New Year

Alas the year has come to a close. And the memories that we will have of the time that is past - are already made and remembered. A fresh new start comes with the beginning of a new year. My New Year's resolutions usually tend to lean more towards goals - like a change in attitude or perspective - instead of a more tangible goal of "doing" something. And changing when the calendar changes is a great opportunity. It seems easier to do things like this in the new year, because people are more receptive to change. Maybe it's expected more - because the new year is a time for a new beginning.

So this year I want to focus on living in the present. I'm not going to get this time back. These days with my little ones are fleeting. So I want to enjoy the moments. Living with the mindset of "will I regret it if I don't do THIS or THAT" may sound a little defeatist or negative, but it motivates me to do things. Because it is true. I'm not going to get today back. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is yet to come. So all that I have is today. So it puts a fire in my day - in my planning - in my doing.
I gave this philosophy a try this Christmas season. Thinking ahead - what do I want to do this season with my kids, family and home? What am I going to wish that I did - if I don't do it? So I made a list and put stuff in my calendar to do them! And it was fun! Baking, crafting, doing random silly things and watching fun Christmas movies - just to name a few! It added fun and magic to the season. And really created some memories and traditions for our family. I got to see what works and what doesn't really... And since I was trying and doing lots of things, there were many successes (like baking) and only a few disasters (baking again)! Instead of just wishing I could do a certain activity or just thinking it was going to be too hard or take too much time or just do it "later" (and "later" seems to never come) we just DID things - jumping right in! It was easy to practice this way of thinking during the holiday season. It will be interesting to apply it during the "regular" part of the year, doing "normal" activities!

I'm thinking that the first few things I'm going to focus doing things in the NOW and not the later are a few things for me - blogging and reading. I miss my creative outlets that are personal - I do plenty of creative things with the kids, but for me, my brain function needs a workout! Those are things that get pushed aside to the "later" pile - so why not think about doing it now!
The other thing is living in the space that I have now - with the things that I need and use NOW. This is sort of a carry-over from last year. Cleaning out what we don't really need or use. Having less. Using more of what we have. Being grateful for the things, but more importantly for each other and the time we spend together. I think that things - tech stuff, toys and even to do lists - get in the way of time spent together. I want to make way for the people by having less physically in the way. I'm not sure how this is going to work, what I am going to do, how far I'm going to go and if it's going to work. But it's going to be on my mind.

So over the next few weeks and months, I'm going to be thinking... How do I want to look back on this time that I have spent while my kids are in the little years? It's a unique time and I'm right in the middle of it!