Let's Try that Again....

…my last post addressing the New Year was rather cynical and aloof which really isn’t my style, so let’s begin anew…

Happy New Year!

Believe me, I’m fully aware the New Year is well underway but I’ve always been a late bloomer. I consistently prove to be ‘a day late a dollar short’ type of person so bear with me as I indulge you with my thoughts on beginning 2013.

If you recall my post last year at this time (click here to read it), I pronounced I didn’t believe in making resolutions merely because the pages of January replaced December. Why set myself up for failure when weeks later, I undoubtedly will fall short of said desired goals.

Therefore, I will proceed with declaring my ‘word’ that will be the focus of the next 365 days. Last year my word was ‘present’ as in ‘to be present’. My hopes when choosing this utterance were many but primarily to allow my mind and heart to center on the places and people within my midst at any given moment. The desire was to negate worrying about circumstances in which I had no immediate control.

To surmise my progress I must update the happenings of 2012. A job transfer necessitated a school swap which altered my immediate supporting cast; need I remind you I am not a proponent for change? My time, energy and efforts gravitated toward the eleven precious little ones under my care at school while my husband and son soldiered on and held down the home front.

So was I ‘present’ throughout? While the answer to that precise inquiry is up for discussion I do know one thing; the New Year does invite one to pause and evaluate the status of one’s life, namely mine.  I’ve given immense vigor without regret in the workings of my classroom so I am able to comfortably stand before you and proclaim my word of 2013…

Drum rolls please….BALANCE!

The focus of my days, at least for the next 359 is to retain those activities I relinquished; my blogging, marketing my book as well as developing the next. I will preserve the sacrificed quality time with ‘my boys’ in the evenings and on the weekends rather than conduct school work.  I will uphold taking care of myself in regards to taking walks and eating healthy. I will carry on the interests in scrapbooking, reading and photography. But most of all, I will sustain the behaviors of being the friend I’m known to be for folks in my life that need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to hear or could do with a hug.

Accordingly, in 2013 I can and will work in the direction of grasping all elements that encompass a full and healthy life; I welcome and embrace the ensuing transformation.

Welcome 2013!

 

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life-

learn some and think some

 and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some."

Robert Fulghum

A letter to 2012~

Dear 2012,


As characteristic, you began that dark evening at the stroke of midnight with such hope and promise as all new beginnings do; we clung to it as that of a child with a security blanket.

I imagine we were all attempting to prevail over the tragedies of 2011; the Penn State scandal, the assassination attempt on Gabby Giffords that ultimately killed 6 and wounded a dozen others and the deadliest tornadoes in the southern United States that killed hundreds. We were repeatedly disillusioned with our government with rising gas prices and our involvement in foreign issues that took billions of U.S. monies from the citizens in our own backyard to name a few.

But alas, the year was closing and the eagerness to embark upon you, 2012 came with exuberance and excitement. Fair or not, we placed on your commencement immense anticipation of transporting responses to our prayers and cheerful progressions to our dreams.

With the passing of 365 days however, I am NOT filled with hope as I desired, but rather disappointment and despair in our world. Those feelings also were encompassed by family and friends. Many have buried loved ones and struggle daily with loss and depression. Jobs have been lost but not a hint to replace- unemployment checks vanished as our government would rather engage in recreation than resolve problems.

Our paychecks are smaller as a result of exorbitant tax rates and expanding insurance costs (although most can’t afford to even undergo medical procedures without amassing major debt) yet the cost of goods continue to mount. Our world’s anger is evident as growing violence and mass killings occur that bewilder and perplex.

So 2012, your time has come to an end and our faith and optimism is now placed upon 2013. Like my loved ones, obscured deep within is the undying optimist that my world-OUR world will ring in the New Year and suddenly the obstacles will be addressed and diminished.

However, I have misplaced that childish belief that a fresh number will carry with it new-fangled ideals, but I do take comfort in these words: Never let go of hope. One day you will see that it has all come together. What you have always wished for has finally come to be. You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself; how did I ever get through all of that?

God willing…

In closing, I bid you farewell 2012 and welcome 2013~