Things I Should Probably Work On

I’m not going to go so far as make New Year’s Resolutions because honestly it’s unlikely I’d be able to keep any of them. Instead of setting myself up for failure, what I can do is at least try to make some improvements. Surely it’s better than nothing.

Next Year:

• to eat breakfast more often. My morning routine is always just coffee and maybe a few cookies or a slice of coffee cake. I do like healthier foods such as oatmeal and cereal and it wouldn’t kill me to eat it once in a while.

• to get organized. Once in a while I’ll get into the mood to rip apart cabinets, closets and sort through stacks of paperwork. I need to tackle those things more often.

• to plan better. I have a tendency to leave planning menus the day before a party, packing the morning that I’m leaving town, and shopping for gifts right before I need them.

• to exercise. Even just a bit. Once in a while.

• to be nicer when I drive. I try. Honestly I do. If I see someone waiting to pull into traffic or get into my lane to make a turn at the next intersection I let them. Well as long as they didn’t already tick me off earlier. I also should try to cut down on the creative language I use while driving.

• to quit holding grudges. This will be a tough one for me. For example, there’s someone who was a relentless bully when I was growing up. Even after all these years, the person still pisses me off. When I see that person’s name pop up on Facebook, my tendency for using creative language kicks into gear. Perhaps if the person would simply acknowledge being an a-hole towards so many people, I’d finally let it go. Scratch that one. Who am I kidding? I’ll never let that one go.

• to finally work on the photo situation. Many years ago I thought it was a great idea to take all the family photos out of albums thinking it would make organizing them for my scrapbooks easier. It didn’t. Years later, the photos are still a mess. Now I also have thousands of digital images stored that have never been printed.

• to back up my computer files. Every so often I remove the digital images from my computer, but not often enough. Also I rarely  backup other important files and pieces I’ve written but haven’t yet published.

• to dust the top of the fridge. That too goes for dusting ceiling fans, soaking the detergent tray on my washing machine in bleach to clean, clean the coffee pot and the wooden mini blinds. Those things rarely make the top of my priority list. They rarely make the bottom of it either.

• to eat more fruit. Not just adding lemon slices to my vodka and diced apples in sangria, but actually eat more fruit.
  

  In my defense, I eat a lot of fruit during the summer months.

• to quit procrastinating. That means fill up the gas tank before my fuel light goes on, renew my license plates before the day it expires and call the doctor before I run out of refills for my prescriptions.

• to promise to send out Christmas cards next year. I’ve now skipped sending them two years in a row. This year I really did intend on sending them out. I even considered sending out Happy New Year cards. I will really try to do better next year.

• to stop dreading the holidays so much. I get so wrapped up in getting ready for them that by the time they come, I’m too tired to enjoy them.

• to realize that while looking ahead is good, I need to remind myself to appreciate the here and now.

• to get out of comfortable ruts. I don’t always have to order the Beach Club at Jimmy Johns, the chicken salad sandwich at Pot Belly, the burrito bowl at Chipotle or the boneless wings at BDubs. Also, try to eat out less.

• to find better sources of calcium than pistachio ice cream, vanilla milkshakes and wintergreen Tums.

Most of all I need to realize that life isn’t a race, and the first one to reach the finish line isn’t always the winner.