Cracking the Whip

I am stealing this title from Dy. In this morning's post, she was talking about getting back to work. Well, it is time for me to do that too. I will also try to do this in a way that isn't a to-do list, also per Dy's style.

This was suppopsed to be the year that I focused on myself. I didn't make resolutions, but had given some thought to how I wanted the year to go. Well, we are a month into it, and it hasn't gone as I had invisioned. Not because things have gone wrong, just because I haven't been living into what I want to be- lack of intention and planning on my part. I think if I have some goals, some ideas of what I really want to accomplish, that manifesting those things might be a bit easier. It doesn't preclude good hard work and integrity, but I think it might help. To be brutally honest, I have been very lazy. I really have no excuse- the kids are tweenagers now (how did that happen so fast?!), and are learning how to be integrity in their schoolwork, and need to chip in around the house on a regular basis. This gives me many more hours of the day to do with as I see fit, and so far, I have been wasting them, not accomplishing anything more than resting and getting used to not working. That was valuable for a short while, but isn't working any more.

I am working towards getting a job that will let me contribute to the family's income (albeit in a minor way), give me some time to be in the world without the kids, but will still allow me to focus most of my energies on them and the house. And YES! I did get the application materials to the library office today!! This is step one toward being the capable, productive person I want to be.

Second, I want to get healthy. I need to engage in exercise on a daily basis, rather thatn the 2 or 3 times a week I was managing. This means I need to plug in that TTapp DVD I bought 2 months ago and actually make time to do it. Make it a habit. I think I might have the kids join me once I get the hang of it. P.E. hasn't happened for them any more than it has for me.

I need to eat healthily, which means much less sugar and carbs, and following my allergy/food sensitivity diet (which I will honestly admit to not following for the last 9 months or so). I need to lose about 40 pounds. I don't want to DIET, just want to be living in a healthy way. I know from experience that the weight will come off if I do so, so do I will.

Let's see. What's next on my NOT A TO DO LIST? Time for myself to study, blog, make art, and just be. Right. That means getting up at 6 am every day. I am getting closer, as I usually manage 6:30, but as the kids get up at 6:45, that isn't enough time. This one is so very hard for me. I am not an early riser. But I do know it can be done, and similarly to eating right and exercising, I have done it before, and made it work, so I can choose it again! In addition to studying, which has gone by the wayside, I really want to focus on quilting. I have several unfinished projects that bother my conscience, and I want to get in there and do some art quiliting, as well. I need to find space in the basement in which to work, and develop a daily routine for doing so. This leads me to my next goal.

And that is to be is uncluttered. I won't go into details, but this house needs to be gone through with a fine tooth comb. There is junk in every room that needs to go. Bills and paperwork that needs to go in filing cabinets, and boxes that still need to be unpacked. When we moved into the Farmhouse, the pervious owner had died, so all his stuff was still here, and much of it still is. It is time to load up Whitey the minivan and make a trip to the dump. Maybe two trips.

I also want to paint. Actually, I don't want to paint. To be honest, I have a real story about painting. I HATE painting! It stinks and gives me a headache, it is messy, and it requires cleaning, prepping and cleanup. Ick. Ick. And Ick again. But, I am sick and tired of the horrible smoke stained walls, and the lack of cheery color. Papa will deny it if you ask him, but when we moved into the Farmhouse 2 years ago after 5+ years in a rental where the walls were all a boring white, he told me I could paint every wall a different color if I wanted to. And did I mention that his sister is a professional painter, and has left her color wheel with me? I have been walking through the house, looking at walls and imagining them in a rainbow of different shades. Pain in the butt or no, it looks like painting is in my future!

Well, that will do for now. That is a lot to be, and I know I can't do it all right off the bat at the same time, but just getting it down is a start.

LB