I never make New Year's resolutions. I know that I am one of those individuals who breaks every one of them by the end of January. So .... this year I decided to just concentrate on me. Well .... I haven't done a real bang-up job with that either!
Last year I completely remodeled our home. I painted every room (except the family room which is paneled) - for the first time ever there is COLOR on the walls! I'm so proud! Eight days into January last year I grabbed a piece of carpet in the hallway and pulled - that was the end of the carpet! I ripped up all the wall-to-wall carpeting and cleaned all the gorgeous hardwood floors beneath. I love hardwood floors and have wanted to do this for a long, long time but always put it off for one reason or another. I positively love the new look our home has taken on - it only took me 25 years, but I eventually turned our house into our home. There are still a few projects to complete, but they're small - nothing at all like a total home demolition!
So .... I decided 2009 was going to be the year to concentrate on me. My son is out of high school and in college; I have devoted my entire life to him these past 19 years - I figured I was finally entitled to be selfish. I have always gone for manicures twice a month and my wonderful hair dresser every 4 weeks that I've been with since she was in beauty school some 20 plus years ago (I called these 2 things my last luxuries in life), but I figured I was entitled to more and made a list of all the "selfish" things that would be my focus.
Well, here it is July 1 - 6 months into the year. How has my list progressed, you ask? Well .... it's sad. Old habits are hard to break I suppose. What is this list?
1. Reconnect with friends and family. Write a letter each month (an actual handwritten letter on stationary - not an e-mail) to a friend or family member that has made a significant impact on my life. I want to let them know about the impact they have made, and how I feel about them as a person, a friend.
Hmmm .... I have written two!
2. In addition to manicures twice a month I will add pedicures! Get those toes looking pretty! My thought iss to have a pedicure with every 3rd or 4th manicure - that would be every 6 to 8 weeks.
Hmmm .... I have had 1 pedicure.
3. Reconnect with local friends that "I mean to contact," but life sometimes gets in the way. Try to reconnect with them on a weekly or monthly basis - actual visual, personal contact!
Bingo! I have breakfast or lunch with two friends at least twice a month. I have been trying to get another to meet me at least once a month, but she's still in that place in life I'm trying to leave behind. These "get-togethers" are wonderful therapy sessions - lots cheaper than a professional.
4. Work on my "serene" place! I think Oprah calls it your "nook." My serene place is my front porch.
Bingo! I love sitting on my front porch - especially in the early mornings or late evenings. I have finally fixed it exactly the way I want with chairs and lots of plants and flowers! I call it my "serene" place because others in the family do not want to sit out there .... it's too hot, the gnats are out, the mosquitoes are out, my TV program is on, I want to play a video game - only a short sampling of their various excuses. It's normally just me and my dog - hence the title "serene."
5. Get my "sexy" back (that's if I ever had one)! I've never been one that was overly concerned with my "girly" appearance - I will seldom wear makeup; I will seldom wear my "good" clothes or "good" lingerie - opting instead to "save them for some important occasion;" I will seldom wear my jewelry (I have never felt I need a ring on my finger to show folks I'm married); I will seldom wear a fragrance.
Hmmm .... I started the year out wearing makeup every day. Then I decided my face needed Sunday off to breathe. Well, 6 months later I'm down to wearing it occasionally (if I need to get dressed up) or to "it's too hot today to put that goop on my face." Good thing, I guess, that my husband doesn't really like the heavy makeup look and could not care less if I wear any!
Bingo! Daily I make a conscious effort to dress "business casual." For me, that's an excellent compromise. I detest having to get dressed up and love being comfortable. "Business casual" is the best of both worlds for me .... and .... I feel I project a certain type of professional image to the public - since my business throws me in to the public and private lives of others daily.
Bingo! Daily I make a conscious effort of wear that "good" lingerie. I read an e-mail (I'm sure it's landed in your mailbox at some point - it's been in mine several times over the last couple of years) about this woman going through her sister's things and coming across "good" lingerie that had never been worn because the sister was "saving it for a special occasion." I decided I wasn't leaving behind anything unworn and that every day would be a "special occasion." Afterall - I'm alive! That's pretty special.
Bingo! I wear my jewelry every single time I leave the house! I'm so proud! A friend asked me ... Do you want to enjoy your diamonds and gold .... OR .... do you want your son's wife and children to enjoy them? Hmmm .... whatever they get will have the life enjoyed out of them before they get them - they can enjoy the leftovers.
Bingo! My son gave me a lovely fragrance for Christmas. I wear it every single day!
6. Cook more and eat out, or pick-up, less.
Hmmm .... those of you who know me and are reading this, can stop laughing now! I do very well for a couple of weeks at a time - then slipping into that old pattern just occurs. Then after several weeks of that I make up my mind I'm going to start cooking again. I do .... for several weeks .... then slipping into that old pattern just occurs. It's a never ending vicious cycle!
Looking back on my 6 month progress report I see that I have 3 "hmmms" and 3 "bingos." So, I can be optimistic and say I have accomplished 3 out of 6 "selfish" things in 6 months .... OR .... I can be pessimistic and say I have only accomplished 3 out of 6 "selfish" things in 6 months instead of more.
I think I'll be optimistic .... AND .... as a reward we will go out to eat! I'll start cooking tomorrow - afterall, "tomorrow is another day."
Making the house OUR home!
I am so proud of you and all you are doing... we need to do lunch and soon.....
ReplyDelete