After spending the holidays and the last of 2008 with my son and his family in the snowy weather of Utah , I am home now dealing with the strong and unseasonably warm Southern California winds. While I enjoyed the soft white powdery snow (No wonder skiers flock to Utah) and a wonderful white Christmas with family, it was good to be back in the warm environs of California. Coming home is always comforting (nothing like sleeping in your own bed) no matter how pleasurable your journey has been. But as always, there are the ever present tasks that await one.
And of course, facing the new year and the myriad resolutions that accompanied this homecoming.
I immediately started in with my mental list; organize my "stuff", create a budget, and of course, like most, lose weight, exercise more, eat healthy, etc, etc. Then I stopped...in my tracks. Realizing that this is my usual annual to do list which is not new or particularly challenging (Well, maybe the budget will be, given the current economic situation), I opted to do something different this year ...really challenge myself.
I resolve to become a better person for my family, for my friends, for my community and, of course, for myself. How I will go about doing that will be the challenge...finding the core of who I am and improving in the best way possible. I really look forward to this. We all want to clean out the clutter, organize closets and straighten rooms. It's harder to do that with one's own being. There is so much clutter in our heads and so much straightening out to do in our lives. I have read many articles about care giving and the emphasis on taking care of oneself in order to be a better caregiver to others. It made me think about this resolution.
I vow to work at educating this brain, nourishing my soul and curiosity, improving my skills with practice and patience, and resolve to awake each day with gratitude and renewal. Life has its "bumps in the road". How we maneuver it is up to us. I plan to put on my "rose colored" glasses and drive the best I can. Taking the time to stop by the side of the road and enjoy the scenery is allowed.
