Sunday, January 3, 2010

The Obligatory New Year's Resolutions Post



I'm not big on New Year's resolutions. Probably because most of my lofty goals in January serve as sad reminders of abject failure come February or March. I do have a few goals for 2010, but I won't bore you with them. (I've got all year to bore you with them.)

I will, however share a quote that I found several years ago. It's more of an attitude adjustment than a goal. I liked this little quote (Author unknown) so much I decided to write it on my laundry room wall -- a place I find myself often in need of an attitude adjustment:

"Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more...And all good things will be yours."



And as an added bonus, I'll share a poem I first read in a therapist's office many years ago. It's helped me through some tough times, and I think it's appropriate as we say goodbye to 2009:

Comes the Dawn by Veronica Shorffstall

After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security,

And you begin to understand that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head held high and your eyes open,
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.

After a while you learn to build your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,

and futures have a way of falling down in midflight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.


So you plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you can really endure,
That you really are strong

And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn ... and you learn

With every goodbye you learn.


Happy New Year, y'all! I'm looking forward to it and I hope you'll come along for the adventure. Have a blessed Sunday.

14 comments:

Shark Bait said...

I believe that there is a traditional Swedish proverb. Although I must admit the "eat less, chew more" is a new line to me. :-)

Nice poem!

Liz said...

I,also, am not a big fan of resolutions, so I love your post. I keep pondering an obligatory post, thinking now, I will link my family and friends over here (that is really who reads my blog...ha ha!)
Love the saying and the color of your laundry room, since is is much like the color of my kitchen! Haha! Fantastic poem. Happy New Year!

S. Etole said...

first discovered that poem when going through a very painful time many years ago ... it's a hard one to come to grips with at times

Maureen said...

As the poet Nancy Wood wrote, "WIthin you lies all the courage you need. . . ."

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the poem... but the words that jumped out at me are:

Talk less... say more!

I'll be working on that, thanks.

Anonymous said...

That poem is gorgeous. I may have to steal it right off your site.

I love the quote and it looks gorgeous on your wall. =]

Happy New Years and here's to a 2010 full of joyful accomplishment.

♥ Kathy said...

Those were really great! Thanks for the inspiration.

Candy said...

That is a beautiful poem (and then she cried).

Heather Sunseri said...

I've never really liked making resolutions at the end of one year or at the beginning of another (except this year), because I find I'm constantly needing improvement, so I try to make life changes on an ongoing basis. I'm always a work-in-process. I love that quote. I think I'll paint that on my laundry room wall, if you don't mind me steeling that idea! Happy New Year, Kathy!

~*Michelle*~ said...

OK, so first....how cool is your laundry room area?

Second....loved that inspirational poem. I totally need to work on talking less and saying more.

and third....this:
"...And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning" really struck something inside.

Happy New Year!

Corinne Cunningham said...

I adore that quote! When we have a place to paint I want you to come visit and write that on a wall, because my I'd botch the whole thing up...

Anonymous said...

LOVE the poem and your laundry room quote. :)

Eat less...chew more---> "why you gotta get all up in my grill?"

Marni said...

I should say something deep and meaningful about the words of wisdom you imparted. Instead, I find myself going "OMGoogle her laundry room is SOOOOOO cute!!!" Perhaps ADD meds should be my resolution. If I don't get distracted and forget to ask for them, that is.

JML said...

I sort of like the "talk less, say more" mostly because it gives me more time to talk if the other people are living by that principle. Mostly kidding. Great piece!