Redefining New Year's Resolutions

Usually I do not make New Years Resolutions.  I don't make them because I always thought why wait until then when I can start now.  The only problem is that now doesn't come around very often.  I do try to plan things out though so I guess my resolutions are more like goals.  Also resolution implies loosing something.  I may not want to lose all of something but only an aspect of something.  Therefore a goal to me is a little more focused.

Martha Beck has an interesting idea regarding getting a clearer picture on what you want.  She tells people to use adjectives instead of nouns and verbs so that you are describing what it feels like to have reached your goal or completed your New Year's Resolution.  This is the place you want to be at.

Think about something that you would like to attain.  A lot of people set goals to lose weight around this time of the year.  The gyms are full of people who are striving to reach their goal, or so I've been told. They are passionate about it for the first month and then, for whatever reason,  their goal changes or completely disappears.  To stop this from happening, Martha Beck suggests that we think about how we would feel once we have reached that goal.  Does it make us feel complete, energetic, fearless, ... Now write down those adjectives that describe how you would feel.   What you do in your daily life that can be described by using those same adjectives.  This can bolster the "I can do it!" attitude to get you through the tough times.  If you can find these adjectives in your daily life now then you already have successes in your life? Count those blessings too!

I Did It!

Yesterday I finally decided to step up my exercise. Yoga is wonderful but I needed something that pushed me a little further physically. I'm not giving up gentle yoga but took a step outside of the box and went to a Jazzercise class.


7 or 8 years ago was the last time I put a foot inside a Jazzercise studio. For over 2 years I have been thinking about it, because I love it so, but the fear of the now unknown is what kept me out. Would I be so totally out of shape that it's pointless?  Would everyone in there look awesome leaving me all by my lonesome? Would the owner, who I know,  take one look at me and think, or even worse say,  something to confirm all of these thoughts? 


Class begins at 4:45 and I got there extra early so I could sit in the parking lot and work up the courage to walk through those doors. I sat and wrestled with myself for quite some time until 15 minutes before class.  It's tough to be your own cheerleader but if you want it bad enough you'll reach for it.  If the good stuff out weighs the bad stuff then you are in good shape. I went in early to fill out the bit of paperwork I had as a walk-in client and so far so good.  


The owner of this location is also the instructor for this class. Class is almost ready to begin and up on the stage is not my friend but another instructor filling in for her.   This instructor I had before and it was surprising and I felt a bit of a relief to see a familiar face.  Things were coming together better than I could have imagined.  


It's as I remembered, Jazzercise is fun.  It is also more intense than I remember.  The class incorporates aerobics, pilates, resistance training,... and all of this is set to high energy music and guided by an over-the-top instructor. I do not mean anything by that other than to teach a class like this you need to be high energy, outgoing, friendly and comfortable in your own skin or else fake it well. If you are having a grogy day just step inside this studio in particular and you will begin the transformation. For me this is it. The other good thing is that I didn't forget those basic Jazzercise steps. I was able to keep up through most of the class without tripping or falling over because of lack of coordination or passing out due to lack of cardio. 


Jazzercise attracts people from all walks of life, this is something else I forgot. People older than me, some younger, some who are fit and others who aren't all in attendance. I appauld those who are getting out there and moving even though to look at them you think that must really be a struggle. I need to lose about 30 and it's not easy,  but to see someone who needs to lose 60 or more pounds, doing way better than I am, is pretty impressive. 


When I left there exhausted and drenched I still felt good.  Ready for dinner, a hot shower and my soft, cozy bed the soreness started to sink into my body.  At first I felt it in the places you would expect and this morning I woke to every part of my body loudly crying out. I had forgotten what it felt like to be sore in more places than I care to mention. It's been hours since I got up and I expected to reap the benefits of the ibuprofen I took earlier but I'm still pretty sore.  I do, however, feel a little stronger if only in my heart. I did it!!

