I LOVE NEW YEARS……….
BY JENNIFER RAWLINGS
I love New Years…..not the confetti, noisemakers, firecrackers, sparkly plastic crown, countdown, Auld Lang Syne, champagne part of it – actually I do like the champagne part of it. What I love about New Years is the “do over.” The chance to make the commitment and promise ourselves to be better people in the new year than we were in the past. To resolve to eat better, exercise more, save more money, give more to charity, and most importantly: reacquaint ourselves with our dreams and goals.
Adults, especially women, rarely get a chance to remind ourselves of what we really want out of life; to ask ourselves the question: “what do I actually stand for?” We are often so overwhelmed with schedules and financial responsibilities that we forget about the woman that we want to be. Often we find ourselves living a life guided by obligations instead of by principals. This is the year to STOP living that way and start to change.
Take a deep breath, and then take out a pen and paper. Write down a word or draw picture of the life you want to be living, then start writing down the steps of how you are going to get there. When self-doubt starts to creep in… keep writing. It’s never too late to reach your dreams and goals. It’s your life and you set the rules.
As you flush out the new portrait of your life and establish a path for getting there, don’t forget to feed your mind and spirit. Schedule time to read, to meditate, to pray and a quiet time to be thankful.
Our dreams and goals are like our children. They need to be nurtured and loved in order to grow. And when we stumble and fall, on our new path we need to get back up, ask for help sometimes and reassure ourselves that we can do it.
Welcome the new year and the new woman you want to see in the mirror by dusting off your dreams and making them a reality. You owe it to yourself and the ones you love to be the woman you were created to be.
Have a kick-ass 2010!
Recent Posts By Jennifer Rawlings
- THE FAMILY DINNER CIRCUS - August 31st, 2010
- MY HANDS MAKE A GREAT TOTE BAG - August 24th, 2010
- SCARY BIG BOOB FOOD, SCARY FOOD CHAIN - August 17th, 2010
- I AM HAPPY WITH MY SMALL HOUSE.....REALLY!!! - August 10th, 2010
- THE PAIN OF CHANGE - August 3rd, 2010
Tags: dreams, goals, Honesty in Motherhood, New Years
Jennifer.. I was just about to give up on making any new years resolutions then you come along and post this. Wow what a booster. Thanks! Here’s to planning out our 2010 goals and a “kick-ass” new year!
Thanks, happy new year to you.
Jen
Okay. So I’m home…off work, being a teacher and all, and my friend, who knows I subscribe to Hybrid Mom magazine and read Mary Beth’s blogs and Hybrid Dad’s, too…says to me, “Have you read Jennifer Rawlings’s blogs? You have to read them! She’s a good writer…very inspirational.”
So…given this guidance, I go over to the Hybrid Mom site and look you up, and start reading.
And now you have me thinking of new starts and lists and forgotten wishes and hopes. And looking for paper and pens, and thinking about saving more money and spending less, and Who AM I? and Who do I want to be? and pushing away the thoughts of the many times those new starts kinda fell by the wayside come February.
What? Truth is truth.
Anyway, thanks for the blog! My friend was right. You’re a very gifted writer and I’ll make you part of my “blog reading routine” now.
Oh. One more thing…Your poem? The Christmas poem from last week’s blog?
Classic! And funny as he…heck!
Great advice for Moms, Jen. So true. And I love this advice:
“Take a deep breath, and then take out a pen and paper. Write down a word or draw picture of the life you want to be living, then start writing down the steps of how you are going to get there. When self-doubt starts to creep in… keep writing. It’s never too late to reach your dreams and goals. It’s your life and you set the rules.”
How often does a Mom take the time to do something that is NOT related to her family? It almost seems blasphemous for her to do so. But there is truth in your words, “you owe it to yourself and your family” When you are better, the family is better, the relationship with your spouse is better, and your example to your children is better. What bigger commitment do we have to our families than that?