Hello, long lost friends! I’m returning from my unplanned, lovely hiatus to throw together a little obligatory au revoir to 2012.
Today is the day when everyone starts to finalize their goals and resolutions for the new year.
Lose 20 pounds. Read 50 books. Blog every day. Volunteer for a new charitable organization. I have seen some really fantastic goals and resolutions.
But this year? I’m just going for grace.
I want fewer goals. Because goals that aren’t met cause my heart to worry and then the worry puts little wrinkles on my forehead.
I’m going for fewer things on my to-do list. Fewer meetings, fewer commitments, fewer obligations.
Honestly? I’d just like to find a house in 2013. January would really be the best in my plan. But if there’s anything I learned in 2012, it’s that my plan isn’t the one that matters.
Sure, there are a couple of things that I’d like to do for myself like take better care of my skin and try to prevent the random breakout that stays for weeks at a time. And I’d like to get the last of that pregnancy weight to be gone for good. But I have no intention of eating up my time with obsessing over what I’m eating and stressing my kids out while we rush off to the gym.
I know my family. I know how we thrive. And we thrive on quality time. Quality time is my love language.
So in 2013, I’m going for grace. And quality time with my family. Because that’s when I’m happiest, and that’s when they’re happiest.
2013 needs fewer nights with Todd and me doing the childcare shuffle when one of us rushes off to a meeting or event and the other stays home with the boys.
My favorite week of the year is the year between Christmas and New Year’s when we spend an incredibly quiet week at my parents’ house. Without interruption and without a to-do list.
I may blog a lot less. Life may be less eventful. I may actually have time to read 50 books. But my goal is to let go of the self-induced pressure.
I know I’ll be more relaxed and I’ll have more time to cook the meals I want to cook and I’ll have more time to read the books I want to read at night. I’ll have more time for hitting the pavement with our double stroller. But, most importantly, I’ll have more room in my mind for laughing and playing.
At the end of a year where November and December felt like the rat race of all rat races, I am praying that I can be strong enough to do it differently in 2013.
And I’m eager to see the positive results that come from that decision.
What are you hoping for in 2013?
