A year in the life of a New Years Resolution

A day by day account of how I am carrying out the goals I have set for myself for the year 2014

[resolutions-for-2014]

4/30/14

While I have done a pretty poor job at keeping up with my blog this month, I think I've done alright with keeping my resolution of setting a daily intention. This month didn't go the way I had originally thought it would. Rather that setting a new intention every morning, I pretty much chose one and stayed with it.

I believe I did a good job. Every morning I set the intention of being joyful and present. I did my best not to over react or worry, to look for pleasure (or at least peace) in all things, to keep an attitude of gratitude, and to be aware.

Tomorrow is the beginning of May and time to make a commitment to another resolution. There have been a couple rolling around in my head but I think the one I'll choose is; random acts of kindness.  They will be anonymous acts in the fact that I will be stealthy in carrying them out but I will still blog about them here.

I'm setting myself a goal of three acts per week.  I don't expect that any of them will be anything major or live changing for anyone but I'll be happy to know that I'm contributing some kindness to the world. I can only think of a couple of things I can do so will probably have to gather ideas from what others have done. Any suggestions?

[resolutions-for-2014]

4/20/14

Wow, it's taken me quite awhile to get back to my blog.  There are several reasons including the lack of a computer and a crazy schedule, but those are behind me now and I'm committed to getting back on track.

Even though I was away from the blog, I continued to think about and even (occasionally), set an intention and stick with it throughout the day.

Because they are challenging for me, there are only a few things that I have been choosing to focus on; being joyful and being present. Being joyful has meant that I pay attention to the things around me that I'm grateful for, don't take things so seriously, and look for the good in situations that arise. I have practiced the intention of being present mostly at work by taking more time with my preschoolers. I allow more playtime and I sit with them and play. I take time to have more meaningful conversations with individual kids and really listen to what they have to say.

I have a teacher default and that is the place I know the best when at work and where I return to if I don't stay vigilant.  I think that the rest of this month will be devoted to the intention of staying open and in the moment with the kids in my class.  It is challenging for me but I can see and feel the reward both to myself and to the preschoolers.

...Michael Finnegan begin again...

[resolutions-for-2014]

4/3/14

The intention I set for myself today was to stay present. I had to pull myself back from future tripping a few times today but overall I think I did a good job. We're doing multiple art projects with the preschoolers and I was able to help several of the kids get them done today. I didn't worry about the main art project, just focused on getting the small ones done today with the kids that were at school. Tomorrow's intention will be to update my affirmations.

[resolutions-for-2014]

4/2/14

Today's intention was to be patient. I figured that by setting patience as my intention it would be tested...and it was. I was aware of the little things that irritate me. The things that make me give a forced sigh and make me want to roll my eyes. I was able to stop myself mid roll. I didn't try to dissect it, I just wanted to be aware. I did well when one of the preschoolers flooded the bathroom. I cleaned it up without drama or calling attention to my martyrdom. I did call all the kids over to look at the mess; the puddles of water covered with towels, and patiently explained that flooding the bathroom wasn't acceptable behavior and while I didn't need to hear any tattling about who did it, I didn't ever want it to happen again. I have also been practicing patience while waiting for info I need before I can file my taxes. The deadline is looming and I'd like to get it over with by an Hsiang it together in hopes the info will get to me soon. Tomorrow's intention will be to stay present.

[resolutions-for-2014]

4/1/13

Resolution #4 (April 1-30) Setting an intention for the day What this will look like for me: this month I see myself choosing an area of focus every morning and staying aware of it throughout the day. I don't think I'll put a limit on the scope of the intentions. I'll just choose whatever send to pop out at me each morning. Today's intention was to be joyful. I was aware of the beautiful morning as I drove to work and how contented I felt driving my daughter to school and heading to work. Stayed present while teaching and spending time with the kids and kept calm while dealing with final prep to do my taxes.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/31/14

It's been several days since I've posted. Last week was Tech Week for Fiddler and then opening weekend. I wasn't home until almost midnight every day except yesterday. So here it is, the last day of March. Time to reflect on the last resolution and set a new one. I had hoped to accomplish so much more this month than I did. While I know I left many things undone, I also know that I usually do finish everything. It's just not getting done within the time frame that I was going for. I did make process and sometimes that's enough. Now, on to the April. For this new month, my resolution is to set an intention every morning and be aware of how that plays out in shaping my day.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/24/14

It's hard to sit down an write about this resolution when I'm not really doing much with it.  I am getting things done but, like I said yesterday, it's stuff I'd most likely be doing anyway.

Today I finished the last of the big packet of paperwork I've been working. Tomorrow I'll double check everything, sign and date all the pages, make copies of everything and then get it in the mail on Wed.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/23/14

I didn't accomplish as much with this months resolution as I had hoped. Getting all the pictures scrap booked or at least put onto pix CD's was my goal but that's just not gonna happen. The emotional toll was to high.

I did get a few things done here and there but I don't really feel that they were that big. I probably would have done those things even without the resolution. 

We moved Fiddler into the theater today. There really wasn't that much to do! Mad Dog brought in the sets and there was a little assembly and that was it.  I had several gals helping me set the prop tables and there were several gals working with costumes but really,that was it.  We were out of there in three hours.

