2011 Doesn't Scare Me!

Let's be honest here: 2010 ended with a bit of a stumble, trip, and slide across the finish line on my face. The energy was down. My feelings were always hurt. I had no motivation to do anything but fight with my loved ones and feel sorry for my fat, pregnant self. Great image, eh?

I talked about how I pulled myself together about 48 hours before Christmas and thank you, Jesus, for small miracles, right? But it was a close one and I'm pretty certain that neither my sanity (nor my marriage!) can survive too many more scrapes with the doom and glooms of that magnitude.

I love resolutions. I love thinking about them. I love writing them. And I love torturing myself for about nine days trying to keep them, but they never really make it to MLK Day, and that stinks. Last year I adopted the practice of the one-word resolution (I think I chose "brighten." Don't laugh, a##holes! I tried!) and it's something I'll do again for 2011...but not just yet. 'Cuz I don't have a word picked out at the moment--that's why!

So while I cogitate on my word for the year, I'd like to make a few observations I picked up in 2010 and hope they help me focus my efforts in 2011.

1) Marriage. With the right person, it's a blessed, chaotic, thrilling, tiring ride. With the right person, you're allowed to laugh and fight and not give up. That's a new concept for me--not giving up. Without a doubt, P is the rock that keeps me sane. I am so lucky God introduced me to such a stable man!!

2) Friends are the family you chose. OMG, doesn't that sound incredibly cliche? It does, I know, but this year more than ever, I learned that these girls that I read books with, that I drink coffee with, the special ones that I work with...these are my sisters. These are the stand-in aunties for my boys because their real aunties live on the other side of the country. Their children are my nieces and nephews and life would be incredibly dry and sad without them. I turn all hermit-y every once in a while and for that I apologize, but the bottom line is that my girlfriends make my world go round and I have learned how much I need them and need to be there for them.

3. Time flies. This has been a tough lesson in my 30s. All of a sudden the days and weeks fly by. Two weeks have come and gone and I haven't called my dad or mailed a postcard to my mom. I haven't gone to church or met my friends for coffee. Haven't gone to the gym or updated my beloved blogs. Good intentions sometimes remain just that...intentions. More than any other time in my life, I understand the sacredness of the gift God has given me. In the coming year, it's my goal to make the most out of the 1,440 minutes He's given me each day and do something with them...anything to make them count for my family and I.

I know, I know. A little cliche, but I had to get it out. I'll spend the day watching College Football and thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2011. And eating. I'll spend my day watching football, writing goals, and eating cinnamon rolls. Good plan.

Happy new year to all our friends and loved ones. Here's to a fantastic 2011!