I didn’t make any resolutions this year. It’s not that I actively rebelled against the idea. Instead I made a smallish goal for each of the next two months. After that I will evaluate how it worked out and what the next step should be.
For example, I’m having a spending freeze this month and invited the Grocery Shrink Plus members to join. In a private area of the site we have a support group with extra coaching and downloads related to the challenge. But just that one thing. Yes, I want to lose weight, wish my house were more organized, and need to spend more time in quiet devotions. I need to get up earlier, go to bed earlier, and exercise. But shoof all of that at once is overwhelming.
As I’ve gained experience, I’ve realized the value of preventing overwhelm and curating a restful life for my family. It is carefully selecting and then taking care of what I have chosen. It applies to home decor, after school activities, music, clothing, thoughts, budget categories, food, garden plants, relationships, jobs, entertainment. It’s about not letting life “happen” and grumbling about the hodgepodge I find myself in, but being purposeful and thoughtful when there are choices to be made.
I can’t curate everything all at once. A valuable museum collection doesn’t come together in one day. It takes small steps, small decisions, to make the big picture. Sometimes that means leaving an empty spot while I wait for the right thing or the right time.
It also means re-evalutaing things that were purposeful choices in the past. There are only a few things that are life long commitments: My relationship with Christ, my marriage, and my family. Everything else may be a calling just for a time. There have been times when I’ve felt a distinct calling to serve in a specific job. It was so strong that I thought it might be “forever” or for many many years. I spent long hours in preparation and research to do the best job possible, then a few years later knew clearly that role was to end. Oh how I mourned! In this way I grieved my loss of homeschooling, my loss of teaching choir, and giving up my Mary Kay and Pattern Drafting businesses and yet I knew I was walking in the path God had set for me. All too readily I looked around for something to fill the empty space when God’s plan was to leave a space. Space to heal, space to grow, space to appreciate life.
So this is the year I curate space, beauty, rest. It feels lovely to write that.
How about you? Do you have big plans for the new year?
My only goal this year is to have fun. I am a task-oriented person, so I really need to work on forgetting the to do list and just do something fun with the kids–whether it’s going to the park, making cookies, or breaking out the sidewalk chalk, we are going to do it this year!
I love this, Rejena. I hope to appreciate the fun moments too and make room for a few more of them.
i guess i know some obvious things im to work on like keep eating antifungal/healthy (lived in a newly built /poorly built home and it was making me especially and my whole family ill, could barely eat enough there, now we have a 10 year old well built home a newer vehicle after cleaning the old one still bothered me but it took a lady slamming in me to have to get a new one, probably God saw fit or i would never use the hvac we have a lot of debt because of unexplained sickness ie mold exposure and a vehicle we could not afford but we had help with that and the builder bought our old house back, thats our story but no reimbursement for hotel expense or having to throw just about absolutely everything out because they do not guarantee it when they clean it and it costs as much to get it cleaned as replacing all the essential and we ran out of time to hire help per our contract with builder) so i mention that all to say sometimes your goals should not really be something that we think up in our mind but after the obvious everyday wise choices i really want to know what God has for me to do besides just taking care of my husband and 3 teenagers i missed out on alot, i became debilitated in that sick house and im just glad to live again it was like i missed 2.5 years of my life, alot changed in that time and i just want to see what “restoring the years the locusts have eaten” is supposed to be like
Gayle, I’m so glad you got out of the unhealthy house and are back to a better place in life. It’s so true that we can’t always predict where life will take us.
Thank you. I’ve enjoyed your earnesty and uncluttered way of writing for about six years now. Your story inspired us to become debt free and live a life on our own terms. You’ve also helped me let my gaurd down and to let people see my more vulnerable, “less perfect”, real side. You’ve sparked a great empowerment in us and I’m sure many others. May God continue to shine His face on you and your family.