Resolutions

Historically, this is the time of year when people make resolutions about what they hope to improve in/about their lives. I just did a quick Google on "resolutions" and one of the first things that popped up was a Top Ten List (along with the comment that the majority of Americans will a) have at least one of these on their own list and b) probably won't keep it and will have it on their list again NEXT year).

Here are the Top Ten:

Spend more time with family and friends

Fit in fitness

Tame the bulge

Quit smoking

Enjoy life more

Quit drinking

Get out of debt

Learn something new

Help others

Get organized

Any of these ring a little ding-a-ling?

Even I, who several years ago decided to stop making way too many resolutions and focus on just a few areas for potential improvement (that all tie in with my Master Plan), have to admit that I selected two such areas that are close to two on this list. And, after doing a brief poll on Facebook, I noticed that many of my Facebook friends have similar resolutions to these. More on that later.

So, what's this Master Plan of mine? Well, I'll tell you in a second, but WHY I came up with it is probably more germane to this whole resolution topic.

Like a lot of people, every year, I'd come up with this too long and probably unreasonable list of things to either improve about myself or my circumstances OR something to do. Less than half-way through the year, I'd find myself unfocused, torn, frustrated, confused; mostly because many of the items really didn't matter, were not specific enough, or, should have just been status quo.

Case in point, this whole "lose weight/get into shape/take care of my health" resolution. To me, this is not something a person should pay attention to once a year; rather, it should be a life style. Either you do it, or you don't. If you don't intend on making your health a priority every single day of your life, stop kidding yourself, leave it off your resolution list and focus on something else in whatever time you've got left.

For me personally, this is just an overarching requirement to my life. If I don't feel good, nothing else is going to matter.

So, anyway; to avoid the long laundry list of too many unreasonable and unrelated resolutions, I wrote my Master Plan. Actually, I got the idea from a very interesting book entitled "Conversations with God". Religion aside, the concept is simple. People need to have a plan, whatever it is, to which every single thing you do fits in with that plan. In the business world, we call this a strategic plan.

My plan is somewhat fluid, but with sufficient structure to provide guidance. Like any decent plan, I've had to tweak it a few times, too; but, at least it's a map. What's that saying? If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there? I don't know about you, but, I'd sort of like to have some idea of where I'm heading (and why!)

Here it is:

Retire/Semi-Retire within Seven Years in Comfort and Ease with Sufficient Funds and Both of Us Active and Healthy.

Not really rocket science.

Since I'm already semi-retired, my primary focus is doing what is necessary to get Mr. B there!

For me to do this, I've got to be happy/healthy/motivated (and such there are many of my resolutions that fall into this category; 'cause if mama ain't happy, ain't NO ONE happy!)

Here are my 2010 picks:

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle (that overarching thing; I guess I only put it down because I'm OCD).

2. Continue to contribute to our cash flow "somehow" (yes, purposefully vague; who knows what direction this may take?)

3. Wrap up a few personal projects (note I did not say ALL of them!)

4. Accept imperfection in self and others (this is important to me because I sometimes get bogged down in wanting everything PERFECT; which ends up putting me in stall mode)

5. Learn/do at lease one new thing (gotta keep growing; note, this was on the top ten list)

6. Keep an eye on the future but enjoy the "present" of today (also on the top ten list but definitely something I have to remember (this sort of goes hand and hand with #4))

Those of my Facebook friend who responded had:

Lose weight

Stop taking crap from people

Get organized (this was a popular one)

Take control of my life/stop talking about it and put plans into action

Stop cussing (hmmm...nah, maybe I'll try that one for Lent :-) )

Happy New Year, all. Make 2010 worth it!

Mrs. B

"I Realized I Have a Muffin Top...Even with My Sweats On!"

No, I don't, it's not that bad (no muffin top in sweats for met...yet) this quote came from something I just saw on-line (from Kellogg's Special K Cereal, of all things, about getting into shape).

But, I actually WAS going to blog about how, every January, without fail, all of the exercise equipment, gear, clothes, gym memberships, et al go on sale. Obviously, there is a direct correlation between this and people feeling like big fat slobs after all of the holiday indulgment.

Frankly, I think it is part of an annual ritual. Right around Thanksgiving, most people fall off the exercise wagon (assuming they were even exercising in the first place). Also around this time, eating habits start to decline (or improve, depending on your perspective; Egg Beater omelets or Mom's famous peanut butter cookies? Hmmm...)

By mid-December, there is a full feeding frenzy going on. For us, this includes egg nog and brandy (something we never drink any other time during the year), cookies (see above), extensive dinners with far too many carbs, wine, wine, wine, champagne, scotch, mead, etc. People spotted jogging or exercising are deemed "Damned fools! Don't they know it is Christmas?"

I don't know about y'all, but, the last few days of December (or the first few days of January depending on when the first Monday of January falls) are a full-bore pig fest with the gloomy knowledge that, sooner or late, there will be hell to pay.

I'm no exception to the back-to-the workout routine-in-early-January crowd. I've been thinking for a few weeks about how to vary my routine so I don't get bored. I had Mr. B drag out my old Jane Fonda VHS tape (from 1992) that, without fail, does the trick of whipping my butt into shape. I figure I can alternate between the evil elliptical machine (while watching I Love Lucy on DVD or listening to pump me up music on my iPod) with the sadistic Jane Fonda (from the 1990s; I doubt she'd be able to keep up with her own tape now). Out came the step aerobic bench and away I'll go. Tomorrow.

Ha! Seriously, it is the elliptical machine today.

In all honesty, I'm not 100% committed to this exercise and diet routine until NEXT Monday since Mr. B and I were planning to go to Alabama for a long weekend this coming weekend. Unfortunately, that fell through so now we're going to Edenton NC for two nights. Since our RSVP includes wine tasting and appetizers the first night and a four course dinner paired with appropriate wines the second, it doesn't seem wise to get too far gone on this healthy kick or else I'll just feel guilty.

But, like millions of other people, I do feel the need to shed a few pounds and tone up a bit.

NEXT Monday.

Mrs. B