Anyone committed to making personal changes in 2012?

[olmphoto2]

Have you made any decisions about your approach to large and small issues in your life this coming year?

I'd love to hear about your thoughts and plans.  This site is such a great one to support and encourage each other. 

I have much difficulty performing rote things (such as doing dishes, organizing paper and paying bills, making needed telephone calls, getting dressed not so long after getting up, etc.) without tiring or even exhausting myself emotionally or spiritually...how weird is that?  Or I avoid doing things altogether---not only for the physical toll I think they can bring---but knowing I usually add all this other uncomfortable 'stuff.

I guess maybe this approach to tasks has always been part of my personality. I'm 61. Time to grow up. Probably I'll continue to fight these tendencies.  But starting now I will work to make routine things rote and that alone.  What good does it do to give negative emotional, even spiritual, attention to the daily activities of living that are either common to us all---or maybe a bit more specific to our needs as Sjogren's people who can also experience flares?  Yes, I have to take medicine on a schedule and it costs $s.  Yes, it might take me dividing doing the dishes into three 'parts' over time to get it done.

Fact:  I don't try as well as I could to minimize the effects of my diseases.  Fact:  Bemoaning past actions or inactions isn't useful.  Fact: Balancing activity and rest is one of those issues that we'd all love to have great hindsight about.  Fact: Bemoaning why I didn't try to do more yesterday or actually did too much isn't helpful.  I can only make my best guesses about activity vs. rest needs NOW and in the near future. 

I need to discard what is eating at me emotionally and spiritually.  If there are issues that I need to deal with, they don't need to stop me from doing things such as mild exercise (shiver---did I just say that? ), dishes, bills OR enjoyable things (yup, I feel 'guilty' doing nice stuff so those things are no usually as enjoyable for me as they could be).

Fact:  I got pulled from writing this a goodly few times.  This writing probably doesn't make a lot of sense here BUT in an effort to promote DOING and avoid PROCRASTINATION born of a useless tendency to strive for PERFECTION...I hereby click 'Post'.

[engy]

Great subject!

My personal change is to eat healthier. Even though I already eat very well I know I can do better.

This seems like an insignificant change but for me one of the most difficult as I have a love affair with food!

I will not totally cut out chocolate or an occasional glass of organic red wine. However, my plan is to eat more vegetables (which I love anyways) and less calories in general.

Good luck to everyone in any changes you make!

Carie

[smallfry]

I agree with you I plan to look more at vitamin supplements and reasearch more into diet as I feel that there is a lot more that I can change, that might have a good effect on my general well being.

cheryl

[susanep]

Good to hear you posters..lol....Now my turn. Well, I plan to get back to cleaning up and doing away with more house clutter.

I also want to do something nice for myself each day that is a stress reliever.

Most of all I want to do more of what God wants me to. 

susanep

[Madison Granny]

I want to try and get a handle on all that is going on with my health.  I need to research all the things that are wrong and see if there is anymore I can do to make things easier for me and my family.  I also need to really tell them what is going on.

[Meld256]

olmphoto2,

Wow, do I know what you mean about wanting perfection and procrastination!  I've fought that for years.  I'm still working on it but now I try to work on what is "good enough". 

Examples lately: Years ago I'd have Christmas gifts wrapped just so, matching bows, etc. This year it was wrap it with whatever, or put it in a bag and be done.  Five types of cookies for all the neighbors? Nope, one kind just for the family. 

If I don't get the floors mopped once a week, it will be ok. Once every couple weeks is "good enough."

In everything, I try to ask myself in five years, what will matter?  I have limited energy, so was it more important I used all my energy to do something small, or did I use what energy I have to love my husband and family more deeply?  To keep in touch with my kids better?  To allow myself to just relax and enjoy? 

Those are the things I believe I'll be committed to this year. 

[Sooki]

I have some plans for this year.  Twenty years ago, my husband and I moved to some land and built a house (over 5 years).  Before we moved into the house, the attic was filled with junk which has never left.  More has been added and every room is filled with stuff. 

Since Sjs and Lupus have had their effect, I know we need to downsize to a more manageable house and yard.  I think that each year it will be harder on me to do the work to declutterize, finish and repaint the house, and make such a move.  So I'm highly motivated. 

Our goal is to have the house finished and junk cleared by June.  Sometimes it seems overly daunting.  But making a total move to a new city in the future when my mind may not be as flexible as it is this year and my memory worse seems even less of an alternative.  Staying here means watching the house deteriorate and the blackberries claim more and more of the yard.

So, I'm irrationally optimistic this New Year's Day.  2012 - Hooray!  A goal with an end point!

[olmphoto2]

Thanks everyone who responded so far.  It's wonderful to hear from you all.

On a light note, you might want to check in with Savage Chickens here regarding resolutions.  It was in my daily email from them this a.m.:

http://www.savagechickens.com/2012/01/resolutions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SavageChickens+%28Savage+Chickens%29

Susanep...that especially fits my needs also!

Good to hear you posters..lol....Now my turn. Well, I plan to get back to cleaning up and doing away with more house clutter.

I also want to do something nice for myself each day that is a stress reliever.

Most of all I want to do more of what God wants me to. 

susanep