Happy New Year (Resolutions)!

Today is 01 02 2010. Ross pointed that out and I thought I'd share. I do love numerical coincidences!

In other news, it's time for the annual New Year's Resolution list. I know some people don't make resolutions anymore because they say they never keep them. But I think making resolutions for the new year is a sign of optimism; and as Ross (and my parents) can attest, I certainly need all the optimism I can muster!

*Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.* -Eric Zorn

Here are my resolutions for 2010:

1) Learn to think of something else besides Community Health Nursing (and Healthy People 2010) when I say what year it is. I'm sure all of Dr. Frable's students can empathize with me here.

2) On a more serious note, I would like to start praying daily with Ross again. We were good about it for a while, but the stresses of moving and our opposite schedules have definitely put a damper on this habit.

3) FIND A CHURCH! Ross and I have been out of town or both working nearly every Sunday since the beginning of November. In October, we went to 2 different churches, but didn't fall in love with either. The next one on our list is Covenant Chapel in Leawood, KS. It's a 30 minute drive from where we live, but it looks similar to our church in Fort Worth. Even better, I have a friend of a friend who attends and she went to TCU and Christ Chapel, so I know we have similar tastes!

4) Ahhh, the budget. Always fun. Again, the move and change in paychecks has thrown us all out of whack. There's no time like the present to start again!

5) Make friends. Try to ignore the pitiful-ness of this statement; it's something I really need to work on. I am very hesitant around new people and I've been told that can come of as snobbish and aloof when really, I'm just petrified of putting myself out there! I do have a fun young group of co-workers on night shift with me, and I know of several TCU alum in the area (again, friends of friends) that I need to get together with.

6) Do yoga once (or more) a week while training for the Cowtown Marathon in February 2011! Yes, Emily Gilmore and I are still training. By June, I'd like to be comfortable running 3-5 miles without a break (it's sad how quickly running fitness escapes you when you don't put it to good use). I also plan on doing the Bike Ride Across Nebraska this June 6-12. Ross' dad, my brother Daniel, and my Uncle Bob have expressed interest in going this year. I think I've just about convinced Ross, too!

This goal may sound somewhat shallow, but I really need to get into a routine of exercising again. I'm practically euphoric after a good workout and since I'm extremely susceptible to the winter blues, exercise is going to be vital to all human interactions until summer (and even then, it won't hurt)!

7) I'm ashamed to say I don't eat as well as I'd like to. I'm making it a goal to eat at least one serving of fruits or vegetables at every meal. Even this is woefully inadequate, but I have to start somewhere!

8) Laugh more, read more, cook more, play more.

*New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.* -James Agate

*The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Unless a man starts on the strange assumption that he has never existed before, it is quite certain that he will never exist afterwards. Unless a man be born again, he shall by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.* -G.K. Chesterton

*From New Year's on the outlook brightens; good humor lost in a mood of failure returns. I resolve to stop complaining.* -Leonard Bernstein

*I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.* -Anais Nin (Interesting way of saying there's no point in trying... Bah humbug to this type of statement!)

*An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.* -Bill Vaughan (he has also said, "Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.") I was up, feeding a baby at work at midnight on New Year's and Ross had fallen asleep on the couch trying to stay up :o) What does that say about us?!

Happy New Year to all of you! May 2010 find you filled with joy and abundant blessings in your life.