(picture taken by Ashley Spalding)
This is the moment of embarking.
All auspicious signs are in place.
In the beginning, all things are hopeful. We prepare ourselves to start anew. Though we may be intent on the magnificent journey ahead, all things are contained in this first moment: our optimism, our faith, our resolution, our innocence.
Deng Ming~Dao
I have never been one to make resolutions at the beginning of the New Year. Why put pressure on oneself to potentially fail, especially at the beginning of a new year? I try to set small positive goals instead. Even though I am now 50 years old, I keep sticking with baby steps, hopefully going forward, but knowing I will take a few steps back as well.
One thing I have found over the years is that I tend to be hard on myself, as I am sure many of you are as well. I think it is a woman thing...don't you? I bet you have just as hard of a time sitting in front of the tv without some sort of knitting in your hands, while perhaps your SO is comfortably stretched out on the sofa watching the ball game. Our mothers programed us well, didn't they....or did they?
There are many days that I think to myself ....geez grrl, you are not getting many things finished, but yet today when I finally got around to putting all of my finished items for the year in a photo album, I realized that I actually did get a lot done, especially given my workload.
So........even though I don't make resolutions, this year I am going to make a small, positive one. I am going to try to stop being so hard on myself. To stop pushing beyond what is reasonable and to take a break to enjoy the quiet moments that come along the way when I can.
How about you? What are your resolutions?
This post rang so true for me. Why are we so hard on ourselves?
I select a word for my theme of the year - and this year it is 'acceptance'.
There's a great list of words at Christine Kane's blog.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Michele | Friday, January 02, 2009 at 09:57 AM
Being gentle with yourself is a good skill to learn :-)
Besides, it feels so much better than the alternative!
Many New Year's blessings to you and your family.
Posted by: Teyani | Friday, January 02, 2009 at 09:55 AM
I know what you mean. I'm in constant activity. And constant thinking. Need to slow everything down!
Posted by: Kathy | Friday, January 02, 2009 at 09:54 AM
What a lovely post, Kim. Being kind to yourself is the best goal of all. If you can't love yourself who can you love? You've inspired me to work on the same goal. This year I was very hard on myself.
Posted by: margene | Friday, January 02, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Happy New Year! The main focus of my goals for this year is not to try and cram so much into one moment that I miss the beauty of it. :)
Posted by: Ruinwen | Friday, January 02, 2009 at 07:30 AM
I liked Terry's post, about why should we mark this day in any different way? I don't think I've ever kept a resolution all the way through. So I'm just going to keep going and sharpen where I've been...fitting back into my clothes, exercising more regularly. But I started all that before january 1!
Posted by: Laurie | Friday, January 02, 2009 at 06:46 AM
Happy New Year Kim! Mine are the same as yours and to live life to the fullest. I feel I don't do the latter enough. You just don't know in life when your number is called and your time is up. I also want to resolve to eat healthier- I've never been this heavy and it feels awful.
Posted by: Manise | Thursday, January 01, 2009 at 10:09 PM
I don't really make any resolutions but I think your idea is a great one.
Posted by: Carole | Thursday, January 01, 2009 at 09:53 PM
I am resolving to find myself. I am 31 and feel as though I have been resisting the urge to wander...
The real Kate is somewhere in me... I hope 09 is her year to shine.
Posted by: Kate | Thursday, January 01, 2009 at 09:20 PM
I only have 2, spin more, and get my orange belt in karate, the first belt of eight. Both are doable, and enjoyable, so I think I'll be OK. Relaxation is something I have to work at sometimes too.
Posted by: Ali | Thursday, January 01, 2009 at 09:17 PM
Some of my resolutions are to be more lenient with myself and learn to just say no. And put aside more time for relaxing and knitting and sleeping.
Wishing you a very wonderful 2009!
Posted by: Renee | Thursday, January 01, 2009 at 08:56 PM
Kim- Much the same as yours. We never stop learning, and we can learn to be kinder to ourselves.
You are one of the most industrious people I know- I feel positively inert compared to you.
Posted by: Lorraine | Thursday, January 01, 2009 at 08:18 PM