So, it's 2016 now.......
Wait...whaaaa???
Wait...whaaaa???
Another year has flown by, but this time I had my eyes wide open and cherished every moment. One of the best years of my life to date. Thank you, Jesus!!
So.......it's January......of a new year......you know what that means!!!!
New Year's Resolution Time!!!!!!!!!
...................................................
Nope, not this girl. Not this time.
Maybe these "resolutions" work for some people, but not me.
After my 10+ years of making out a list of my next year's failures, I think I'll pass this time.
I mean, honestly! If you're reading this and you've known me for any length of time, look back for a second and think........."How many times did Mary say she was going to quit smoking?"
I'm pretty sure I have posted "My last day as a smoker" at least 7 times.
Pu. Lease!!!!
Raise your hand if you believed me!!
Yea, me neither.
Or that time I said I was going to go to the gym Every. Single. Day.
Or was it every other day?
Oh, I think I meant if I can get there at least once a week.......
Why?
Why do we do this to ourselves?
I guess I should be talking to myself....
Why do you do this to yourself?!?!?
It's like I went completely out of my way to conjure up a list of ways I can suck at life. And by the end of the year, I'm thanking God it's over......
Until a few weeks ago....
Until a few weeks ago....
You see, that was the end of 2015 and I was actually sad to see it go. That's a first. It has been such a wonderful year for me AND my kids. Wonderful? No. That word is weak.....my shoes are wonderful!
Marvelous! Extraordinary! Unimaginable!! Irreplacable!!!!
Absolutely priceless.
I don't know that any of these words completely sum up the greatness that was my 2015.
But I do think that with a new year comes some self-reflection.
Do I have a Resolution?
I don't think I would call it that.
But what I do know is that I still have some work to do on me.
Until the good Lord comes back, I will always be a work in progress. This I know.
But this evil world sure knows how to find your weaknesses and kick you while you're down.
Luckily, I have found myself slowly climbing out of that hole. And the feeling is liberating! I'm reclaiming my life!!
So what did I choose to work on this year?
Confidence and self esteem.
Soooo many changes have taken place this last year and I find myself pretty vulnerable to it all.
New town, new job, new schools, new husband :)....dare I say, new PEOPLE.....EVERYWHERE!!!
Say it with me......A N X I E T Y!!
Self esteem has also declined, but I think that's pretty typical post-mom, right? Surely I can get an Amen on that one.
So, my goal?
Hold my head up high and make some new friends. Lol.
To some, this "goal" is a total copout.
But for this girl........the struggle is real.
It's exhausting to think about having to "train" new people to realize that I'm not a snob, I just don't like to talk in or around large groups of people.
I say "train" and that's exactly right. Once people have a chance to really know me, they respect my boundaries. They don't push me to do or be a certain way to test our friendship.
But the new people I encounter don't know these things about me yet.
My plan?
Be confident.
How......?
I have made a list and I'm sure I will find things to add to it along the way.
Numero Uno:
I am going to recognize the positive qualities about myself without feeling cocky or arrogant.
Arrogant people...they're the worst, aren't they?? And most of the time, they really are beautiful people!.....on the outside. The irony is that once you get to know these types of annoying people, their physical beauty seems to fade.
I just want to be able to say to myself that I am good at ___________ and that's acceptable. I am neither cocky nor arrogant for this. I am merely acknowledging the gifts God himself has given me and figuring out a way to use them for His glory......cause that's kinda of why we're here in the first place.
Number Two:
Accepting that I'm not going to be good at everything...............and that's ok.
I'm tired of beating myself up all the time. I can't be great at everything. I'm not Betty Crocker and I'm not Martha Stewart. I'm not a stay at home mom that is able to devote my entire day to my family and the household.
So quit comparing yourself to these types of women!!!!!
If my life ever becomes this reality, THEN I can set a new standard for myself.
But until then, your kids and husband seem to think you're pretty great the way you are.
Number Three:
When my husband compliments me.....I'm going to believe that he is telling me the truth instead of believing he is just telling me what I want to hear.
