New Year's Resolutions

January 1st 2012 - I'm back from my holiday hiatus from blogging.

Guess I should start by saying "Happy New Year!" I am assuming that if you are reading this it means that you at least had a safe New Year's and I can only hope that it was a happy one as well!

Before I completely say good bye to 2011, I wanted to share with you a video by DJ Earworm. Every year since 2007 he compiles a list of the top 25 songs of the year and then he mashes them together into a song and video. He really is quite talented. If you like this one, you should check out some of his other ones. My favourite is still the 2009 one "Blame it on the Pop". One of my favourite parts is trying to figure out what the songs are. See how many you can get right!

Now back to the year at hand.

2012.

New Year's resolutions.

Admittedly I've never been big on making them, well at least not the traditional kind. But I know lots of people who do. I also found it interesting last night to note the number of Weight Watchers and Nicorette commercials on TV as we were watching the Niagara Falls NYE ceremonies (featuring Our Lady Peace and Simple Plan). Some businesses thrive on our New Year's resolutions - just think of all the exercise clubs who make a killing off of one year memberships that most people don't end up using past the first month. I heard somewhere that people often try to make too many resolutions and that they should only choose one to increase their chances of keeping it.

I think what we are all really seeking is just a fresh start, a way of wiping the slate clean of past mistakes and being given a second chance at getting at least something right. I like the idea of not being tied to your past and I think it is admirable that many people want to better themselves.
For me this year, I have decided that my resolution is going to be a more general one. This year, it is my goal to be happier. I'm going to make a concerted effort to wake up each morning and smile and be grateful that I have another day awaiting me that is just bursting with possibilities. I want to laugh more, and not just those little chuckles, but the full on belly laughs where you are left gasping for air. I want to judge less and empathize more. I want to speak kinder words and listen with an open heart. I want to take things in stride and appreciate and enjoy what I have. I want to relish every hug, every kiss, every high five, every precious moment (even the little ones) and when I lie down to sleep at the end of the day, I want to do it the way the day began, with a smile and a feeling of gratitude.

Unfortunately this morning I woke up with both my head and my stomach yelling at me (SO not the way I wanted to start off 2012). The sad part is that yesterday I only had 3 glasses of wine the entire evening and barely had a buzz. Of course, the chips and chocolate I also consumed probably didn't help ;) I am happy to report that I did not spend the entire day in bed feeling like crap. No, shortly after waking up I was greeted by two very excited little boys who proceeded to jump on the bed and attack me with cuddles (totally the best way to be attacked). And the day just got better - a lazy afternoon playing Wii with Theo and Joe while Isaac napped, followed by dinner at my in-laws' house (love not having to cook) and an evening curled up on the couch with my hubby...2012 is shaping up to be a great year so far!

I have also decided this year to undertake a project of sorts. Even though we moved into our house in 2006, I have never really took the time to make my home look the way I want it to look. (I guess I was kind of distracted by having kids) But now that we are putting an addition on our house, I think it is finally time to make some changes. So this year, I am going to go room by room and paint, decorate and organize it the way I want. And when one room is finished, I will move on to the next one and do the same thing, until every room in the house has been transformed. I will declutter! I will throw things away! I will find better storage solutions! And yes, it will probably take me the whole year to do it - but I WILL do it! I am of course going to start with the new rooms (once they are ready) since that is the most logical starting point. And I have to admit, I'm excited about it! And don't worry, I will document my progress as I go so you can see the changes I'm making (I love before and after photos). What are your plans and projects for the new year?

I am going to sign off of my first blog of 2012 with something that a friend of mine posted as her facebook status last night - I think it is just brilliant:

"Every year you make a resolution to change yourself... this year make a resolution to BE yourself!"