New Year Blues

Have you been to Target lately? They’ve hit the ground running with this whole ‘save money by stocking UP UP UP!’ As in, TO THE CEILING UP! The featured things in the store are all about doing more, doing it better, and getting organized, RIGHT AWAY! QUICK! BEFORE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER HAS PASSED YOU BY!

I think I’m going to start a new tradition in my life. I’ll make my resolutions in March or something. Far, far away from Christmas and New Year’s. Please don’t get discouraged if you’ve made a fresh start this New Year. It’s just that, well, we can’t all change and make things perfect all at the same time. When you choose prematurely to make major changes to your life you’re setting yourself up for failure. Sometime around now people are making their first fumbles at life change. And, it’s no wonder!

Somehow we’re supposed to finish up all the Christmas and New Year’s leftovers, put the tree away, deal with very low bank accounts (because we spent recklessly and with abandon the entire month of December), and all at the same time loose 50lbs, practice better time management, and organize that junk drawer that’s held the same level of mess since 1976. Wouldn’t it make more sense to allow the magic of Christmas to last a few days, then take a few more days to put life back to a normal routine before deciding to make major changes? I, personally, am exhausted from Christmas. My kids are on activity high from Christmas and their gifts (and we didn’t even buy that much!). My husband and I were smart this Christmas and we just didn’t go overboard, that doesn’t mean we’re not scrambling a little bit. I mean really, has anyone seen how much entertaining you do at Christmastime? I, for one, refuse to regret all the merriment of Christmas now that the cold light of January is upon me.

So, I guess in way too many words and commas I’m trying to say this. Resolve to get things back to normal this January. JUST NORMAL. Then, in February or March take a good hard look at the shape of your life (or your midsection) and sit down to plan out a change for the new year. I think it would be amazing for people who decide to loose weight this year to not have to run outside at 5am all through January and February. Why not start in March? Things will only warm for you as you succeed. Or, OR, for people who decide that they really want to organize their lives. Wouldn’t it be amazing to commit to cleaning your home and as you accomplish it you’re able to begin to open your windows to the first smell of spring flowers?

Just writing this out I feel personally encouraged. Looking out my windows I don’t see any trees committing themselves to growing larger leaves this year starting NOW. They wait until conditions are right, then they blossom and do what they’re meant to do. If only we were so smart. So people, sometime in February (probably toward the end) I’ll start deciding what parts of my life need improving. Then, sometime in March (probably toward the end) I’ll set about making them happen in my life. I’m taking my cues from nature this time. Through the rest of winter I’m hunkering down and surviving. I’m not worrying myself with tons of extra stuff on my to do list. Then, when spring starts arriving around here it will be time to roll my sleeves up and get stuff done. If I were to roll them up now I’d freeze, it’s just too cold out.

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