First baby step of the year is setting goals.

I've had a very slow evolution back to FLYing. (Yes, a FlyLady-ism.) It's refreshing to be heading in the right direction after so many years at the bottom of my own list. I came away from reading some New Year's posts by fellow bloggers, to realize resolutions aren't the right approach for me/us this year. Our year is going to be undoubtedly full to the brim... quite possibly, very much overflowing. Many changes and challenges are looming on the horizon of our 2012. Pretty sure they'll mostly be for the better, but also very sure, it won't all be stress free.

Someone else coined the term revolution instead of resolution for 2012... yeah, that's much more what it feels like for us. For a revolution, you need a plan. For a plan to be set in motion, we need attainable goals.

1- this is the year I go back to putting myself at the top of my list. yup put the oxygen mask on myself first... daily (it's the only way I'll be able to keep up and motivate my family to lend their helping hands)... hydrate, nourish (body & soul), cleanse...again body (massage/supplements) & soul (prayer & meditation), build-up (setting aside time for working out & to read/write), sleep (making plans & concessions for when lil J obstructs the natural order)... I need my sleep, without it I'm next to worthless.

2- this is the time to re-evaluate and change up routines to facilitate action for the family at large.

3- this is the year of saying NO! No... to extra commitments on our time & energy. No... to excess expenditures. NO... to whining of capable children (including that lil girl inside myself at times). No... to play before work.

4- this is the year of saying YES! Yes... to making the hard decision to better our family (ie: savings before additional technologies and comforts). Yes... to working hard and then playing hard. Yes... to putting health before laziness. Yes... to a brighter future and easier to maintain household. Yes to rewards for hard work and a job well done!

5- this is the year to put reading at the forefront of extra curricular activities for kids & parents (growing our brains a little won't hurt us and may very well help us.

6- this is the year to re-evaluate what's really important to us individually & as a family and put those choices/priorities as the focus.

7- this is the year to figure out action plans with extended family to help family members in need.

8- this is the time to let go of things (that aren't really important) to make way for a lighter/freer life.

9- this is the year to start fulfilling my purpose

10- this is the year our home becomes an organized and well oiled machine that welcomes, envelops, comforts and uplifts each of us, our extended family & our friends.

11- this is the year that we focus on deepening & enriching inter-family relationships and having good times together.

Baby step #1 is done!
Now to print and post them in our home as a constant reminder.

I've been remiss in my efforts to get back to blogging. I've been concentrating on living & being in the moment more with the people who count most in my life. Much needed and I'm really glad I've taken the time to refocus my attention there. I've also been doing some much needed soul searching about myself, my relationships with my... -self, god, my husband, family & friends...what I need/want, what we need/want, what my purpose is...what our future holds. So much I haven't taken time for deep thinking on in probably many months, if not years now. Amazing how life can get in the way of these things sometimes.

This year I decided my only resolution would be to not make any. I know that sounds defeatist. But last year I beat myself up emotionally when I couldn't keep up with my resolutions.

This year I made myself vague goals instead:

1- work on healthier lifestyle changes (hoping to lose some weight & tone up... already some progress on that front... 15-20 lbs so far)

2- make significant progress on household projects (obviously out of need... but I also SOOOOO wanna be done with the open ended projects that abound at our home... I'm also craving ORGANIZATION in a big way)

3- get back to working with my hands in creative pursuits (some of this will naturally occur with the former goal... additionally I'd like to work at honing my photography skills more & get back to scrapbooking more regularly)

This way even modest progress will feel like significant accomplishment, instead of the reverse model of last year.
So here's to a healthier and productive 2011!