Empty House

I was a bit perplexed at what transpired today. I was, I have to admit, looking forward to today. This would be the first day the kids and husband would go back to their routines of school and work. I had planned a day filled with yoga, writing, going through job listings and catching up on the household stuff. Shortly after the kids were off to school I had breakfast and got a shower. From there I was on my way to yoga.

 The drive to the yoga studio is only about 25 minutes and is so worth it! News interrupted the music on the radio to let me know the interstate was a mess. Yes the same interstate that I take to get to yoga. There had been a major accident. I decided to go the backroads. It would take longer but who knows how long I would have been on the interstate. I was determined to get to class but in the back of my mind I had a slight suspicion that I would not make it in time. I was right. By I time I got there yoga had already started. I decided to run a few errands instead.

After that I was almost looking for things to do to fill up a space. That empty space was where my family was. After being together for 8 days straight it was a little harder than I thought to give them up.

Martin Luther King's Birthday

I think we have finally thawed out and right now everyone in this household is in a better place. We can go somewhere.  There is nothing like not being able to get out of the house when you want to.  Well, I guess you could say that we really needed to.

This morning I woke early,  forgetting for a moment that it's a holiday. Martin Luther King's birthday is today.  Really!! I started thinking about how my kids really should be back in school today and that we don't need another holiday, a.k.a kids day to sleep in late...Later I realized how selfish that thought is.

Martin Luther King has definitely earned a day to be recognized and remembered. It actually made me a little upset when I started recalling people, I'm included, suggesting that the kids begin making up snow days today. I understand they missed an entire week of school but should we forgo MLK day? Would we have given up any of our other holidays so easily? Well, in the end,  those snow days were pardoned except for one. That one will be made up during the furlough days in the months ahead. Don't even get me started on furlough days!

Enough Already!

I am so over this frozen tundra and I'm so thankful this is a once in a decade kind of thing. I am beginning to think I'll never thaw out and that my kids will never go back to school. They were out the entire week for goodness sake! Monday is MLK day and they are off then too! I love my kids to death but I think we are getting ever so close to strangling one another. My lovely husband is included in the mix. He's the lucky one in times like these. He has a job outside of the house.I, one the other hand, do not. I will say this though, because of this I have stepped up my job search. Yesterday, the last day of being trapped inside the house, I was applying for just about any kind of job I could find. Anything to even get an interview. Nothing yet. Despite that, I would have gotten out before today, the kids are now old enough to stay home alone, but I don't drive in/on the ice. If I really had to I would but I really didn't have to. Next time I guess I could at least go out to get a breath of fresh air :0).

Snow Day (Part 3)

Yes, I didn't think this would happen but the kids are home yet another day.  Fortunately there is still plenty of snow on the ground for them to play in.  Just enough snow for my daughter to make one more snow angel. Three snow days in GA  is just unheard of.  I am going a little stir crazy though because for the past 3 days I've been unable to get out of the house.  Yesterday I think we, our family,  needed some alone time.  Alone time as in you go your way and I will go mine.  Entirely too much togetherness and it is not good.  I decided to pour myself into my job search and my writing.  Not to mention a little "Angry Birds" time on the iPad.  It is beautiful outside though.

Snow Day (Part 2)

Yet another day of snow.  No more snow falling and it does seem as if a lot of snow has melted.  The roads are a little slushy and it will be interesting to see what the morning holds. The temperature around here isn't supposed to get above freezing.  


If the kids have school tomorrow I have carpool duty tomorrow:(  Yikes!!  My husband has graciously offered to take the kids to school for me.  Yeah!!  I don't like driving on ice because no one can drive on ice.   For those of us with school aged children it could be another day with the kids home though.  At least they aren't looking for something to do. 

My two have spent most of the day outside in the snow.  Kids are funny.  Here I sound like my mother when I yell,"Make sure you layer your clothes.  Come inside for cocoa when you get too cold.  Don't take your mittens off."  I could go on and on but if you are a mom I'm sure you've said it.  Funny how the old-fashioned notion of playing outside is okay to a kid when there is an adventure to be had in especially in the snow.
Stay safe!!