This Will Be the Year That I …

… actually finish something that I started.

Every new year, we make resolutions to lose this, or to stop that. To do a little more of this, and a lot less of that. Making these proclamations are easy. It’s keeping them that seems to be the hard part. So, how do we manage to keep our resolutions? These little promises we’ve made to ourselves to be better. Life is, well, life. No matter how ambitiously intent we are on keeping those resolutions, inevitably something comes along to smack us off that track–so far off track that sometimes finding our way back seems impossible.

Last year, I made a promise to myself to focus more on my life’s joys. I made a good start too. Then, SMACK!

1. I took on a second job. (single with a single income + kids + life = not enough $$)
2. Injured my knee… seriously bad. (torn ACL)
3. Moved… again.
4. Underwent ACL reconstruction and post-op physical therapy.
5. Took on more responsibilities at work. (job #1)
6. This list can go on… really.

I was thrown off track, and for a good long time. But now I am back! I’ve pick myself up, and dusted off. I am ready to finish what was started.

Here’s to another fabulously wonderful start to a new year, with ambitious goals, and a heart full of intent on following through with them.

(Well, it’s the thought that counts, right?)

Happy 2012!

Tags: 2012, LIFE, new year, resolutions

My Ostrich Effect

The Ostrich Effect is a behavioral financial term most commonly used to describe someone’s avoidance of considerably risky financial situations by pretending that they do not exist. My Ostrich Effect has more to do with the way I feel when I am overwhelmed.

Nothing would feel better than shoving my head into a hole and pretending that none of the outside world and its happenings actually exist. To be able to mosey on about my life as if there are no worries–no bills to be paid, no people to please, no chores to be done, no mundane societal pressures–would be ideal. This way I can actually accomplish the things in my life that I Want To Do and not be ruled by other priorities which do not belong to me.

What is it that I want to do? Simply refer to my Things I Need to Do More Often list and you will see… #2 on this list is what I want to do most of all, and not being able to because of my “work for someone else” responsibilities tend to interfere greatly has me in a state of… ostrich-ism.

The main challenge to my unwavering desire for self-employment and to work more on my freelance and art projects is that I am single, and the sole financial provider for my household. Without a back-up source of cash flow, I am stuck somewhere between making my dreams come true and facing reality… for today, I’d prefer to be an ostrich. Tomorrow is a new day.

Tags: freelance, LIFE, overwhelmed, random thoughts, self employment

Earth Hour 2011

For the 5th year, people across the globe will switch off in an effort to build awareness of the sustainability issues we are currently faced with. My kids and I joined hundreds of millions of people 2 years ago for our first Earth Hour experience. When I mentioned to them that tonight was the night of this annual, global event, they relished the idea of it (well, The Girl did anyway).

I try to make Saturday nights our special family night. For the most part this works out well, though there are times when we all get caught up in whatever we are doing. We don’t have cable television, so our home-entertainment generally includes reading (me), video/computer games (both The Boy and The Girl) and a lot of movies (all).

Most every Saturday night I make a super yummy (IMO) vegetarian dish, turn on some music, light the candles and we sit at the dinner table as a family and spend this one night together. Since I have shared-custody, this time is quite precious to me. After the plates have been licked clean and the kitchen is tidied a bit, I will serve up desert and we either watch movies or play games.

Celebrating Earth Hour won’t be too difficult for our household. I am a minimalist and have very little electronic devices sucking up unnecessary energy. In my kitchen, there is just the fridge, stove, and dishwasher — which serves only as a drying rack for the dishes I hand wash. In the living room, the television (c. 1990s), DVD player, Wii console, and reading lamp are all plugged into a surge protector that can easily be switched off with one flip. Then there is my laptop (which is shut down and unplugged when not in use anyway), the family desktop PC, and a hairdryer. This is it for electronics!

For us, tonight will be like most any other Saturday night — only a wee darker. Lights out!

Tags: climate change, conservation, Earth Hour, Family, minimalism, sustainability