mid year resolution

"Keep the promises you make to yourself"

While eating a Dove chocolate I see this quote on the back of the wrapper. At first I crumpled it up but then something told me to open it. This comes in right on time as I'm sitting at my desk with a hand written note that says "I Quit!!!" and I'm feeling a wee bit froggy.

I made a promise to myself...

* To leave my job by year 12. My 1st promise was to get out of here by year 5 but I got lazy. Definitely this is my last full year here in this institution.

* To be more positive and stop complaining. It's really easy to get caught up and say whatever comes to mind rather than channeling that positive energy and being more grateful.

* To stop procrastinating. I have improved in this area so much, but I have a ways to go.

* To talk less and listen more. I haven't excelled in this area at all, I'm such a chatterbox. :(

* Mid-year people purge. I usually purge people from my life every year but I'm grateful that I've surrounded myself with some good folks and have no need to purge... a lot. However, there are a few folks in my circle who serve no purpose. Mostly mentally and I'm got to take back some of my mental space.

I think the key to it all is to be realistic. It's difficult to make promises or changes in your life if you really don't want to or if it's too hard to. We make promises to ourselves that we're just not serious about and they just fizzle.

So today I'm giving serious thought to my new promises. No need to wait until December 31st to write out a list of resolutions. Everyday is an opportunity for me to look at my life and make some readjustments.

Whatever Feels Good For The Soul

It's nearing the end of the year. Christmas is 6 days away. I simply love this holiday time. I also love cleaning. Purging. Getting rid of the old and getting on with the new.
I usually cut people out of my life. I start with the cell phone and start deleting names. I travel to email and delete messages and people's email addresses. Then if they happen to call me or see me, I let them know that this year they haven't kept their end of the bargain and it's pink slip time. A friend or 3 of mine with perseverance for my immature tactics know how I roll.
But this year, I have not spent a lot of time thinking about my friends or my expectations of them. Instead I've been looking at me, my habits, my craziness and I've been sorting out and tossing out.

I've learned that:

I have no control over outside forces...

• The trains, the weather and especially people. I wouldn't even be comfortable with myself if I could control anything other than me. It takes the joy out of everything rather than feeling the jitters, the anxiety, the surprise.

To be honest with others, you must first be honest with yourself...

• The question that pops in my mind with this statement is "Who do I think I'm foolin'?" It's easy to blend it rather than be honest with yourself and stand alone but there comes a time when you have to be honest with yourself, confident in yourself and throwing out pessimism. When doing so, it becomes easier to relate and tell your own truth.

Buying quality trumps buying quantity

• In my case, I buy some cheap behind shoes. I cry for the days when Parade of Shoes was on each and every corner and when I found out that the parent company Payless was taking over, I knew then that I should not buy. But nooooooooo. So I've subjected my precious toes and emerging callouses to the cheap alternative. The simple and plain of it is, my dang feet hurt! So I'm expecting to have 3 garbage bags full of cheap shoes. The bags aren't all that big...

I have a resolution list emerging in my head and in my journal... But I think I want to focus more on Suze Orman's 8 Qualities of a Wealthy Woman...