As the New Year begins, the Christmas tree and its accomplices were swiftly put away as quickly as they were put up. There are minor remnants of red tinsel lurking on the steps, resting under foyer rugs and even finding refuge on the dog. These glistening reminders shimmer boldly in protest as if refusing to believe the holidays are long gone. As I walk by them I hear their faint sounds of peace, love and joy. Unapologetically I reach down, pick them up and toss them out – grinning all the while about the new and exiting year ahead.
Snow Day!
I, along with others, certainly enjoy a good snow day – is there a bad snow day? The snow finally is showing up in our neck of the woods and although little snow is predicted you won’t see anybody crying in this house. My mind wondered back to my cozy bed early this morning after the kids plowed through my door declaring a snow day. I got up, had a K-cup, reflected on this fine January day and did a 25 minute workout. I started my bread baking and it’s currently rising nicely. The kids are pretty much fending for themselves….as it should be because most of them are teenagers. You’d think all this would’ve motivated me to get my buns down to the office and write to you (because seriously – it’s been a while). However, I got pleasantly distracted by a game of solitaire on my iPad during my breakfast….and I’m not sorry.
You may be asking why the boring details?
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NEW READY TO SHIP HATS FOR YOU!!
Resolve to Stop
I’m not going to bore with you all my new years resolutions and crap because there isn’t any. I am bound to resolve in 2018. The definition of resolve is to “decide firmly on a course of action“. Deciding to stop second guessing, re-thinking, re-playing a conversation, and stop worrying frees me up to do other things and just be without thinking so much. Not only am I making a conscience effort to carry-on this way, but I shared this simple concept with my two youngest kiddos and we created “worry boxes”. We decorated the boxes with colorful paper and ribbons. In our world, I coincided the “worry box” with giving their worries to God. It was so neat to watch their minds working as they placed their worries in their boxes. They took this activity more seriously than I thought so much that my shifty-eyed son barricaded his writing area to make sure nobody saw what he was writing. I very much respect my little humans and never asked what they wrote. Resolving to “do” frees up my time allowing more time for other things.
1 Down, 23 across and 10 below
Resolving and solving. The long winter months can sometimes bring stinkin’ thinkin’ to idle minds and for me – that’s not a good combination. Some put puzzles together, some walk in the mall, some play screen games and some knit. My husband and I have always been avid crossword puzzle nerds. Solving the puzzle together nearly every night is something we enjoy together and it’s a good brain activity to pass the time during the long winter months. Before we print the crossword we try to get out for a walk. The winter so far has brought very cold temperatures in MN, but without even thinking about the numbing temps we bundle up and trekked our typical two miles with the pups. Icicles stick to my hair wings and his beard freezes – we love every minute of it! 2018 means more self-care breaks, more walks, more belly-gut laughing, deeper connections with friends, dancing to loud music, more eye contact and challenging of the mind.
Do It Anyway
I hope 2018 finds you soaking in a hot soapy bath, giving meaningful hugs to your people and resolving to resolve.
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10 OUTFITS AND ACCESSORIZING IDEAS TO KICK START YOUR 2018
Bound to be….tinsel tossing,
Shelly
