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Saturday, January 2, 2010

Intentions

I've been thinking a lot about this new year, 2010, and all the possibility it holds. I've never been a resolution maker, but this year I have this overwhelming desire to resolve, to make lists, to make small changes and reclaim my life in some way. The desire stems from a couple places. One is my liking for beginnings and fresh starts...seeded perhaps in my years teaching school and as a student. There is no better feeling than facing down a new school year in the end of August.

The second place the desire to resolve comes from is a bit harder to explain and revealing it is difficult. 2009 was an unexpectedly change filled year for our family, as you read about here. While there has been much good at the end of the turmoil, I have been living in what feels like a cloudy place for the past few months. It isn't too surprising, really, as anyone who has moved to a new place can understand. Through in economic uncertainty, a new baby, a three year old desperate for friends, and well, it's left me feeling overwhelmed, and, at times, the dreaded word, depressed. A baby who is not a fan of sleeping for long periods of time, who still wakes up several times every night (last night it was probably around six times between 7:30pm and 6:30am), only adds to the messiness inside my head. It is easy to see the very obvious reasons that I've been in a fog. Now, I am working very hard to emerge, and do feel like I can see the light again. Hence, the ability and desire to seize this new year and make it great.

So I'm not making resolutions, per se, but instead creating a list of things I'd like to see happen in 2010. I'm sure some will happen and some will not, but that is the beauty of the experience. In sharing this all with you I hope to get to an even better place of acceptance for myself as well as make my intentions that much more real. Thanks for sharing it all with me!

  • Join a CSA -- I'm starting to research and even found a meat CSA. Intriguing!
  • Take more walks without destinations
  • Run in a 5K race -- I'd also like to try for a 10K, but I'm not willing to make that commitment quite yet. Let's say it's half way on the list.
  • Take a knitting class
  • Get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep -- I know this isn't entirely within my control, but I'm hopeful
  • Start commenting on the blogs I read -- I spend most every night reading a variety of blogs and I would like to start letting the writers know how they inspire me. I'd like to be more of a participant, less of an observer, in this realm and everywhere else too.
  • Journal -- in a real pen and paper way, privately. I miss the reflection journaling provides.
  • Get a job
  • Knit while the kids play
  • Plant a container garden -- container in case we move
  • Get closer to being homeowners again
  • Go on lots of family day trip adventures -- this will be helped by two books we bought yesterday: Ohio Off the Beaten Path and Day Trips from Columbus
  • More reading, less TV -- This includes allowing the kids to see me reading. Cooper talks a lot about how Papa likes books, because Erik reads so much. He honestly thinks I don't like books. That has to change.
  • Be frugal
  • Make lots of wholesome, real, delicious food
  • Try as many flavors of Jeni's Ice Cream as possible -- This will necessitate Ellery outgrowing her dairy sensitivity. Jeni's ice cream seems a good way to get back into eating dairy
  • See live music
  • Go on some dates with my wonderful husband
  • Continue to create family traditions

7 comments:

Emilie said...

dear kel. i love your list. i have many of the same things on my list too. i also love how you have get a job between knitting and journaling. perfect. i'm sure i've said this to you before, but i totally understand how sleep deprivation clouds everything else, and i'm sure you can blame most of your fogginess on that, as you said. i'll send you lots of good sleep vibes, and as always, much love.

Jehnie said...

Believe me I understand the sleep deprivation and the fog. I have very definitely been there, done that. I wish I could offer more hands-on help.
I like your list. Good luck and hope you get some sleep!

Lee said...

Great list! You & I have a lot of similar goals for this year (5K, maybe learn to knit, definitely reading more, and I'm starting to write again - feels very good). You have been through a lot in the past year! I hope we can see each other soon.

Kirsten said...

So, you and I have been living parallel experiences in the last year: moving, new baby, cloudy places, 3 year old and friendships in a new place where we have few/no contacts, no sleep (God, STILL), the wish to knit, the wish to write, the dissatisfaction with the easy numb of tv...and so on...Our 2010 lists are very similar. Very. I have started a blog but haven't hit that "publish" button yet. You bloggers are brave! Here's to hope in 2010!! I hope that our paths will cross in the real world sometime soon.

Andrew said...

Yes! Join a CSA - if you find one with meat you will be floored by how good it tastes. In fact, we've been getting our pork and lamb from local farmers for about two years now and have completely stopped buying it at the supermarket - not only because, well, it's more ethical, but because it tastes SOOOO much better.

Best wishes on accomplishing the other items on the list! I wholeheartedly support your intention to see more live music (among the lot)!

Andrew Hutson

Unknown said...

Kelly, I love this list! I make take a few of your ideas for myself, thank you. Glad you posted a link to your blog on FB, because somehow I missed it before.
Funny, I've just been looking into a local meat CSA myself. With the use of my freezer and a little planning, hopefully more good and easy meals will be in our future.
Good luck achieving your goals this year - sounds like you are on the right track!
Take care,
Teri

lynda Howells said...

love your list. I have just started knitting too,,isn't it calming? One of the things that stood out for me was your comment on going on dates with your husband. For the 37 years we have been married, tony and I have gone on a date, monthly when the children were small and we were broke and now..every fortnight Tony actually invites me on a date.We have time together normally but these dates are special because Tony asks me and we don't talk about home, bills or family! we also dress it. Its great fun.go for it and enjoyxxlynda