A Fresh Start

There's something about Easter Sunday that calls to me to make "New Year's Resolutions". It feels like a fresh start, a rebirth, a time for growth -- so why not implement that personally, in my life??? Really, there's something dreary about January 1, trying to turn over a new leaf, when you can't see any leaves at all! But today, Easter Sunday, everything wants to grow and bloom!


If you've given something up for Lent, and are now "resuming" the habit -- you know that you *can* control it, you can live without it, and if you choose to indulge now, it is from choice, not habit or need! (Those of you who gave up Facebook games, or Facebook entirely, or FanFiction...)

Of course, I love a "new beginning", any time of the year. I can make a "New Year's Resolution" for New Year's day, as we begin a new year. I can do it on my birthday, the beginning of my personal year. The beginning of spring is a good start - although Spring Solstice usually feels a lot like winter still, here in Maine. In the fall, as the start of a new "school year" begins is another chance to start over. But I think that Easter really feels like the most wonderful time to start fresh.

So what are my new "resolutions" ?? Mostly, to live the way that I want to live. To live each day with a fresh start, and not be down on myself for the failures of the past days or years. Eat right, move more, take care of myself, so that I'm able to take care of my family. Pick up after myself, and teach my children to pick up after themselves. To stop tolerating behavior that I should not tolerate. (My kids won't like this, since I plan to FORCE them to pick up after themselves, I will no longer tolerate the stuff staying where it lands when it gets brought into the house...) Ok, so maybe that doesn't sound fair - my new Spring Resolution is that my kids will pick up after themselves -- but hey, it's my house, my rules! :)

Other "resolutions" ?? Hmmm... maybe to blog weekly. We've seen where the daily blog goal got me, it was not reasonable and attainable, at least at this point in my life. But that doesn't mean I can't set a new goal, using what I've learned -- that's the beauty of multiple "fresh start" dates - I don't have to wait until next January 1 to put a new action plan into place, having learned from one that was not a success.

I may adopt a past resolution from a friend, to try at least one new recipe each week. I'm thinking of a weekly meal guideline for my family, and following it... if it's Monday, it must be chicken!

And it's a daily resolution to live kinder, be nicer... a friend once said about a mutual friend who was driving us crazy -- "but I've never heard her say a bad word about anyone!". That has inspired me for the past ten years, that I would *LOVE* to have someone say that about me. I'm not sure it's true -- but I've tried to limit the negative, and a fresh start at kindness is never in error. I'm going to keep my comments about my friends, neighbors, and family all in a positive light, that will help me to keep my thoughts positive!

I have wanted to set a goal to write handwritten letters. I know how wonderful a letter in the mail can be, and I am afraid it's becoming a lost art. I've sent a couple of packages recently, and I've loved knowing that they brought smiles to the recipients. I'm hoping to continue that, also.

And finally, I resolve to get enough rest.... mostly by setting myself a bedtime, and maybe an internet curfew!!!!

Good night!