actions.  If I sit back to think and feel more deeply, I inevitably come to the same ideas about what I want and need to do for my happiness. 

So I want to be mindful.  Pay attention to myself.  Be gentle with myself.  Be happy. 

Happy New Year!