New Year's Day - Looking Forward

I love the quiet of New Year’s Day! My family has always treated New Year’s Day as a lounge-about-the-house, low key day. While the first day of the New Year is coming to a close, I hope that I can make the remaining 364 days worth it. I saw a quote on Facebook this morning that made me smile. It not only appealed to me as a writer, but as a person who is wanting to make life fun. This quote was attributed to Brad Paisley. “Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” If this is true, I’ve made page one a good one!

Join me for this year for a series of unique resolutions!

• Be happy with the imperfectly unique person that I am.

I’m imperfect and I do have moments where I am less than I think others think I should be. I’m giving myself permission to be happy this year with ALL of me. Lumps, curves, scars, beauty marks, smiles, failures, successes, weaknesses, strengths, inabilities and talents. I have permission to be happy and love it all!

• Get my photo taken in five interesting places.

I’m found behind the camera more often than in front of it. I have the opportunity to live in a beautiful area and I have so much to show to family and friends. The best way to say, “I’ve been there,” is to have a picture of me there! This year I’m going to not just take pictures of the beautiful places I go, but be in those pictures.

• Pay it forward!

When I think of this goal, the first thing that comes to mind is the movie released in 2000. I don’t mean for this to be a tear-jerker moment, I want this to be very fun! I want to make someone’s day. I want to give random people the gift of an amazing day.

• Set boundaries.

This may sound like an odd resolution. I need to say “no” more when I don’t want to do something when I know I’ll end up resenting an event or a person. It is worth 5 minutes of discomfort to say “no” rather than hours or days of resentment. Life is too short to be miserable over “volunteering” for something I didn’t want to do. This is not a blanket permission to avoid everything. This is permission to take care of myself by saying “no” when it would otherwise interfere with other plans, arrangements or severely exceeds my abilities or skills.

• Pursue real interaction.

I’m going to put my phone/tablet/computer down more and talk to my family and friends face to face. Like those who have been in the news and our Facebook feeds for their goals to meet all of their Facebook friends face to face, I want to meet up with my family and friends and have real life conversations with them.

I hope you join me with these resolutions! May 2015 be a fun, happy and amazing year for you!