Resolutions

I wonder why people always make New Years Resolutions? I feel like I always did this twice a year: once at New Years and once at the beginning of school. Do you miss the beginning of school? It was a defining feature of most of my life and now it is gone.

I have never been great at making resolutions, but I think it's because I always made really lofty goals or plans and never really did anything about them. Because honestly, who is going to eat an apple every day for a whole year?

However, I have kept my resolutions from the last two years. Year one of being married I resolved to learn how to make bread from scratch. I did it. And it was a delicious endeavor that taught me a real skill. Now I love to make bread.

Year two of being married I resolved to floss every night. Now, this is one of those "lofty" goals that rarely come to fruition. Or, it would have been if Husband wasn't a dental hygiene drill sergeant. He was always a good reminder to floss. Not that I've ever really needed it. I have had dentists sigh when they look in my mouth and say, "Oh to have teeth like these." I am not exaggerating. This has happened. But I floss anyway because I know I "should" or something. 

I haven't had any strong feelings one way or another toward any goals this year. I talked it over with Husband and we haven't thought of anything good. I think I'm going to try my hand at an even loftier and more ethereal goal this year. 

This year I'm going to try to Slow Down. I want to make this my mantra for the year. I think it will be a good year to start since I'll have a baby and stop working outside the home in a few months. I want to slow down not only in what I do all day, but how I think and what I say.

I aim to slow down in reacting to people. I don't want to start arguments with Husband because I flare up when he doesn't understand me. I don't want to get so overwhelmed by having a baby that I feel stressed and angry as I'm figuring this all out. I don't want to roll my eyes (outwardly) when someone says something ridiculous. And seriously, I'm going to try to stop even saying the rude counter-arguments in my head. 

I aim to not be rude about/toward people. And this completely falls under the Slow Down category. When I slow down my judging/condescension I'm sure I'll give them the benefit of the doubt more. And because it is an easy mantra, I hope I can remember this. 

Since the earth didn't explode, and we made it to 2013, I am resolving to Slow Down this year.