It’s still self-acceptance if I want to change things
by Zoeyjane
So, they say that it takes three weeks to adopt new habits. Me, I tend to stick with something for exactly three weeks and four days, and then I stop. Seriously, I can think of six examples, right now, without blinking.
But I’m a sucker for new year’s resolutions. So, why not take a page from The Happiness Project and find one thing a month? Then, I make it to four weeks and break my personal best! Sounds like a win.
I give thee:
Terra’s Monthly Resolutions, 2011-Styles
January
Become a firm non-smoker.
Yeah, I keep making it to a few weeks, and then dropping off. Or I smoke around the ex. It’s hardly the same thing as quitting, period.
February
Relaunch a better, cleaner, more organized version of Mommy is Moody.
That’s right, I’m talking about developing mah brand.
March
Go to bed earlier, wake up on time like a responsible mother would.
I’m lucky to have a kid who lets me sleep in. And to have the chemistry that lets me work until morning hours, when the apartment is silent and distraction-free. This also means that I have a kid who makes it to preschool two out of five days a week, on average, and that I’m always either yawning or wired.
April
Travel.
Mom 2.0 with two blondes. Leaving Zoë with the ex for the whole duration. Arranging for daycare for two of those days. Attending, touristing, sleeping (unlike at BlogHer ’09), eating, picture-taking, picture-being-in.
May
Learn to swim.
Yes, I can swim, kind of. But an overwhelming fear of deep bodies of water stops me. Also, shopping for bathing suits and shaving my legs is a close second road-block. By the end of May, I will totally be able to put my damn face in the water.
June
Train for a 10K run.
I started running last spring/summer and I loved it. The fact that I gained ground quicker than I expected was a bonus to the meditative aspect of it, my increased appetite and the feeling that I was just healthier.
July
Become a yes woman. Sort of.
I’ve spent so much time turning down invitations, not doing new things, and the like. This month’s is about saying yes, why the fuck not, and adding to my balls-out list. Without over-booking myself, that is.
August
Read all of Zoë’s books with her.
It started with buying her a book a month from the first month she existed. Then it got a little more out of control than that. Then her attention span became too much for me to handle, to get an entire story done. Then her grandmother started working for a bookstore. Then she started learning to read. Point is, this kid’s got a whack of books that no adult has actually read to her.
September
Obtain schooling.
Even if it’s a class. Even if I’m brushing up on my copy-writing and -editing and business plan drafting and portfolio creating and small business running skills. School. Will get it.
October
Get this body tuned up.
Yeah, I’m talking dentistry, annual exams, blood tests for reasons other than checking to see if my liver’s failing, dermatologist exams of the 20,000 moles I have, etc. The whole shebang.
November
Learn to knit.
Of all crafty-type of stuff, knitting is what I’d like to own most. Of course, it’s also what my it’s-not-perfect! brain stops me from learning most.
December
Volunteer time and/or services with non-profits.
Even if I can’t afford to give money, I can afford support and time. So, I should spend that.
