This year, I'm being practical, diligent and need-based. For that reason, my first resolution is: go to bed by 10 p.m. (lights out by 10:30 p.m.) on days before I have to go to work.
I'm a night owl. I like to stay up, and do so easily. Getting up every morning, as one can imagine is, ehm, a bit tricky. I've also decided, as further incentive to go to bed on time, to try to attend 6:30 a.m. Mass at least twice a week before work. I know I can definitely use the additional grace!
Second resolution: Clean my room every week.
In my busy bee-ness, I push aside my room's organization, which only makes me more scatterbrained. No more!
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| Look! I'm running down a hill! |
I know, everyone and their grandmother puts this one down. But this exercising isn't about my pending wedding; it's about being fit. I played lacrosse in high school and soccer in college, and there is nothing like exercise to put the mind and body at peace.
Unfortunately, I've struggled with shin splints and Achilles' tendinitis, which comes about with poor stretching and pushing myself too hard.
So, when I say regular, I mean, I have a doable plan. None of this: I'M GOING TO RUN A MARATHON TOMORROW. I got out my old Runner's World bible and I am taking it slooow. Walking/ running till I get my endurance back, plus integrating in lots of stretching (yoga, Pilates) and other activities.
Anything is possible, people! Here's to an injury-free year!
Fourth resolution: stay (mostly) stress-free about wedding planning.
I am *officially* getting married in December 2012. We have a date, we have a church, we almost have a reception place (need to sign contract), we have a bridesmaid dress, we've asked our people to stand up in our wedding, I have an idea/ people in mind about photography, and my mom's wedding dress is ready for the seamstress to alter into my wedding dress.
It's January, Julie!, you're thinking. What in the heck are you stressed about?
Good point. But I thrive on stress. I compared wedding planning to writing my thesis to my cousin and she poo-poo'd that. But there's so much organization needed! (Just like my thesis!) There's so much preparation needed! (Just like my thesis!) There are people to contact and decisions to be made and the list goes on; I have a list of lists. It's great.
It is the little stuff we're not to supposed sweat and to pray over instead, and the calmly and reasonably approach this whole shindig. That's what I'm trying to do; my wedding isn't about the day- it's about the life I'm starting with another person as wholly committed to me as I to him. I want to spiritually prepare for marriage as well as the physical preparations of moving to another city, keeping up with thank you cards, and staying sane with all my "other" work and writing.
I'd appreciate any prayers y'all send my way, and B.'s too as he continues studying and working hard into his third year, researching and applying for residencies, and preparing for the aftermath of the wedding: providing for a family!
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| Dad giving a surprisingly short engagement toast at Christmas |
[I know, I know: engagement story to come! Stay tuned!]
Fifth resolution: Be grateful for all the blessings in my life, visible and invisible.
What are your resolutions for 2012?
If you want to do more exercising, I'll pass on the system that's helped unspeakably-lazy-me: Fitocracy. It's still in beta, but you can google an invite code. The site lets you log your activity, gives you points, and lets you level up when you hit certain thresholds (like in DnD!).
ReplyDeleteBest of all, there are quests that are worth more than the sum of their parts, that spur me to add activities I wouldn't have done otherwise. When I got back from my Swing class, it wouldn't have occurred to me to do 100 jumping jacks, except that fitocracy packaged dance time with that exercise as a quest.
You are on a roll! I will be offering many prayers for you and B-- I became engaged last January and had the same outlook you do. We were supposed to be married in August and everything was moving along well (I hadn't even become stressed once!) until about a month before our wedding when the Army changed my (now) husband's orders and we had to change our wedding date...to October. Then they changed things again and we had to change the wedding to November! Then I started to stress. But what I kept praying with and what ultimately made me calm and peaceful was this phrase: A wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime. Our crazy wedding date story made a great joke in the Best Man's speech! Many prayers and blessings to you and B!
ReplyDeleteEvery day, beautifuller and beautifuller.
ReplyDeleteYou have the right attitude about the wedding versus the happily ever after. Look at flylady.net for advice on cleaning, breathing, enjoying. Going to bed early provides a good time to reflect on just how much beautifuller each new day was. Hugs.
Read just as many books if not more books than I did last year, keep off the weight I lost this year. Run a half marathon. :)
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