The Obligatory Resolutions

OK, OK, since it's the beginning of the year, it is time to Resolve. Also, I'm seeing a lot of other people doing it, and it *does* seem like a good way to keep myself honest, by putting my sad little resolutions online.

So, without further ado, here they are:

1. I will be in control of myself this year.
This means financially, foodically, and any other way that I've been just kind of throwing up my hands and going with the flow. I want to be aware of what I'm doing, and hold myself accountable. If I want to be someone I'm proud of being, I have to live purposefully. I'm not committing to starve myself, physically or financially, just to think before I act.

2. I will put my money where my mouth, and heart, is.
I will no longer stifle that feeling of guilt that I have when I buy unnecessary things, the one that tells me that others need food and clothes and yet here I am buying yet another pair of shoes. I am going to give to charity weekly. When I was a teenager, I made a resolution that I would put money in every jar I saw that asked for it at a store, and I did it, whether it was a nickel or a dollar, I gave what I had. Somewhere, I lost that. I am going to get it back, but more than that, I'm going to do what I know I should be; giving to others who need it. In that spirit, today I made my first gift to Heifer International, of a clutch of chicks. It made me happier than shoes ever could. I chose chicks because I remember reading in Little House on the Prairie about how excited and proud their family was to have chickens, and how much it helped them. Next time I will give honeybees, to help with crops and also to help save the honeybee population. I don't know what I've been waiting for, other than that concern that 'what if I give this and then I don't have enough left over for myself?' Selfish. No more.

3. Walk the dog more often.
I have gotten SO LAZY. I play with Baci a lot, but he really needs to go on more walks, like at least every day. It helps his behavior so much, and I know I'm being a better pet owner. Plus, it will help me resolve some of my FAT ASS issues. (Tyler doesn't need more walking - I feel bad, but I rarely take him on walks anymore. He just gets so tired, and I'm afraid he's going to get hurt. So, he goes in the car, but that's about it for his outings these days, poor old man.)

4. Make a better marriage.
Our marraige is fine. Really, it is. But, do I really want to live the rest of my life with 'fine', when I know that if I put more effort in, it could probably be even better? It's easy to let it slide, but if anything happened to DH, I don't want to look back and know that I could have been a better wife.

I think that's about it. I think, really, they all come under one heading - Doing What I Know Is Right. If I can manage to do that, then this will be a stellar year indeed.