I went into the day feeling that I was behind on the props. That there were still many things to gather and few places left to look but a couple of the cast members stepped up and volunteered items so it's looking pretty good.

We go into Tech week and open on Fri so I don't know how much more I'll get done on this resolution. I can't say that I feel great about where I am with three months of the year already gone but I am proud of myself for sticking with the idea of a different resolution each month, trying to stay aware, and continuing to press on.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/22/14

It's tough being down to one laptop.  My daughter needed it for homework last night so I didn't get to update my blog.  Not that I really had much to say.  

I was able to get even further ahead on my lesson plans and get my shopping lists written for the next couple of weeks.

Today I worked on gathering props for Fiddler. It took several stops to get the things I did and I"m still not done. It did feel good to cross a few more things off the list though.

I was also able to stop at Batteries for Less and get a new battery for the house  phone.  I'm really hoping that it just needs the battery. I bought a new phone to replace it but I don't like it as well and it's a hassle to have to learn how the new one works so if all it needs is a new battery I'll be really happy. I won't know until sometime tomorrow since it takes several hours to charge once you put it into the phone.

Tomorrow is load in for the show. There are usually a lot of people but not that many jobs that that many people can actually do so it can be kind of frustrating. Often, the prop tables can't be set until everything else is done so we'll see how that goes.  My daughter needs the volunteer hours to graduate from high school so we'll spend as much time as we need to there and hopefully be able to make ourselves useful.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/20/14

I continued to get further and further ahead on my lesson plans.  It feels good to have some much done.  Unfortunately, that's about all I got done today.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/19/14

Whatever it was I wrote on the 19th didn't post.  It's floating around in cyberspace somewhere.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/18/14

I don't know that today was any more productive than yesterday.  I was able to weed through a stack of paperwork and organize it.

It's been an odd day. There was a helicopter crash downtown this morning that killed two people and burned another. I didn't know any of the victims and hear about accidents all the time but for some reason this on has shaken me up. 

You can't help but hear about tragedies, they're everywhere. My co worker mentioned something this morning, something that you hear all the time but for some reason it hit home today. It was something to the effect of how you can get up and start your day just like always and in an instant things can change forever.

I pictured what my kids would come home to if I was gone just like that; clothes hanging on the back of my closet door, a stack of paper work waiting to be gone through, a book laying open on the couch. I think of the families who lost people today and how quickly it can happen. An instant and everything changes and is never the same, ever again.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/17/14

Nothing much accomplished on St. Patrick's Day.  

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/16/14

A lot of errands today and I did get a couple of things done so that felt good.  I gathered a few more props for both the shows I'm working on, bought my daughter some craft supplies for a project she wants to try, gathered up empty food containers for the grocery store I'm setting up in my home living center at school tomorrow, sent email and Facebook and messages to friends and family about ticket for my daughters show which go on sale tomorrow, bought some general health and food items and put together 12, gallon size Zip Lock bags to hand out to people who stand on corners with signs needing help, and completed some paperwork that I want to get in the mail tomorrow.

Like everyone, I wish weekends were longer but I feel pretty good about the things I was able to accomplish.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/15/14

I worked on the pictures and scrap booking stuff today. Unfortunately, I dealt with the organization by not dealing with it...I packed everything back up in boxes and bins and put it off to the side.

I'm not ready.  I want to be ready, but I"m not.

The project is too daunting.  There are all the pictures from and of family members that are gone, pictures from several years with my ex husband (how do I scrap book and journal those?!), pictures of my kids when they were little which make my heart ache for those days that are gone...heavy sign.

Anyway, while I'm not where I want to be with that project, at least its orderly and confined and I can go back to it when I'm stronger.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/14/14

Can't really think of anything that I accomplished today that is blog worthy. I made a few calls and paid a few bills during my lunch hour. Guess that doesn't really count as part of my resolution cuz I would have had to do that anyway.

I looked some tax info up online...and understood it.  

I did gather up several books that need to go back to the library and brought them home. I am notorious for getting late notices because I don't return books on time. I guess I'm ahead on that one.

[resolutions-for-2014]

3/13/14

Thankfully the weather stayed warm into the early evening today so I had a chance to get outside and do some more weeding. It's felt great!  It really looks like I made some progress.

The area that I chose is on the side of house and it's not an area that anyone sees unless you go over on that side specifically but I'm pleased that I got it done so early in the season.  It's not 100% but hopefully it won't take much to finish it up and then all I'll need to do it get some low, ground cover type plants to fill in along the bottom of the rockery.

The front and back yards and raised bed are going to take a little more intense work but I'll wait until the weather improves a little more before I worry about those areas. I'd really like to finish up the area on the side. Hopefully I'll be able to cut back the roses soon and start to fertilize. The strawberry plants look a little sad but the blueberry bushes have a lot of new growth on them. I'm not sure about the raspberries and grapes. The grapes are to new for me to know what they'll do and the raspberries almost look dead but I think they looked like that at this time last year too but then I got quite a few berries so it's to early to tell.