We celebrated a very different Christmas this year. The biggest difference was that Jillian was not home. She is working out west and stayed there over the holidays. As a result, it was very quiet, as Kathryn and Jillian feed off each other, laughing and getting more excited as the morning goes on. Also, the last two years we spent Christmas in Florida. This year it was a very snowy Christmas here at home in Nova Scotia. Kathryn and Scott came over in the afternoon for turkey dinner, and to open socks. I was overwhelmed by the very thoughtful bike Murray got for me. It is a custom made road racing bike. I have been talking about doing a triathlon for a while now but have not owned a bike for years. Now I just need to wait for the snow to leave so I can learn how to ride it. Murray is already enjoying his new quad copter.
Already New Year’s is just around the corner, so here are my New Year’s Resolutions:
New Year’s Resolution #1: Be more awesome than last year. 2013 was a great year. I accomplished a major bucket list item of running a marathon, Murray and I took several trips together, including South Carolina, Ohio, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Maine, New Hampshire, and we are closer now than we have ever been. We are both doing very well at work, and both having a lot of fun with our hobbies.
New Year’s Resolution #2: Learn how to ride a big girl bike with racing pedals. The mere thought of taking my bike on the road terrifies me. That terror, however, pales in comparison to the dread of riding my bike while my feet are locked in the pedals. This conjures images of imprisonment and a loss of control, neither of which are on my bucket list. I have faith though, that once I conquer this anxiety, I’ll enjoy my bike as much as I love running today.
New Year’s Resolution #3: More Prancercise! This started out as a gag with my running team, when one of the regular jokers posted a YouTube video of prancercise (prancing rhythmically like a horse) as a new workout regimen for the group. It caught on though, as team members have been videoed laughing and prancercising across the finish line at races. It was great to see them having so much fun running. Sometimes running can become a chore, when the focus is solely on improving time, endurance, and recovering from injury. In 2014, I will remember to have fun with my running and not make it all about the next goal to reach.
New Year’s Resolution #4: Don’t eat any food that has its own commercial. I have had ups and downs with my healthy eating, and the results have shown on the scale. When I stick to real, home cooked meals, I not only lose weight, I feel better too. My goal in 2014 is to stay away from processed food as best possible and opt for organic fresh choices when possible.
New Year’s Resolution #5: Stop hugging my kids so tight. Murray sums this goal up best, when he recently told me that I would be much happier once I realize that when the kids were young, I had limited influence at best, and as adults, I have virtually none. I am not sure what it is about modern life that causes so many of us parents to question our parenting and the choices of our children? Why does it seem so difficult to let go? I have peace in the knowledge that I am lucky to have bright, socially aware children, who have all it takes to be wildly successful in life.