Theme for 2011: CHOOSE

For the past few years, I've kind of picked a theme to live by.  See, I'm not big on resolutions.  I love goals, but my goal lists can get out of hand.  Plus, they change throughout the year.  I need something simple, a word or phrase I can remember and apply to my life on a regular basis.  One year I chose "Letting Go."  I got pretty good at that one, but I still have to remind myself occasionally to just let things go. Last year was all about "Balance." About halfway through the year, I realized I was failing at that.  Big time.  Now, I'm pretty sure I'm failing at the balance thing.  Maybe better than a year ago.  I dont know.  I can't really remember a year ago.   Let's revisit those 2010 goals for a sec:

1. Submit novel. - no
2. Resume Freelancing. - no
3. Toddler Homeschooling - Yup.  And (surprise, surprise) 2nd grade homeschooling, too.
4. Schedule More Grown-Up Time - Eh.  Some.  Probably better than the year before, but not much.

So, not great.  But you know what?  I'm ok with that.  I'm letting it go.  I learned so much more this year.  Maybe I still need to work on balance in my life, but I'll get there.  I'm not giving up on it. I'm just not beating myself over the head with it.  I'm reading, and simplifying, and remembering what's important to me, and I'll find my balance one day.  Or at least what balance looks like to me.

For this year, my theme is "Choose."  I used to live by the motto, "Life is about choices."  Really, it is. You're never as stuck as you feel.  Usually that stuck feeling (for me, at least) comes from wanting two opposing things and not wanting to choose between them.  Not even for a week or a month or a year.  Well, I'm going to do it this year.  I'm going to choose, on a daily basis.  Here are some of the choices I hope to make this year:

1. Choose happiness.
2. Choose peace and simplicity.
3. Choose to laugh at myself and my mistakes.
4. Choose a passion.  (Because being passionate about everything is exhausting.  Focus on one thing at a time.  Make a choice: What do you want to do today?  Also, see #5.)
5. Choose to be present.  Always.  

I could go on, but you see where this is going, right?  I've got my word and I'm sticking to it.  And, with a little luck and focus, maybe in the midst of all these choices I'll find my balance, too.

Happy New Year!!!