January…..I just love you. So many things to look forward to and accomplish this year! My first child will be graduating from high school and attending college! We will be having an Eagle Scout ceremony hopefully soon. My daughter is finally conquering division and multiplication…..and we just may have purged this house and got things where we want them….for now anyway 🙂
The older I get the more I realize that things don’t stay the same very long…and we can either get upset about it….or we can stay ahead of it.
In my business I deal mostly with our social media….which is in itself evolving into other things at maximum speed….and I’m excited about the challenge. I was able to really hit the mark of where I wanted to be last month….and I was able to overcome some real challenges and that makes me feel really great….but as soon as I get comfortable in that….it changes again….and I’m behind again.
Same thing with my house…..get comfortable with the cleaning and organizing…and one night you realize that it all has gone crazy.
As soon as I get comfortable with my ministry….I realize that things go awry. If I don’t change things than they won’t be engaged anymore. I can’t just do the same things every time….and I have noticed that on the days that I think I completely flub up….it actually is one of their favorite times???? How is that possible????
The same things happens with friendships……as far as I can tell….I have let those things slip. I have tried to live intentionally. I really have. Last year…my best friend moved to India….my other close friend lives in New Jersey….and many of the other people that I have become close to over the years and in the last couple of years live in the south and /or the east coast. My sister who I’m very close to lives 900 miles away from me. The friendships that I have gained that are close to me here….we just are all so busy that no one has time or makes time to get together. Last week the weather here was ridiculous….and by ridiculous I mean -13……as an actual temperature…..not a wind chill….an actual temperature! All I wanted to do each night…was eat M&M’s and curl up in a blanket. My husband actually had to beg me to go test drive a car….a car that was for me…..and I just didn’t want to do it. Of course now I’m happy that I did….but that’s just how bad it gets.
For this year….my theme for the year is….Just Breathe. I even bought a temporary tattoo to place on my forearm to celebrate the occasion. I just haven’t had the gumption (how old am I) to do it.
I want to live this year intentionally. Purchases I make, do they benefit my home? Are they necessary? What trips can we take that will enrich us, refresh us? What do I need to do for self care? What do I need to do to rekindle friendships…..to reach out to friends….that hurt…that are lonely (that will never say it). What am I adding to our schedule that is helpful or is it just another something to fill the time….so I don’t feel the pain of no adult interaction?
I’m joined a group on Facebook that I really like. I am able to get some really great ideas from….and there are some things that are really bad ideas….that I kind of giggle to myself…and then move on. I follow Instagram accounts where I love to get some even greater ideas. I so love watching different ways of doing things….but here is something that I’ve noticed that is a bit scary. First of all, I’ve noticed a trend that everyone is decorating their houses the same….I mean….carbon copy….same. I have noticed that people who really don’t posses the skill of decorating….are asking people how they did…and some are ruthless in their reply….and as I read these things….I just realized….how sad is it that instead of actually talking to real live people that now we have entered into the phase of social media friendships. It made me sad….
When I started out with decorating or figuring out my house….my sister, my friends….gave each other ideas. We talked about it….went to each others houses….and dreamed. We cut pictures from magazines and shared them with each other (we were doing Pinterest before Pinterest was cool). I had folders for different rooms, different ideas….and my house was pretty darn cute I have to admit…..but I also have to admit that I also made some pretty scary mistakes with my first apartment….and if I would have taken pictures of it and had it on social media I can’t imagine how people would have reacted….or how that could have crushed me to continue on. At the age of 43, I really do not care what people think of how I dress or how I decorate, because I am confident in what I’m doing. I can’t say that I have always had that confidence….in fact, far from it….that is something that doesn’t really come around until after our 30’s. So, I say…take the time to pick up the phone….write it in your organizer….or in your phone (I still like things on paper). Make the time for the human interaction from behind the screen….lets take things back from where they are going….lets say things to people instead of typing….lets have the fun conversations. This is my goal for 2018. To Breathe, Reconnect, and no matter what everyone says….my kid does not have to be involved in a million things to be well rounded…..that is just a FACT….and I don’t have the strength to sit through a million games of a sport my child has no intention of ever playing again.
So….breathe, interact….and get back to basics 🙂
The Reluctant Red Nose 