Posted in Moments and Musings

Welcome, 2024!

Happy 2024!

I don’t know about you but 2024 sure looks different than what I thought it would look like when I was a kid. I remember sitting in my classroom, drawing pictures of flying cars and robots doing laundry. We may not be there just yet but we are in this primitive form of Star Trek era with watches that make calls for us and phones that connect us globally. But one thing hasn’t changed – New Year’s resolutions.

Personally, I don’t like making resolutions. They’re nothing more than broken promises made to myself. So I don’t do that. Change, however, is a different matter. And this year, I’m going to try to be a woman of change. (insert diabolical laugh here)

So, 2024, let’s get after it! Here’s my list. Let’s see if anything sounds familiar to you (or maybe inspirational?)

  • Eat better – I mean, who doesn’t have this as a goal. In fact, this is a lifelong goal of mine. The quest to change my eating habits – eat more veggies, less carbs, less sweets, lather, rinse, repeat. But still, I have to put it on the list since I’m sincerely wanting to make better choices. And I’d like to do more research to be more intentional about my food choices.
  • Move more – Another goal that’s sure to make everyone’s list. However, I’m going to leave this open-ended. The idea is to move more but not necessarily set time limits, number of days, etc…just get up and move. Walk. Dance. Run. Stretch.
  • Pray/Bible study – I’ve never been consist with either, to be honest. I mean, I talk with God a lot so that part is ok (could be better, though). The Bible study is a hit or miss and I have plenty devotionals. Hopefully, this year is the year I make it through at least one. (I’ll let you know.)
  • Spend less – So, let’s talk about this one. I don’t live an expensive life. I live in a small apartment. Utilities are pared down as much as I can. I don’t work outside of the home so I don’t need work clothes and I have stuff for church. But I do like to buy yarn for crochet projects and embroidery stuff. I have whole roomful! So I’m making the decision not buy anything more until I use up what I already have. I also need to spend less on eating out. I have budgeted a healthy amount for groceries but sometimes, laziness and boredom drive me out of the house for food unnecessarily. I plan on changing that and being more intentional with my money and be more intentional about saving.
  • Create more – I don’t know how creative I’ll be with crochet. Not sure I know how. But I do want to learn to draw and create my own embroidery designs. I want to be fearless. I want to create and see where it takes me.
  • Call people – I’m so bad at this but I want to get better. I’m more comfortable with texting or using apps to connect with people but it’s not always best. I need to pick up the phone and call more. Bottom line.

Now for some real talk – change takes time. I plan on giving myself some grace when I fail, and there will be times of failures, set-backs, etc. But I think it’s time I finally let myself off the hook for being one of the most imperfect people on the planet. (I know that comes as a shock to those of you who know me personally.)

What changes are you looking to make in 2024? Drop a line in the comments and let me know!

Photo by Walls.io on Unsplash

Posted in Moments and Musings

The Counting Downs of A Day

Today was day full of failure. It’s ok. They happen. My plan was to fall apart as soon as I logged off from work but instead, I decided that it’s just a day. Like many that have passed (and I’ve survived) and like many more to come.

Instead, I took a shower. I took a walk with the dog. I made some dinner (egg and cheese in a tortilla) and had another cup of tea. I drank all my water. And I chose to write down all the good days ahead and how much longer I have to wait for them.

2 more days until my 6 day weekend/staycation. I do this every year around my birthday to relax a bit before the hustle and bustle of the holidays begin.

4 more days until my baby girl, Emilie, comes home for a visit. It will be just a short weekend visit but I’ll get to see her face and hug her neck.

7 more days of being 54 left. I know 55 will be so much better and filled with so much good. There is more!

29 days to Halloween. Probably my least favorite of the October/November/December season but Shelby loves it and the apartment looks so festive.

34 days left of daylight savings time. As someone who regularly suffers from seasonal depression, I’ve decided to face this season head on. Embrace the quiet of it. Let my soul simmer a while.

52 days until Thanksgiving. I always have a vision in my head of what this will look like and each year, it almost never happens that way. It always makes me miss my mother.

83 days until Christmas Eve. With just Shelby and I in the apartment, this is looking to be quiet. Christmas morning will be quiet also. If I’m honest, I enjoy the Christmas season way more than I enjoy Christmas Day.

90 days left of 2023. I know 2024 will bring us a new home but who knows what else and I’m excited for it all.

298 days until we move, at the most. Of course, we hope to move sooner. We shall see. God has that all in His very capable hands.

All in all, from now until the end of the year, there are eight special happenings taking place. And that’s not counting the birthday celebrations.

Like a medicine, the rest of the day is looking up.

Photo by Manasvita S on Unsplash