Well, it’s that time of year when most of us reflect on the past twelve months, and make resolutions for the next year.
If you’re typical, most of the resolutions made will be broken in the first week of the New Year, and some will be broken before the morning of January 2nd.
This year, I’m skipping the usual resolutions – dieting, exercising, quitting bad habits – and going for resolutions that I can keep.
1.) I vow that when I wake every morning to take a moment to appreciate the fact that I woke up in my own bed and in the safety of my home.
2.) I vow to savor that first sip of hot coffee while logging into PPOV, and forcing myself away from the computer once the coffee is gone, and to walk outside and watch the sunrise.
3.) I vow to appreciate the fact that I am able to shower using clean, hot water and without assistance.
4.) I vow to speak less and listen more.
5.) I vow never to take for granted my health or the health of my husband and loved ones.
6.) I vow to prepare better meals, and create at least two “works of art” per week, and set the table using a tablecloth, candles, my good china, and glass stemware. Why wait for company to come over to set a nice table and enjoy a good meal?
7.) I vow to stop dreading housework and laundry, and be grateful that I am capable of doing the chores myself, and instead of rushing through the tasks, I’ll take my time and do the best that I can.
8.) I vow to do at least one good deed per day, even if it’s just smiling at a neighbor and waving hello.
9.) I vow to read at least four books of non-fiction this year and that’s actually a difficult one for me, as my guilty pleasure is reading romance/mystery novels because I love a happy ending.
10.) I vow to listen to music more and watch television less.
11.) I vow that when the blues set in, to concentrate on my blessings instead, and be grateful for my life, my husband, my family, and my friends.
12.) And lastly, I vow to thank God every night when lying in bed for granting me another day.
It’s the simple things in life that matter.
Cat Stevens said it best:
Wonderful post javaz, I’m happy that my hubby is healthy, my family and friends love me and that my cats are awfully naughty.
I stopped with new year’s resolutions in my 30’s, couldn’t keep one if I tried, not important anyway. I just try to be good and give love back when it’s offered, sometimes when it’s not, life goes on.
True, so true, about life goes on.
I’m trying to remind myself of the small things in life that we all take for granted.
The simple things.
It’s good to see you, Kalima!
Great to see you too javaz, have you seen bito?
Simple is best. 🙂
He left a reply earlier on the award thread, but he hasn’t replied.
I’ve been having fun on that thread, because at first I thought about how conceited or like Glenn Beck I might seem, if I were to nominate posts I’ve written.
But then I re-read the article, and understood.
I’m worried, too.
Hey javaz, I almost cried reading your resolutions. You helped me to see where I have been doing some things in the wrong way! I would love to be able to pull all this off myself! I resolve here and now to copy your list, if it’s okay with you, and put it up on my fridge as a reminder!
And I will, no doubt, feel the need to add a few personal items to it…first, I promise to become a better writer so that you and all the rest of these wonderful people don’t have to suffer my lack of skills! I have heard there is a good writing course at the local community college and I’m going to check it out. I’ve never taken one and I’m afraid it shows!
Beautiful post, my friend! Just beautiful! 🙂
Thank you, Emerald!
I am so honored.
But from reading other members posts here, they’ve enlightened me and reminded me of the “hated” self-help books, and it’s not that I read self-help books, except for books on karma, which is Hinduism? and believe it or not, I’ve read 3 books by Norman Vincent Peale, and they changed my life.
But the biggest thing that really helped me, and this is stupid maybe, but it was a play – Our Town by Thornton Wilder- and we checked it out of the library.
I’ve accumulated a list of resolutions from those books and that play.
Thank you, Emerald, for your kind words!!!!
Great post, javaz. And a very spiritual and positive list of resolutions.
Every year I make only one resolution, and I keep it all year. Last year, my resolution was “Lighten up.” And — though it may not be apparent here 🙂 — I really did. At the end of the year, I drop the resolution, but after a year, it usually sticks with me.
I don’t know what it’s going to be this year. But your post reminded me that I need to think about it.
What?
You are a wonderful person with a great sense of humor and fantastic outlook!
Plus, you are very intelligent, and smart (there is a difference between intelligent and smart, imho) and diplomatic when dealing with those you disagree.