I mean, come on Mary!!! He wouldn't have married a dog!! Physical attraction, though not most important, is still a pretty darn important element in a relationship. So, when he says you're beautiful.......BELIEVE HIM for goodness sake!!!! Know that he is telling you the truth.
Say it with me: you are pretty, you are pretty, you are pretty......
Now. Believe it.
I feel like confidence and self-esteem go hand in hand. So tackling the two together seems to make sense to me. I'm sure I will struggle with this at times, but I'm the daughter of a mighty King. And He created me in His image. And He doesn't make mistakes. So I feel like I should feel pretty good about me. Lol.
Nothing is impossible with Him by my side.........and the great man He's given me to do life with. :)
I am one lucky lady.
Look out 2016!!!
Cause this chick's gonna make her mark!!!!!
(in a very calm and non-aggressive way)
:)
Do I have a Resolution?
I don't think I would call it that.
But what I do know is that I still have some work to do on me.
Until the good Lord comes back, I will always be a work in progress. This I know.
But this evil world sure knows how to find your weaknesses and kick you while you're down.
Luckily, I have found myself slowly climbing out of that hole. And the feeling is liberating! I'm reclaiming my life!!
So what did I choose to work on this year?
Confidence and self esteem.
Soooo many changes have taken place this last year and I find myself pretty vulnerable to it all.
New town, new job, new schools, new husband :)....dare I say, new PEOPLE.....EVERYWHERE!!!
Say it with me......A N X I E T Y!!
Self esteem has also declined, but I think that's pretty typical post-mom, right? Surely I can get an Amen on that one.
So, my goal?
Hold my head up high and make some new friends. Lol.
To some, this "goal" is a total copout.
But for this girl........the struggle is real.
It's exhausting to think about having to "train" new people to realize that I'm not a snob, I just don't like to talk in or around large groups of people.
I say "train" and that's exactly right. Once people have a chance to really know me, they respect my boundaries. They don't push me to do or be a certain way to test our friendship.
But the new people I encounter don't know these things about me yet.
My plan?
Be confident.
How......?
I have made a list and I'm sure I will find things to add to it along the way.
Numero Uno:
I am going to recognize the positive qualities about myself without feeling cocky or arrogant.
Arrogant people...they're the worst, aren't they?? And most of the time, they really are beautiful people!.....on the outside. The irony is that once you get to know these types of annoying people, their physical beauty seems to fade.
I just want to be able to say to myself that I am good at ___________ and that's acceptable. I am neither cocky nor arrogant for this. I am merely acknowledging the gifts God himself has given me and figuring out a way to use them for His glory......cause that's kinda of why we're here in the first place.
Number Two:
Accepting that I'm not going to be good at everything...............and that's ok.
I'm tired of beating myself up all the time. I can't be great at everything. I'm not Betty Crocker and I'm not Martha Stewart. I'm not a stay at home mom that is able to devote my entire day to my family and the household.
So quit comparing yourself to these types of women!!!!!
If my life ever becomes this reality, THEN I can set a new standard for myself.
But until then, your kids and husband seem to think you're pretty great the way you are.
Number Three:
When my husband compliments me.....I'm going to believe that he is telling me the truth instead of believing he is just telling me what I want to hear.
I mean, come on Mary!!! He wouldn't have married a dog!! Physical attraction, though not most important, is still a pretty darn important element in a relationship. So, when he says you're beautiful.......BELIEVE HIM for goodness sake!!!! Know that he is telling you the truth.
Say it with me: you are pretty, you are pretty, you are pretty......
Now. Believe it.
I feel like confidence and self-esteem go hand in hand. So tackling the two together seems to make sense to me. I'm sure I will struggle with this at times, but I'm the daughter of a mighty King. And He created me in His image. And He doesn't make mistakes. So I feel like I should feel pretty good about me. Lol.
Nothing is impossible with Him by my side.........and the great man He's given me to do life with. :)
I am one lucky lady.
Look out 2016!!!
Cause this chick's gonna make her mark!!!!!
(in a very calm and non-aggressive way)
:)
