Resolution progress report

Well, ok, they're not resolutions, more like guidelines. I vowed to try to focus and be more healthy. Here's what I wrote:  I will try harder

So far things are going pretty well. Vitamin and water consumption is up in the house. I've been taking vitamins C, B, D & Echinacea almost every day. The kids do a multi vitamin, plus an extra C.

I skated today on our rink, and also walked the doggies for about 40 minutes through the snow. I note the snow because it's not as easy going as the indoor track I once frequented. The fresh air is good too. It's been awfully cold but I wore my big parka. Dogs and I go out for a big walk several times a week. I've skated twice this year. For the kids it's daily, if not more. Ry played 5 hockey games on the weekend, 6 if you count Friday.

Cupboards and freezer are pretty close to bare around here, so we've been successfully using up what we have on hand.

I had a little meltdown the other day and cried a bit. But I felt better afterwards. I think the key for me is to slow down and not always try to multi-task. Like everyone, I can get a little overwhelmed.

So tonight I took my son with me grocery shopping and we even stopped at a Future Shop because he wanted to look around. No racing through aisles and trying to set land-speed records at Safeway to make up for the unanticipated detour.  It was a nice change for us. Usually we're bound by time and lists.

We grabbed a couple Air Miles bargains at Safeway.  I hope to grab a few more. Air Miles do come in handy for gift cards, small electronics and that kind of thing. Last year we used Air Miles to buy Disneyworld park passes. That was an awesome use of them. Saved me about $500 on two passes.

I washed some more clothes and set them aside for donation, then tossed out some old leaky boots. So the house purge continues.

All in all, I think I'm doing just fine.  January is a tough month. Especially if you're cooped up indoors a lot with the cold weather or illness. If your resolutions are less than perfect, I'd encourage you to not give up. Just cut yourself a little slack, take a deep breath and keep going.

I Will Try Harder

Each January 1st people around the globe make resolutions. They start fresh, quit bad habits and try to make changes.

It frightens me at how intense the diet push is this time of year. It seems that every second TV commercial is regarding weight loss, or fitness. Now of course I understand marketing and timing... strike while the iron is hot, but still, I take offence to these messages capitalizing on people's personal insecurities. I do think that there are things that everyone can do to be more healthy. I support that fully. But emotional marketing and intense commercial pressure is what I object to.

I do my very best to only make promises I can keep. Not everything works out, but that's life. I try not to rationalize my way out of something that is difficult, but accept that things change and other things still are beyond your control. You can not control the actions of others, but only how YOU react to it.

In regards to New Year's Resolutions, I don't do anything formal or life changing.  Instead I make vows to work harder and stick to the things I already believe in. As in... "I will try harder" because these acts are important to me and how I run my life.

Here's what I want to work on in 2013. I will try harder...

1) to make sure we (my family) take more vitamins and drink more water.

2) to keep walking and skating regularly.

3) focus more on quality rather than quantity.

4) give more compliments.

5) continue to support charities that support people, not corporations.

6) to purge the house and recycle as much as possible.

7) to sleep more.

8) to use what we have before we buy more. (groceries, gifts, shampoo etc)

9) to moisturize more.

10) to stress less.


Is there anything on your personal list?  What will be important to you in 2013?