new year

This year, I'm doing something new with my annual resolutions. Instead of doing a whole soul-searching, inventory-taking thing, I'm gonna switch tactics.

This year, I'm resolving to not resolve to do anything that is unreasonable to expect. I resolve to not expect miraculous happenings defying ordinary ability on a regular basis. I resolve to accept the flawed humanity of my husband, my children, my friends, the guy driving in front of me who has yet to learn the true use of a turn signal and can't seem to get his speed above 30.5 mph. In the same spirit, I resolve to accept my own flaws, mistakes, missteps and oversights.

I resolve to revel in the moments of sheer chaos and heart stomping emotion that comes in between moments of mundane car pooling, grocery shopping, and bedtime story gathering. I resolve to enjoy these moments, instead of constantly trying to control or bypass them.

I resolve to listen to more music. To spend more time outside. I resolve to write more letters and correct my boys' letters less often.

I resolve to listen before I speak, to try and watch the conversation from the other person's point of view.

I resolve to say 'thank you' more often. I resolve to pause before flooring the gas pedal on my way... everywhere.

All that being said, this will also be the year I finish the boys' photo journals, get published, and finally, learn Spanish.

Probably.