I think you are too hard on yourself, or have a misconception of yourself when it comes to you and to other people and how they perceive you.
You do inspire me, you truly do.
I envy how you can debate without causing bad feelings or even showing anger.
You are very kind and compassionate and have strong opinions, but you state them in such a way that people read them and think, or at least that’s what your posts do to me.
They make me think.
Maybe your resolution should be to ease up on what you think about you, because I don’t see you, as you see yourself.
I respect your opinions, and you are never insulting, but always kind and quite generous, in how you also consider others opinions and then voice yours.
You are a warm person with a big heart, and you do have a funny-bone!
And I don’t even know you, except for online!
But I bet that I am right!!!
Co-sign, javaz!
Nellie, you are fantastic! Give yourself the credit you so rightfully deserve! You’re doing a wonderful job here…and most importantly, your humanity comes shining through!
We all love you!
Thank you. It’s very mutual.
Well, thank you, javaz! But I can tell you, I am a very very serious person — I really needed to lighten up! It’s just my nature — I take things very seriously, and I’m used to being ribbed for it. I don’t even mind. When I was walking down the aisle as my cousin’s maid of honor, I heard my mother say to her sister, “Look! Look how serious she is!” And then peals of laughter. In the middle of my cousins wedding!
And my reaction was — how inappropriate to be whispering during the bridal procession! And of course I was the only one who thought so.
But your post is very kind, and touches me very deeply. I have a lot of respect for you, too, and find a lot of inspiration in what you say. And I say that in all seriousness. 🙂
Thank you.
Your opinion does mean a lot to me.
You know, when I first found this site, due to being on that other site that shall remain nameless, I lurked here.
A lot.
I was so angry about that dark side that shall remain nameless, and then I forget what it was that made me finally join PPOV.
I’ve not joined many sites on the Internet, even though I read a lot of sites.
Yahoo used to allow comments on their articles, and I did that for a couple years and loved it.
Then they stopped, and then I lurked at the dark side for a long time, and then finally joined that right after Obama’s inauguration, and then the Biden should resign thing happened, and that’s when I awoke.
I was afraid to join this site for some odd reason, but then I did, and I love it.
Well, okay, the reason that I was afraid to join PPOV is the ‘Mission Statement.’
How intimidating for a person with low-self-esteem!
LMAO
“PlanetPOV was created by bloggers for bloggers to turn the spotlight from celebrities and talking heads to real people with real-world perspectives.
This is a citizen’s think tank for citizens throughout the world, where freedom of expression is revered and the full spectrum of opinion on meaningful issues is sought.”
See?
That right there is intimidating, but I took the chance anyway.
And have never regretted it since, because I mean this honestly, I have learned more from PPOV and learn every day, more than I have ever learned from the other sites.
And I mean that I have learned so much from you, Nellie, among other members, and beyond politics.
It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Great list, Javaz! Just walked in to check out showtimes before we head for Austin.
1) I vow to wake up each day with the prayer, “Use me, God, today to be your hands and feet and eyes.”
2) I vow to try and be more patient, especially with those who most need my patience.
3) I vow to go to sleep each night with the prayer, “Thank you, God, for giving me today” no matter what the day might bring.
4) I vow to try and find more time to check in here and enjoy the “company of strangers” who now feel like friends.
5) I vow to forgive myself if I don’t keep these vows.
Oh, I very much like your list, AB!
Especially like the resolution about forgiving myself, and not just for breaking resolutions.
Some times the hardest person to forgive is ourselves.
Thank you for the reminder and great additions!
Beautiful, AB! Would that we all could do those things every day!
13.) I vow to learn to attach images correctly so they show on the main page.
Well, shoot.
I’m not sure what I did wrong this time in that the image isn’t showing on the main page, but is a big gray square.
If you can tell me what I did wrong, I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you to AdLib for fixing my image, again.
My pleasure, here are the instructions from our FAQ:
Well, I could have sworn that I did that, because I had another browser open with the directions, but obviously I messed up somewhere!
At least my tags worked this time and I didn’t get the red X when downloading to the article.
I’ll figure it out eventually and thank you for your patience!