I am one of those who look forward to the new year as a time to start fresh -- I think I like the idea of this more than I like how well I use this time to start new habits and begin new goals. The Fall is also a time that makes me feel like I am starting something new. I know this is a left over feeling from school days of old.
This year I have been inspired by Kristi at everythingispink to pick a word of the year that I can use as a base to mold some of my goals around. Last year Kristi's word of the year was S-T-R-E-T-C-H and that is exactly what she did. She had moved with her young family to a new city and her family was given a calling that would seriously stretch them in many ways throughout the year. If you have time, you should peruse her blog to read about the experiences they had serving in a ward in downtown Washington D.C. She also kept a great secret all year while she was training to run a marathon.
So this year I have chosen word that I think will help me improve in so many areas of my life. The word I have chosen is
This year I have been inspired by Kristi at everythingispink to pick a word of the year that I can use as a base to mold some of my goals around. Last year Kristi's word of the year was S-T-R-E-T-C-H and that is exactly what she did. She had moved with her young family to a new city and her family was given a calling that would seriously stretch them in many ways throughout the year. If you have time, you should peruse her blog to read about the experiences they had serving in a ward in downtown Washington D.C. She also kept a great secret all year while she was training to run a marathon.
So this year I have chosen word that I think will help me improve in so many areas of my life. The word I have chosen is
O-R-D-E-R
I am a mess. If you were to enter the basement of my father’s home (my previous residence) you would be very, very afraid. Probably not as afraid as you would have been before I moved the majority of my belongings to my new home but I think that there would still be a level of fear that would haunt you as looked around the dark basement at all of the “crap”.
I admit, I am a keeper of ‘things’ – I’m not quite as bad as the hoarders that you see on those intervention/organization shows but if categorizing myself as a hoarder would get me a newly organized home then sign me up!!!
I can’t beat myself up too much as I have had the majority of my belongings in boxes the past couple of years and whenever I needed anything from said boxes I would have to find the box, dig it out, unpack the item, and sometimes the item would get placed back in the box after I was done with it. More times than not, it got set on the table in the basement or it might have made it as far as the box of origination itself just to be set on top of it to be ‘put away later’.
It has been SO nice to unpack all of my belongings and put them in their very own place in my new home. Yes, I do have 3 different Bundt pans and yes I have a nice space for them in my kitchen where they get put away when I am done with them.
There is still lots to be put away, however, and I definitely have my hands full. My studio is going to be the biggest challenge. I was lucky enough to have a craft room in my dad’s house. I called it my super-secret-craft-room as it was downstairs in a room that was a bit bigger than a nice walk in closet. I had all of my favorite ‘stuff’ in there tucked nicely in the shelves, corners and storage bins. I had the TV wired to the satellite dish and could watch hours and hours of HGTV, Lifetime or TLC while I ‘crafted’ away. Much of the ‘craft-supplies’ oozed out into the rest of the basement especially when I was working on a quilt and needed the real estate in the room to sew on the binding.
In my new home I have designated one of the spare bedrooms to be my studio. It has a huge window, a closet and the best part – no spiders!!!! I am so excited to get myself all set up and put together in there. A place for everything and everything in it’s place – it will be nice to be able to walk into my studio to work on a project without first having to find/dig out what I need to begin and then clear off a spot to work on it. By the time I would do those things I wouldn’t have time to work on my project!
Getting my home organized is not the only area of my life that I would like to bring more order to. I would like to work on strengthening my relationship with my heavenly father – study my scriptures, attend the temple, magnify my callings. I have definitely let this area of my life fall to the way side and I would like to make it a priority – make it the priority. I want to feel good about my efforts in this area. I want to feel like I am doing all that I can to live with the spirit so that the spirit will fill my home.
Another area of my life that needs some serious straightening up is the physical part. My aspirations are not to be a size 4, or a size 6 or 8 for that matter. I want to be healthy and feel good. The other night I had one of those ah-ha moments while carrying a 40lb. bag of salt down to my basement to fill the water softener. I was dragging this stinkin’ heavy bag down the stairs and I could not believe how heavy 40 lbs. felt. I thought to myself how much better I would feel if I were even 40 lbs. thinner. So my goal is to get my nutrition under control and ease myself into an exercise routine in an effort to lose a bag of salt – ultimately I would like to lose more, but one bag at time…. One bag at a time.
There are some other things that I would love to accomplish this year –
I have numerous ‘projects-in-progress’ that I would love to see to completion. As my disposable income has shrunk to next to nothing I think I will be more inclined to submerse myself in the ‘stuff’ I have on hand rather than shop for new ‘stuff’. This will be very, very hard for me.
