New Year Resolutions

My New Year’s resolution is saying no and doing what I need and want to do more often.   Cleaning out the closets was in order.  I needed to look at what is working in my life and what is not working.  Sayings such as examining who is dragging behind you on your coat tails and who is not and are actually adding to your life in a positive way created moments of deep thought.  I started with my family and friends or so called friends, my volunteer experiences, and my home and work experiences.  I was discovering that I was too busy and discovered that I needed to drop some things so that I could get done what needs to be accomplished such as finishing the writing of my second book.  So many things were pulling me away.  I was feeling overwhelmed.  I asked the universe to help me with being overly busy.  Just like magic things were clearing off my plate.

I decided to do the exercise and weight loss goal before the New Year.  I started my serious regimes in November and my husband and I actually lost weight over the holidays.  So fitting in the extra hour a day to exercise was causing me additional stress.  I had to let go of a few things.

My volunteer work at the animal shelter became a little easier.  We were bringing out the cats from the garage and other areas of the shelter to the front room so that they could be adopted.  The staff took over this task. This involves worming, trimming claws, checking for ear mites and cleaning their ears, and checking for fleas and treating if necessary. We were taking pictures of cats for petfinder and another couple, who purchased a more high tech camera than we had, started taking the pictures.  Their camera is able to catch the cats before they turn their heads.  It focuses and catches the cats in wonderful poses quicker than our cameras could ever do.  I like the pictures this couple has been taking.  The pictures look a lot more professional than most of ours did. 

We visited the shelter on Sunday and had fun playing with the cats and interviewing some of the cats who were moved to the front room.  The cats are interviewed so that the information about the cats can go on petfinder and to place information about the cats on the front of their cages for perspective people who are looking for cats to adopt.  These individuals are informed about things like do the cats like to be held and petted.  Do they feel comfortable around other cats?  Can you cradle them which may indicate that they may be good with children? And other neat things about the cats that tell people who may be interested about their personalities.  I also put on the cards if I remember to do so how they ended up at the shelter if they were found as a stray and where they were discovered just in case someone is missing their cat. Okay you get the point I am trying to make, my life is getting a little less complicated, not medicating the cats when they are sick, another task the staff took over and are doing such a good job at it, and moving the cats out front freed up some of our time to do other things with the cats such as socializing them and get some more ready to be adopted.  Some of the cats do not have good people skills and we work with them so they become more adoptable.

Then I recently attended a Child Welfare Committee of which I have been a part of for over 23 years.  This committee is always under constant attack by the Tribal Board of Directors because of tribal members complaining about the committee’s decisions. The people who are complaining were often proven guilty of abusing and/or neglecting their children and don’t want to take responsibility for their actions. It appears to me that the board members are more concerned with getting reelected.  I made the poor decision to give into peer pressure and decided to take on the role of chairperson for this committee.  We were just recently under another attack and that was the last straw for me.  Of course I am taking their attacks personally and let them have it. I finally decided to quit this committee.  It’s not worth the grief and the amount of work it’s been creating for me, especially since my extensive acts of volunteering have not been appreciated by the board and others.  Again, my plate is becoming less full. 

I examined my relationship with family members and made some decisions concerning specific family members.  My husband’s adult children, my stepchildren, decided without talking it over with us that they were cutting down concerning birthday presents for my husband and I.  His son decided to only make phone calls and his daughter to only give birthday cards.  So we decided that we cut down concerning their birthday presents.  I was taking time out of my busy schedule to pick out special gifts for them for their birthdays.  A reduced dollar amount in the form of a check was our decision.  Again, my plate is becoming less full.

We rethought Christmas this year and cut back on the amount of presents we usually give and decided to give checks and gift cards.  That cut down on wrapping and shopping considerably. Between the two of us we have five adult children with significant others and seven grandchildren. That can be bit of a chore when it comes to Christmas shopping. 

My husband helps me with the housework and other household chores and responsibilities.  We try to exercise daily and are usually on the go with all the things we enjoy doing.  As a couple, we spend time with family and friends.  And things that need to get done are getting accomplished.  I will continue to be on the lookout for more time saving ventures.  It's nice to see that my New Year’s resolution is being realized.