Resolution Check: November

I’ve been making it a habit to check in on myself when trying to accomplish my year’s resolutions. Today I’ll share my progress as a way to admit to the world where I’m going wrong and right

1. Go to Italy. CHECK!
2. Maintain my weight healthily. I’ve started a new job recently. That said, one main priority was to find a gym. In a wonderful twist, my building has a gym, and I’m already going regularly. I’m working out better and harder and happy to report that after 2 weeks of “back to normal-ness”….I’m maintaining and feeling better…perhaps an extra 5 will fall off!
3. Continue to be grateful for what I have.  After a particularly heartfelt post on a blog I normally read, I’m ready to do my annual Thanksgiving Thankful Fors:
1. I am thankful for my family and friends – those folks who have become family in my heart – for keeping me sane through the job change, the ups and downs that life brings and the wonderful laughs and truths you all bring to me.
2. I am thankful for my office. After realizing that 10 years have passed from college, I have earned a door and a window, and that feels amazing.
3. I am thankful for my health, for walking every day and breathing and sneezing and all the other wonderful things that keep me going and moving and living this life I’ve been blessed with.
4. I am thankful for my Ralph & Alice. Two of the best fuzziest bundles of dog and rabbit I could be given. Maybe Alice will come around to being happy too…;)
5. I am thankful  for the drippy sink (in two pipes now) and the dead disposal on my floor. It’s teaching me that not only can I conquer the biggest meal of the year without a sink, but that I can overcome quite a bit when I want to.
6. I am thankful for my experiences this year, all of which have taught me something, and the many, many, many that have made me laugh.
7. I am thankful for God, through whom I continue to do the good that I do.
8. I am thankful for having the ability to do what I do and thankful for the successes I’ve gained by just being me.
9. I am thankful for my Jeffrey. Thank you for the wonderful turns life is taking. I love you.
10. I am thankful for everything. God knows how quickly it can all go.
4. Value myself. I am on holiday this week from my new job. I am not picking up email, the phone, or otherwise. I am valuing myself enough to say when enough is enough, and relax. The mental break has been worth it.
5. Get my wisdom teeth pulled. CHECK!
6. Write a novel.  I’m sitting on the couch waiting for a plumber to fix my two leaks and a disposal on a sink and reading my first printed copy. Yes, there’s a gap or two, but I’m starting!!
7. Wear more socks, tights, etc….Wore boot socks yesterday, tights are for an upcoming business trip are already packed. So happy!
8. Purge more. Two car loads dropped to Goodwill yesterday. More going soon. So happy to make life easier.
9. Go to town more – after the weekend in Austin, I’m starting to realize how good other town centers are….is that bad?
10. Use environmentally friendly bags, products, etc… I’ve reused boxes all week for packing up charity goods. I bought but one stack of boxes for wrapping Christmas gifts, only because I had to. Otherwise, all were recycled.  Everything this week has been a huge learning in reusing…go me!
11. Finish crafts – getting there. I have a short list left through the end of the year, but it’s good to know that next year I’ve only got a few things on my list that I absolutely want to spend time on.
12. Give more gifts. Tourist gifts are going out tonight and some have already made the distribution. Next up, the idea that Christmas is LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AWAY!