New Years Post #3...What I Hope to Accomplish in 2008

Here is what I hope to accomplish in 2008:

> Instead of saying the annual, "I want to lose a kajillion pounds!", this year I'm going to say "I want to become healthier". This includes: quitting smoking and lowering my fat content and toning up. In order to do the last two things, there needs to be a major overhaul of my entire lifestyle. Trust me, I've already sat down and written out all that I need to do. If you were to scan the list, you'd notice phrases like "eat more protein at breakfast", "no more eating after 6:30pm" and "45 minute daily walk". Honestly, if I just did the no eating after 6:30pm and the walking, I bet that's all it would take to hit my target weight. The day the boys get back to school is the day my new life begins. Oh, as for the quitting smoking...we're starting off with a hypnotist. If that doesn't work, we're trying acupuncture. If that doesn't work, we've got a prescription for a quit-smoking drug. And if that doesn't work, we'll make an attempt using sheer will power!

> I want to better my relationship with Colby. My relationship with Joel was a very easy one to build and maintain. Joel loves me for my humour and my goofiness. With Colby, it's different. He has a solid relationship with his mom and over the years I've struggled with trying to find the balance between being a friend-type-person and being a guardian figure. I also have a tougher time showing affection for Colby. So many times I have wanted to tell him that I am trying to raise him the exact same way I will raise my own children (with regards to expectations, building character, teaching independence and problem solving skills etc.), but I think it all comes across to Colby that I am just a hard ass. The amazing thing to me is that Colby still seeks my approval and likes to share and tell stories about his weekend or his day. Quite honestly, if my dad had married a woman who treated me the way I treat Colby, I would have shut her out of my life long ago. I don't think this is coming out quite right. I'm not mean to Colby. I just think I have set difficult expectations for him...ones that I may have been able to reach when I was his age, but I forget that he's had a very different upbringing than I did (plus girls mature way faster than boys do).

> I hope to curb my language this year. I've always sort of had a potty mouth, but ever since I started my job, the foulness of my language has increased dramatically. The ironic thing is that I don't allow my students to swear in class. I tell them, "You're smarter than that. You can find a better adjective to use rather than the F-word". So what does that say about me :) At least I have the ability to turn my language on and off. I never swear in front of my parents (unless it makes for funny punctuation in a story), the in-laws, or strangers. When I'm talking with friends, there will only be the odd few sprinkled throughout the conversation and again, it's for humour purposes. So that just leaves my conversations with Mike in which I swear like a sailor. We can be having a calm conversation about purchasing cabinets/book shelves for the basement and for whatever reason, I feel the need to insert sixteen F-bombs throughout the five sentences I say. That is really unneccessary...I really fucking need to quit doing that.

> I want to take violin lessons this year. I bought a violin two years ago. I broke a string after three days, put the violin back in its case and haven't touched it since. I don't think I'll take lessons right away. In the three days I actually played, I self taught myself a few songs. Only when I think I've hit a wall will I end up taking lessons.

> I hope to become a more patient person. This year, it seemed like I would fly off the handle in .04 seconds (in my mind anyways...I never actually blew up at anyone, but in my head, I was stark raving choked!). I need to follow the Seven Day Rule...don't let whatever it is bother me right now. I'll push it out of my mind and if it is still ticking me off in seven days, then it really is worth getting upset over. This one is so much easier said than done!

> Lastly, I want to have a baby. I have already been a stepmother for the past eight years, but it is so not the same. There are many reasons for why I am so excited for this to happen this year. We haven't started trying yet and it won't be until March of April that we do. One of the biggest reasons that I am so excited for Baby is for my parents. All three of their grandchildren currently live in another country. My sister lives in Germany with her two boys and my brother's daughter lives in Mexico. Mom and Dad only get to see their grandchildren once or twice a year. I am so excited to not only live in the same city as my parents, but to live in the same neighbourhood. My kids will be able to toodle off to Grandma and Grandpa's after school. Grandma can come pick up my child and go to the park for the afternoon. Grandpa can take him/her ice skating for an hour. I am just so, so excited to be able to give that to my parents. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that it all works out like it's supposed to!

These aren't the only things I hope to accomplish this year, but they are the major ones. On top of these, I hope to strengthen the wonderful, loving relationship I have with Mike, I want to cook one or two new recipes per month, I want to start cake decorating more often and I want to develop my photography hobby (and yes, that pun was intended). So much to do and only 365 days in a year!