Requisite New Year's Post

2009 was a stellar year for me.  I didn't even realize it until a girlfriend pointed it out to me last week.  She called to congratulate me on stepping down from a board I served on.  I had served on the board for something like 5 years.  It was time.

She said "2009 has really been your year!"  Huh?  So, I asked her...."what do you mean?".  She listed the following:

I stepped down from 2 of the boards I served on. 
I started this blog.
I met TEN.
I bought the Mercedes I have always wanted.
I bought Louis.

That may not seem like a lot for a 12 month period, but it made me smile.  2009 was the year of T.  It was the year that I stopped just talking about doing things, and actually started doing.  Sometimes life gets away from us before we realize it I think.  Time flies.  We put things off that we really want to do, and the next thing you know 5 years have passed.

About 3 years ago a friend said to me:

"T, it seems that rather than you living your life...your life is living you". 

I have never forgotten that statement, and I don't think I ever will.  It's not like after he said that I completely changed my life all at once.  But I did start by going to Italy for two weeks.  I had never been to Europe, and I knew I wanted to go "some day".  So, I made today that "some day", and I went.  It was glorious.

Last year I went to London for two weeks. 

This year I bought a Mercedes, so I think that is going to count as my European vacation.  However, I will be going back in 2011...mark my words :)  There are still so many wonderful places I want to experience. 

I have decided that rather than set a single New Year's Resolution that I probably won't be able to achieve, I want to stick with a theme.  I want to continue to live my life, rather than have it live me. 

I also want to stop letting people steal my time.  Does that ever happen to you?  Do you have people in your life that call you incessantly?  Or gchat you, or text you, or whatever....incessantly?  That demand your time, even when you don't have any time to give? People that make you feel guilty if you don't give them all the time/attention that they want?  I do.  They are nice enough people.  People that I know socially, or even want to be friendly with, but not people who I have 24 hours a day to dedicate myself to.  This year I resolve to set those people free.  To let them know that I do not have that kind of time for them.  If that means our friendships will end, then so be it.  I hope that isn't the case, but I'm tired of having to turn my phone off just to have a little peace and quiet with my other friends...or with TEN. 

And finally...I want to start doing more good deeds.  I used to do this quite frequently.  Whether it was donating money to a needy family, volunteering my time serving dinner at the homeless shelter, running errands for shut ins, etc.  It was so rewarding, and I miss it.  I don't want to sign up for another board, but I do want to begin committing (is that the right word) random acts of kindness.  I am so very blessed in my life, and I want to share some of that with others who may not be as fortunate as me.  I know, I know...that sounds text book and canned.  But it's true.  Even if it's just helping an elderly person across the street.  I need that in my life.  

I would like to become better at saving money.  I would like to work on being a better daughter and a better friend.  A better girlfriend.  I would like to not lose my temper when Louis peeps on the kitchen floor.  I would like to lose 10lbs.  I would like to write in my journal every day.  But I'm not going to push myself into a corner where I try to completely change who I am.  I'm going to start with the small stuff...and hopefully the other things will come with time :)

T