Here I am. Three kids, barely a moment to scratch myself, and starting a blog. But I need this, so here we go.
We are three days into the new year, and I have found myself (as I do every year) thinking about my life and what I'd like to improve on. I'm not going to call them resolutions, because it seems that most resolutions made seem to fail quite quickly. No, these aren't resolutions. These are simply areas of my life that I have recognised as needing some attention, and I plan to work on them. It's not a matter of succeeding or failing, it's just about wanting to live my life the being the best version of myself I can be. These aren't even just for this year - these are for life.
So, in no particular order - here are my 'not new year resolutions':
***I want to read and write more... and spend less time on screens (this includes 'looking' on my phone and watching shows). I'd like to actually workout my brain - read books, write here, do crosswords, etc. Generally engage my mind instead of going straight to zombie-TV watching mode. I also need to cut down on screen time for the sake of being a better, more involved mum (which I'll go into below).
***As a continuation of the above, I want to engage my creative side. This might be writing, drawing, or something else that I'm yet to discover. Anything creative that is just for me - not for an audience, just for my own personal satisfaction.
***I want to be a more attentive, more involved mum. Too often I am just sharing a space with my beautiful kids. I'm meeting their basic needs, but not really engaging with them. It's not very often that I just spend time with them without doing something else, or being distracted by something else (usually housework). I'd like to make a real effort to connect with the kids every day; a conscious 10 minutes, half an hour, whatever it might be, to just be with them. To be in the moment with them. I think this will be good for everyone.
***I want to re-develop a healthy lifestyle, for everyone. It's been over 5 months since I had my lovely mini-me, it's time to take control of my health. I plan to start walking with the pram a few times a week, and eventually I hope to get back into running, because I really did enjoy it. Hubby wants to get into cycling. Overall we need to change what we're eating - far too much junk and sugar that needs to be cut down significantly, and we need to up our vegies. I'd like to lose 10-20kg, but I want to do it the right way - gradually with our change of lifestyle. This will benefit everyone - these kids deserve a healthier start to life, not one fuelled with sugar and takeaway.
***Hubby and I need to re-connect. It is so hard to find the time and the energy right now, but we need to. Some days I really, truly worry that we've lost each other, but even a small talk or a hug can be enough to know that we still have something. We need to work on it though. And life seems so much easier when we're on the same page, facing the world hand in hand.
***Underlying all these 'not new year resolutions' is that I need to look after myself. Physically, but especially mentally. I have had some dark days since my bubba was born, which I'm sure I'll be writing about in future posts, and I think things have been harder because I have kept so much of it to myself. Writing here and talking more openly about it will help, and I look forward to finding peace and happiness in my life again, more and more each day.
I feel good about these 'not new year resolutions'. It fills me with hope for the future. I've often heard the expression that happiness is a choice... the world can change significantly just by looking at it through a different lense. I choose happiness.
