Happy New Year!!  It’s hard to imagine another year has flown by!  But here we are, and it’s 2015!  But after all It’s 2015 . . . and there’s no going back!

Like most of us, every year I try to evaluate where I could improve upon myself in my little existence.  And like most of us, I don’t always accomplish everything I set out to do.

Last year was a bit more challenging than usual, so I didn’t do as well at achieving my goals as I normally do.

Making New Year Goals

I’m not letting that stop me in setting goals and making a plan for this year, however.

I don’t really like to call them New Year Resolutions just because of the stigma that goes along with that.  Nobody keeps them for long.

I just like to look at it as a new beginning with a clean slate to try to have a little more personal responsibility in the way I live my life.

Looking Back

This past year, there were circumstances that took a toll on my attitude about life in general, and my self confidence.  I began to doubt my ability to be in control of my own life and I let the outside world dictate the direction of my life for me.

Having said that, I do believe that God is ultimately in control.  But I also believe He is the One that gives us the resources and gifts to help us realize life as a real and tangible experience.  That makes it my responsibility to use those talents to take my life where I believe He is leading me.

It’s easy for life to beat us to a pulp making us feel dark, hopeless, and as if life will never be any different or better than the moment we are experiencing right now.  The key, I am finding, is not to let those lies paralyze you in to giving up on seeing the beauty that surrounds you.

Accountablity

Today’s blog is my way of making myself accountable for, not just life as I now know it, but for my whole future for as much as I can control.

I used to have hobbies . . . Well, most of my hobbies have gone by the wayside in the past 3 years.  Oh I tried to hang on to a couple of them but, in the past year, the number of hobbies I have been able to hang on to was one.  And only because I could justify my gardening hobby as something to help me save money on groceries.

I wish every year to have more time with family and friends. . . But it seems every year I actually have less time with family and friends.

I used to have more disposable income. . . Not a lot, but a little that I could tuck away for fun and an occasional vacation.  We’ve never been able to do an annual vacation but in the past 12 years there were 4 major vacations peppered with a few weekend trips.  At this point, the disposable income appears to be nonexistent.

I used to be able to leave work at work. . . now I have to bring it home with me and frequently carry a pager (it’s a job requirement for all of us) and, when I make it known that I’m not happy about that, I feel like I’m looked at as though I’m not a team player.  At least I feel that way.  Seriously, we take a lot of it.  I have just reached a point in my life that I don’t need the adrenalin rush anymore.  That’s from another time.

My interests and dreams (yes at age 51 I still have dreams and aspirations), are not in the same alignment with what is actually happening in my daily life.  The only way to make those things come together is to work at making it happen, with change.

Insanity:  “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”  ~  Albert Einstein.

Do It Now!

So this is the year (actually, I’ve already started working on these things.  There was no need to wait till January 1st), of change.  Realizing, once again, how to reengage in life as I believe I should be living it.  I also believe that I have to take care of myself.  If I don’t start doing a better job at that, before long, I won’t be able to care for others.

So these are my goals to put in place to care for myself so I can better care for the very important people in my life!

  • Goal #1:  Find a new job:  Don’t get me wrong.  I am very thankful to have a job.  I work with wonderful, caring people and I love them all.  But, even after having quit my other 2 jobs (at one time I had 3), I still feel very oppressed in my current position.  Nursing has a culture that has not changed since long before I became a nurse and, at age 51, I’m just not willing to tolerate a Stone Age culture anymore.  We all want the best for our patients and I believe that everyone, no matter what their title, deserves to be treated with respect.  I honestly believe there is something better and more suited to my current needs and lifestyle.  Fortunately, as a nurse, there are many opportunities out there.  So in making this goal a reality, I am looking at jobs that are a little different than what I have done in the past.  This means that I will be working at finding new ways to market myself to appeal to potential employers.  Ironically, when I said life in that last 3 years has whittled away at the things I enjoy in life, that’s when I took my current job . . . Hmmm.
  • Goal #2:  Run.  I didn’t become a runner till I was in my early 40’s.  I’ll never win a race, although I do an acceptable job in my age group, but it’s challenging and has great health benefits.  In 2013 I did my 1st half marathon and was training in the hope of running in our local marathon.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get my weekend call covered for my job so, after all that training, I didn’t get to do it.  Then, I fell while roller skating and ended up with a compression fracture in my back.  After a of couple months, I was back running short distances, then a crisis within my family hit, so running was on the back burner again.  Then, as the dust began to settle and I began to try again, I injured my knee at work.  A torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).  And now a total abdominal hysterectomy on December 4th.  Two and a half weeks after surgery I was back at work and am now on the treadmill working my way back to physical health.  I also started the Gladiator Squat Challenge to strengthen my quads to stabilize my knee so I can start running again and avoid further injury.
  • Goal #3:  A frugal spending challenge.  Every year I take a look at the previous year’s spending, and rework things in my budget, as needed, for the new year.  This year I hope to curb some of my unnecessary spending and rebuild my emergency fund that was depleted with my 2014 series of unfortunate events.
  • Goal #4:   Play the piano.  I used to play the piano almost every day.  In the last 3 years I’ve hardly touched it.  The more time that passes the harder it is to sit down and make it happen.  It’s hard to hear how rusty I’ve become.  I never was a “Mozart” but I could play well enough that is was enjoyable for others to listen to.  It’s also an amazing stress reliever!
  • Goal #5:  Spend more time outdoors in general.  It’s easy to get locked indoors in the winter time.  But there was a time when my favorite time to hike was in the winter.  The air is crisp and clear and, when dressed appropriately, it can be amazing to be outside in winter.  When the snow is deep, hiking turns into snowshoeing.  Once the tributaries of the Mississippi are frozen over, you can even walk on water!  I also used to spend a lot of time on the bike path along the river.  I have missed it and hope . . . no . . . will be out there this year!  Something I have found helpful is lift.do.  If you need a little motivation, this app for your iPhone might help!  It’s *free* unless you want to get help from a coach.
  • Goal #6:  Last, but definitely not least, my family and friends need my attention.  Not just in urgent situations either.  My grandchildren are growing up too quickly, my parents won’t always be here, My Tom and I aren’t getting any younger, my daughter’s have somehow become lovely, strong women without my even realizing it, and I’m missing it all!!  Friendships also need to be nurtured or you won’t have friendships for long.  I am lucky to know some pretty amazing women.

It’s 2015

My biggest focus right now is getting that new job.  Once that happens, I know the rest will fall in to place a lot easier.  That doesn’t mean I won’t be working on every goal continuously, I just know that will have the biggest impact in making more time to get the other things accomplished.

2017 Update :  This did happen, however not in the way or direction I had planned when I originally wrote this post.  I am currently working 12 night shifts caring for cardiac patients after their procedures have been completed.  While it’s not easy working the night shift.  Sleep is definitely an issue.  It does allow more time to devote to the things I feel are most important right now. 

Meanwhile, I will continue to maintain my other interest in gardening, get to the stack of books I have accumulated that are waiting to be read, and continue growing in my spiritual beliefs.  Because without God’s help, none of this will be possible.

Now let’s get busy people!!  Happy New Year!

(Hugs!)

 

 

Happy New Year photo is from “FreeDigitalPhotos.net by digitalart

© 2015 – 2017, Pamela. All rights reserved.

Pamela

Taking control of life and learning to live a more intentional, holistic, minimalistic lifestyle from the heart of my inner 70's flower child.

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