Looking to 2011: Goals and Resolutions
December 30, 2010 at 7:38 am | Posted in Life and Living | 10 CommentsTags: 2011, giving, goals, New Year's Resolutions
There are those who make resolutions each year — some keep em, some forget about them — and there are those who think the whole thing is a big joke, perhaps because they tend to lead to failure. But being a goal-oriented person as I am, I take this time to reassess my goals to make realistic resolutions that support these goals. This allows me to be more successful when I make resolutions.
My first resolution is to give more (if I can). I feel I have been blessed with some job security and domestic partnership that have made my finances reasonable. I will continue to be conservative in my giving, as you never know what can happen, but I know a lot of people are suffering with the poor economy and other sad circumstances. I will do what I can to help others.
My second resolution is directly tied to my first one. I have set a goal for myself to pay off my small student loan but the end of 2011. This means I need to spend wisely. I will not force myself to go without as I have done in the past, but I will harness my inner bargain shopper to ensure I get good deals on the things I need and the things I want. I will also not fear going too low in my bank account.
My third resolution is to take better care of myself. I’m not getting younger, and yes, I know I’m not old. But I want to age gracefully and live a long and healthy life. This means eating better on a regular basis, working out consistently, and a little bit of pampering.
My fourth resolution is to live in the moment more. I find that women tend to have a way of always worrying about the future while men are much better at living in the moment. There needs to be a balance of both. There sometimes needs to be some planning so that you can live in the moment. In 2011, I will continue to seek out exciting experiences and enjoy the simple moments of being with my boyfriend, my friends, and my family.
In writing this list, I came cross the lists I’ve created over the past few years. Many of these same ideas have been appeared in the past. But I’ve also been able to cross off several items, too. By affirming these resolutions, whether new or old, I am recognizing their importance in my continued growth and life fulfillment.
I ended 2009 on a low note, and am happy to be ending 2010 on a high note, with just some typical life stresses to worry about. I’m looking forward to continued growth in 2011. Bring it on!
What are your resolutions? How will you meet them?
A Few Blog Highlights from 2010
December 28, 2010 at 7:50 am | Posted in Career Moves, Family Ties, Friends Then and Now, Life and Living, Relationship Woes | 2 CommentsTags: 2010, apartment, career, dating, dogs, friends, reflecting, relationships, working
What a year it’s been. I’ve been thinking a lot about where I was this time last year, and about all the good things 2010 brought me. For one thing, I started this blog, and I’ve truly enjoyed sharing my experiences with all of you. I’ve gotten to know bloggers and fans from all over the world, and I’ve become increasingly dedicated to this creative outlet.
But even before I started blogging this past April, I was in a serious mode of change. I started a new job on March 1, and my brother got married on March 14. Looking forward into 2011, I will become an aunt for the first time. Not everything in my life is perfect, but the positives have been big ones. I wonder what else 2011 has in store for me.
So without further ado, I wanted to give you some highlights from 2010 as seen through this blog.
1. Breaking up is Hard to Do – My first popular post. This post was about my ex-boyfriend, and even though we broke up more than 3 years ago, this post drew a lot of attention. Of course, at the time, my blog was new, so readers were likely people who knew me who thought I broke up with my current boyfriend. People love drama! If you didn’t get to read this and you are going through or considering a break up, this post may be cathartic for you.
2. Woman’s Best Friend and I Don’t Mean Chocolate this Time – I introduced you all to my heart and soul in this post. My lovely labrador retriever. I never had a dog growing up, so getting a dog when I was 23 was a major growing experience. My dog has taught me how to enjoy to simple things in life and has taught me the meaning of unconditional love. You can expect more posts about him in 2011 as he surprises me everyday.
3. Becoming Domesticated – I talked about living on my own, one of the biggest challenges of growing up. I’ve lived on my own for almost 4 years now and I’m still getting it together. But the biggest change in my living arrangements in 2010 was when my boyfriend moved in with me this summer. I hope to bring more good news about our living situation in 2011, and I’m sure there will be some learning experiences to share along the way.
4. Divorcing Friends – I talked a lot about friends this past year, and I’m sure this will continue to be a hot topic for me as situations continue to change and consequently, relationships with friends.
5. Time Flies When you Love What You Do – I talked a lot about my career, something I am proud of. I love what I do and I’ve worked hard to continue to offer my skills to the world in support of the greater good. I have serious career goals, and I hope to inspire people with my experiences as I work to reach them. It may be a bumpy road with a few more set backs, but I am still determined to succeed.
6. From Player to Prude – I talked about my changing perspective on relationships. My 20s have looked very different than my teens did in this area and it’s interesting to see how my attitude has changed towards it. But I don’t want to forget how I once felt about things like this as one day I might have a daughter who needs a mother to relate to her as she sifts through her relationships.
As a teenager, I always kept a notebook so that I would remember how I felt and what I went through when I was young, so that when I was a mother I’d be able to support my children and help them make the best decisions they can. Writing this blog has helped me to continue this process at another crossroads in my life that I think is important to remember.
Another year closer to thirty, another year closer to trying to reach my goals, and adjusting when life throws me a curveball. Another year of realizing who I am, who I’m going to be, and what the world, and life, is really about.
The Grandfather I Never Knew
December 23, 2010 at 7:36 am | Posted in Family Ties | 6 CommentsTags: babies, children, death, father, grandfather, holocaust, smoking, World War 2
In just a few short weeks, I will become an aunt for the first time. This is very exciting for me and my family. The first grandchild. But I have to imagine that this is a particularly important moment for my father. He will have done something his own father never did — become a grandfather.
My grandfather died seven years before I was born, four years before my brother. He had been a smoker all his life and succumbed to cancer before ever reaching 60. He left behind two sons and a widow who would live almost another 20 years and would never marry again.
My father is a very emotional and proud man. It was a common occurrence growing up to catch him swelling with pride when one of his children scored a goal in soccer, performed in the school play, got an A on a really hard test. It was common to hear him say, “I wish Daddy were here to see this,” and shake his head as if to fight the tears away.
It is true that my grandfather missed out on a lot. But for someone I never met, I feel like I knew him well and that’s thanks to my father. He kept his memory alive with stories and would always tell me how he would react as situations came up.
My favorite story of my grandfather is one where my father paints him as a true hero, and it’s hard to really see it any other way. He had done some legal work for President Hoover, who was quite grateful and told my grandfather he owed him a favor. When World War II ended, my grandfather used this favor to find any relatives who had survived the Holocaust to bring them to safety. He used this favor to save lives.
Of course, not all of the stories my father tells me are quite this triumphant, and many of them are simply intertwined in my memories and difficult to separate from memories of moments I actually experienced. I know my grandfather was a simple hard working man that, despite bad habits, loved his family. And I know he would have loved me. In the pictures I’ve seen of him I see so much of my own father it’s hard to picture him as anything other than amazing.
I’m so happy my father gets to experience meeting his first grand child, and we all can’t wait to spoil him. I plan to spend my time instilling the same kind of memories in this child so he knows what an amazing bloodline he comes from. My grandfather would be proud.
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