My family’s health. A Today Show appearance. Lots of new writing clients. Loads of thrilling blog experiences. Launching my workshop business Working Girls. Traveling to Antigua, Greece, Hungary, Dubai and The Maldives. Losing some weight. Gaining new friends. Learning so much from my kids. 2013 was really the bee’s knees for me. Sure, there were some Debbie Downer moments (womp, womp) — like breaking my foot and tussling with some personal shit — but that’s life for you. It’s not always sprinkles, My Little Ponies and stars. You know that.
Which brings me to 2014. Never one to conjure up New Years resolutions — because, who the hell follows through with them? — what I want to manifest for 2014 is:
A) Better time management. Swearskies, it takes me 3 facking hours to hash out a work assignment that should only take 1 hour of my time because I’m lollygagging the day away on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter like a complete asshole. Cutting down Social Media playground time is in order. Fo sho.
B) Listening more. This is a biggie. While having conversations, I have this embarrassing social disorder where I can’t help but interject every 2 seconds. While I’m certain it’s a nervous tick — it’s obnoxious. Plus, it takes the other exasperated person 10 minutes to tell me their story when it could’ve taken them 5 minutes. This invariably circles back to manifestation A). Ain’t nobody got time for dat!
C) Cooking more. A tremendous variable in my recent weight loss was cutting out dining out during the week 100%. So I want to master more tried-and-true dishes other than the current rotation of turkey meatballs, chicken stir-fry and mini meatloaves. Besides, my kids are starting to mutiny against the meatloaf.
D) Living in the moment. This is the Big Kahuna of them all. One of my biggest faults is living in the past and future, namely the future. I’ve always struggled with being deeply rooted in the now. While at morning drop-off, I find myself ruminating the day’s writing assignments. While writing, I’ll obsess over the cleanliness of my office. While cleaning, I’ll fret over the dinner menu. During dinner, I’ll get carried away by thoughts such as: Are the kids’ lunches packed? What should I write about next without being basic? How can I grow my business? I wonder how mom and dad are doing. And always, always — all those dirty pots and pans. Life is a constant laundry list of worries and concerns. You get the picture. So for 2014, I need to quiet the noises in my head and just be in the now.
How about you? What do you wish to achieve in 2014?
Lose weight.
One thing I definitely need to accomplish is eating healthier! And working on my illustration skills.
Great resolutions, I can TOTALLY relate. Loved loved meeting you at Trader Joe’s last month!
Rose! Such a small world…you made my day with your kind words:) Happy New Year!
I think we have similar goals. But for me I need to talk more, I spend a lot of time not talking and mostly just listening and taking things in. Then everyone ends up thinking I either can’t hold a conversation or I’m a snob instead of what it really is…crippling social anxiety. Time management is my biggie though. I am THE worst. Here’s to us tackling our vices this year ^^
xx