I love to pretend that I speak French and would love to actually make sense when I ramble about with my French sayings. This is the year that I will make a concerted effort to formally learn the language. I am going to start with the software packages that I have on hand and look for courses where I could go and actually practice with other live individuals. (If anyone knows of any courses anywhere please let me know)
So there you have it – my plans for 2008. Nothing grandiose – just some basic steps I would like to take to put my life in O-R-D-E-R.
I admit, I am a keeper of ‘things’ – I’m not quite as bad as the hoarders that you see on those intervention/organization shows but if categorizing myself as a hoarder would get me a newly organized home then sign me up!!!
I can’t beat myself up too much as I have had the majority of my belongings in boxes the past couple of years and whenever I needed anything from said boxes I would have to find the box, dig it out, unpack the item, and sometimes the item would get placed back in the box after I was done with it. More times than not, it got set on the table in the basement or it might have made it as far as the box of origination itself just to be set on top of it to be ‘put away later’.
It has been SO nice to unpack all of my belongings and put them in their very own place in my new home. Yes, I do have 3 different Bundt pans and yes I have a nice space for them in my kitchen where they get put away when I am done with them.
There is still lots to be put away, however, and I definitely have my hands full. My studio is going to be the biggest challenge. I was lucky enough to have a craft room in my dad’s house. I called it my super-secret-craft-room as it was downstairs in a room that was a bit bigger than a nice walk in closet. I had all of my favorite ‘stuff’ in there tucked nicely in the shelves, corners and storage bins. I had the TV wired to the satellite dish and could watch hours and hours of HGTV, Lifetime or TLC while I ‘crafted’ away. Much of the ‘craft-supplies’ oozed out into the rest of the basement especially when I was working on a quilt and needed the real estate in the room to sew on the binding.
In my new home I have designated one of the spare bedrooms to be my studio. It has a huge window, a closet and the best part – no spiders!!!! I am so excited to get myself all set up and put together in there. A place for everything and everything in it’s place – it will be nice to be able to walk into my studio to work on a project without first having to find/dig out what I need to begin and then clear off a spot to work on it. By the time I would do those things I wouldn’t have time to work on my project!
Getting my home organized is not the only area of my life that I would like to bring more order to. I would like to work on strengthening my relationship with my heavenly father – study my scriptures, attend the temple, magnify my callings. I have definitely let this area of my life fall to the way side and I would like to make it a priority – make it the priority. I want to feel good about my efforts in this area. I want to feel like I am doing all that I can to live with the spirit so that the spirit will fill my home.
Another area of my life that needs some serious straightening up is the physical part. My aspirations are not to be a size 4, or a size 6 or 8 for that matter. I want to be healthy and feel good. The other night I had one of those ah-ha moments while carrying a 40lb. bag of salt down to my basement to fill the water softener. I was dragging this stinkin’ heavy bag down the stairs and I could not believe how heavy 40 lbs. felt. I thought to myself how much better I would feel if I were even 40 lbs. thinner. So my goal is to get my nutrition under control and ease myself into an exercise routine in an effort to lose a bag of salt – ultimately I would like to lose more, but one bag at time…. One bag at a time.
There are some other things that I would love to accomplish this year –
I have numerous ‘projects-in-progress’ that I would love to see to completion. As my disposable income has shrunk to next to nothing I think I will be more inclined to submerse myself in the ‘stuff’ I have on hand rather than shop for new ‘stuff’. This will be very, very hard for me.
I love to pretend that I speak French and would love to actually make sense when I ramble about with my French sayings. This is the year that I will make a concerted effort to formally learn the language. I am going to start with the software packages that I have on hand and look for courses where I could go and actually practice with other live individuals. (If anyone knows of any courses anywhere please let me know)
So there you have it – my plans for 2008. Nothing grandiose – just some basic steps I would like to take to put my life in O-R-D-E-R.
5 comments:
Amen! Yay! I think you may have inspired us, too. We'll see after FHE on Monday, since it does have to be a family decision, but the other Carters might just be focusing on O-R-D-E-R too. Love you...
I love all of your goals and that one word brings it all together!!! Totally inspiring!!! Not to mention that I am SO SO SO jealous of your craft space and how cool you sound when you say you have a studio in your house!! Love ya!
http://www.frenchpodclass.com
So, while you're on your treadmill you could be listening to this on your ipod.
You can also go to itunes and search under education there are actually several 'learn French' podcasts to choose from.
Good luck.
Good word. I haven't committed to one yet. Good 'resolutions' too. I'd love to finish projects with you!!
i love your word. it's so fun reading what others choose to inspired them. it sounds like you've got some great goals. i can't wait to read about your progress. especially the bit about learning french. i too would really love to tackle a language. thanks for sharing & the inspiration you've provided!
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