Do You Do New Year's Resolutions?

With that lovely plaintive, traditional Scottish ballad by Robert Burns in the background ~~ 

Well, I’m ready to confess my resolutions! Are you? You are welcome to post yours here but it’s not mandatory. I’ll believe you if you say you do or do not do them!

Or do you think about it much?

(except when some smartaleck starts asking stuff)

I've known me so long, I'm pretty acquainted with my strengths and weaknesses.

Speaking of those, I know that if I let things slide, they tend to just keep sliding - and I am fully capable of doing that. hehe. But I also know I have great respect for being effective and for creating beauty and fun, so when I can encourage my better intentions, I can keep the end result in mind and enjoy moving toward it.

Another thing I'm aware of as I approach this resolution thing is something I realize is both a strength and a weakness is that I will almost always interrupt whatever I'm doing, even if I know I should be and MUST be done, for people and people needs. Sometimes I must just discipline myself to keep my nose to the grindstone. Is that familiar to anyone else?

Also I have no sense of time when I'm onto a "project". I can forget to eat or sleep, in fact. Of course I must work to stay balanced.

I’m a health nut so I have fairly few health-related resolutions to make in that area. I don't smoke, I drink only moderately if at all, I eat healthily, stay active both mentally and physically.

I like to include some resolutions in each major category of living needing improvement - and who doesn't? Some of mine need it more than others.

I'm sort of addictive/compulsive so I tend to do things more faithfully if I get a habit established, though I'm a bit of a rebel when it comes to "have to do" things. So I must set it up psychologically to maximize the one and minimize the other.

1. Creative & Intellectual: I will paint, play piano, write and read more. I already have been playing the piano some every day. I write & read a lot online and some offline, but it’s been awhile since I sat down and read a book. I am not a terribly fast reader, so will read at least one per month in 2011. My easel and painting materials are always set up but I haven’t been sitting down to them. I will do so in 2011.
2. Spiritual: I am comfortable with my spiritual life and I do not consider it an effort, but I want to be sure to stay aware and responsive in this area.
3. Household: I will do a real “FlyLady” house organizing. If you aren’t familiar with her method, she has a website and it does encourage organization! When I did it before, it did much good. Re: the links I added to the right!
4. Outside: I’ll get back to garage cleaning and organizing with a dream of being able to actually park my car in there!! It will require getting a new garage door/opener, I’m sure, as well as some serious Craig’s List sales. Will also work on some much needed landscaping.
5. Social: I’ll get out and about more, perhaps. I might even travel a bit, and not just for business and the traditional family visits, but for opening up new horizons!
6. Health: I'll do more organized exercise and get more live plants in the house - for better air to breathe. I'll get out those Turbo Jam exercise tapes I bought and try them out.
7. Business: I will spend time every day "on my desk", making sure all the bills are paid so I'm not in a flurry at the last moment. I will avoid procrastinating, especially tax preparations. I will get the upstairs office in better order! And I must get down to the ranch and Del Rio where there is big work awaiting me both places. Since that trip and these are items for which I need some assistance, it depends on others, which is difficult for me to accept. But I am raring to go and they are willing! Timing and schedules are the main factors.

If my fondest wishes are granted, everyone will reach his or her most cherished goals this 2011! And why not?

We've worked hard all year 2010, we've helped out others and supported each other in our writing. Some of us have endured hardships and disappointments. But we've prevailed!

May beauty, joy, enthusiasm, and love follow you around like puppies!

Starting at midnight!

EVERYONE deserves a good new year!

Help someone else realize his or hers to be really happy yourself!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne* ?

CHORUS:For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS