We have all made it through the holidays. I just finished packing away the last Yoda-Wearing-a-Santa-Hat ornament and throwing the remaining Christmas cookies in the outside trash can (I can't trust myself to throw cookies in the kitchen trash because I might fish them out during a 4:00 PM energy slump emergency.)
Truth? I am feeling bloated and not prepared for 2017. It is that bitter cold time of year, in Wisconsin, when I rush home to put on my stretchy PJ pants and oversized, stained t-shirt. I have been spending hours watching Millie, our new kitten, play with her glitter balls. Yes. It is time to craft some 2017 resolutions.
Travel back in time with me to January 2013. This was the last time I wrote resolutions. My marriage was ending. It was snowing A LOT and I had thrown out my back trying to start the snow blower. Plus, my three kids still needed meals and snacks DAILY. I was clearly overwhelmed.
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The ears and bow are cute and all, but I would run the marathon dressed as Snow White.
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So I did what all overwhelmed people do, I started writing New Year's Resolutions. And I did not stop at 1 or 2 paltry weight loss goals. I crafted a detailed, 14 page narrative on how I would make 2013 the BEST year of my life. I was finally going to finish writing a best selling novel while training to run a 1/2 marathon in Disneyland! I would volunteer every week at Old World Wisconsin, living out my dream of wearing wool clothes in August while churning butter. (Old World Wisconsin is a quick two and a half hour, round trip commute from my house. I could learn a language while driving to and from my volunteer gig.) I would give my children swimming lessons in fresh water lakes while driving to the Grand Canyon. Finally, I would take the remaining two classes to get my English degree. (Beowulf and Advanced Grammar. Never mind that I got a D in Non-advanced Grammar.)
After I finished writing my resolutions, I called my friend, Ellen, to read them to her. (You may remember Ellen from my "Hot Mess at Hot Yoga" posts. She was the one who told me to get over myself because no one was looking at me attempting the "Tipping Bird" pose. I can always trust Ellen's honesty, just as she can trust mine. Ellen once ran her "Get Your Ass to Class" campaign by me. She designed it to target all of her tardy students. Her idea got two definitive thumbs down from me.)
Luckily Ellen didn't have any plans for New Year's day since she had time to listen to my resolutions in their entirety. After I finished reading and was gulping water to rehydrate, Ellen wasted no time in saying, "You can't do all of that! It is all completely crazy." Now, this could have been my "Rocky Moment" and I could have countered with, "Oh yeah? I have 12 months to prove you wrong!" But I heard the truth in her words and was relieved I didn't have to drive cross country with my kids. I decided if I woke up every morning with enough sanity and energy to get through the day - that would be enough.
Join me next time when I share my 2017 resolutions. There are 12 of them, but I promise to keep them brief.
Happy New Year! May your year be full of "Rocky Moments."
Prairie Eydie
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