My life over the last year has been full and amazing. But... if we're being vulnerable here, age 31 was a tough for me, on a strictly personal level. It was a year of feeling tired and in over my head. A year of poor sleep. A year of more weight gain and sedentary lifestyle than ever before. Dan categorizes some of my clothing ensembles as "you look like you've given up on life" and last year I wore them a lot - oversized t-shirts and old pajama sweats mostly, usually paired with either wet or dirty hair pulled into a bun. It was year of being discontent about my body but choosing to pour my efforts into my children and my business instead of myself or my husband. It was a year of physical ailments and injuries, some unpreventable but some likely a manifestation of the lack of order. It was a year of never quite finding balance in any area of my life. Any. But pretending that I had it all together.
My birthday falls so close to New Years that I tend to think less of New Years Resolutions and more about what I want for myself in each new year of my life. So moving on from The Year of the Tired Hobo, on my 32nd birthday I've got a list of four things I want for myself. Just for me.
Feel Fantastic in my body. Fitness and weight loss goal cliches aside, this one's super personal. In the Fall, we joined a gym and I lost 18 pounds by the tried-and-true nutrition/exercise method. It wasn't about a number, it was about feeling like myself again. I got to where I was feeling pretty darn good in my own skin, but not totally where I wanted to be. Over the holidays I gained some back but I plan to start the year off strong and get back on the wagon. I'm pretty pumped about it. This line item also includes not being injured all the time. Being strong and protecting my back, and gaining coordination to help save me from some of my own clumsiness, so maybe, just maybe I won't sprain anything this year.
Marriage, THEN kids, THEN business. This one might be the most challenging for me, but I've got to include it and hold myself accountable to it. For my family.
Care more about my appearance. Not in a vanity kind of way; in a "I haven't given up on life" kind of way. More specifically: I'd like to: 1. Wear lipstick more often; 2. Do my hair once a week (especially since I've recently discovered a dry shampoo that I love) and not just on days when I might have my picture taken or see someone I want to impress; 3. Not wear sweats or pajamas past 3pm more than twice a week and; 4. Start wearing jewelry again, now that my children should be old enough not to rip it off of me and eat it.
Be more connected with girlfriends. Asking for and accepting help. Be the "reacher outer" from time to time instead of waiting for others to reach out to me for phone conversations and play dates or - gasp - kidless mom dates.
32 feels.... safe and peaceful. I was telling my sister today that thirty-two actually does feel older than thirty-one. I do feel older today than I did yesterday. And I feel so great about that.
32 feels.... safe and peaceful. I was telling my sister today that thirty-two actually does feel older than thirty-one. I do feel older today than I did yesterday. And I feel so great about that.
images in this post: Melissa Young Photography
I'll go on a kidless mommy date with you anytime!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Oh boy, I can TOTALLY relate to everything you just said. I turn 33 in March and my 32nd year is right there with your 31st. Poor sleep, check. Wear sweats/yoga pants, oversized shirts and pjs most days, check. Hair tied back in a bun EVERYDAY (even when wet), check. Weight gain, check. I have pretty much the same goals as you, heading into another year. I look forward to the challenge and look forward to some change. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'll 2nd the mommy date idea! I think with littles we forget &/or feel guilty for wanting to leave the kids or a nursling. It's ok to have fun. Movie & wine night!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is time again to face the New Year and with that, the essential and frequently terrifying Information Decades Solutions. Individually, since I seem to be a goal-oriented individual, I welcome any probability to task myself to increase my life by any means required. Unfortunately, the research show that, if a New Decades Quality is made, it s rarely kept.
ReplyDeleteNow when you add the fact that we as artists or ambitious artists are also having to set objectives to increase our musical show abilities, we may have more New Decades Solutions than the individual. One of my resolutions for 2008 is to coach as many people as I can about the significance of becoming a private Musician, Presenter or Acting professional. This is achieved by thoroughly knowing and using your oral device to its prospective and, further, having it devices to history and review yourself and make your own documenting tasks.