Happy January 6th! We are 6 days into the new year and no closer to keeping any New Year's Resolutions. The only one I've actually even attempted is Keeping the floor of my bedroom clean - since I did that New Year's Eve night - but I looked down today and there were 3 or 4 things that jumped back down there. I have been doing well at the saving money thing too! What will kill me is using all of it to live the 3 months this summer I don't get paid!

What I have gotten good at is rationalizing WHY I haven't started any of these things. I haven't started running (so, not losing any pounds) because of the virus which has decided to spend this winter with me. Not bad, just still a little congestion in the chest, but it still makes walking a bit breathtaking, let alone running. Um...I'm actually blaming the virus for those two resolutions, as well as not keeping in touch with friends and family, helping out more around the house, keeping my floor clean AND not eating better. Just too tired to put in the energy. I do think I'd better start working on excuses for when I AM feeling better! :)

Speaking of illness related things, for as inactive as I was prior to getting sick, I'm surprised at how antsy I am to be able to go to the gym. I feel like such a slug not doing anything athletic. It's worse being around athletic people all day.

The one I really would like to do, and it probably wouldn't take much is to stay in better touch with friends and family. I usually don't call or write because there is nothing new going on in my life. I'm starting to realized that doesn't mean there's not new things in THEIR lives. I have friends' babies walking and talking and I never know about it. Days fly right by and I miss birthdays, then feel stupid sending belated cards, when I knew perfectly well their birthday was ________ and I just couldn't be "together" enough to buy a card and remember to send it. Most times, these friends and family are people I think about often, so how hard is it to call or write and say "Hey, nothing new here, I was just thinking of you. What's new with you?" I've got to get better about that. And then be patient enough to listen for four hours to the story of how they had to watch paint dry. It may not be important to me, but if it is to them, then it should be to me. (Just FYI, none of my friends have ever told me they've had to watch paint dry! :) )

Patience is not a virtue of mine. At least, not inwardly with those I care about. I don't know why I can be patient with a 14 year-old I hardly know telling me how their hangnail hurts them so much they can't practice and what can they do to make the pain stop beside just ice and a bandaid, and yet have no patience in listening to my father tell me all about his day at work. (Not that the story needs re-iterating, since he works out of the house, on speaker phone, so when I'm in the house I know all of what's going on in his work anyway. *And not that I'm annoyed, but I was woken this morning at 8:15 by the sound of his voice on speaker phone and by the time I left the house at 9:30 and he was still talking...and every muscle in my body was tense and on edge...well, let's just say I think there should be less harsh penalties for murder in some cases! ) It reminds me of a comment my mother made once, when we were bugging her to hurry up because we were late - she didn't really need make-up, she was married. She wanted to know why we get all dressed up and make ourselves look pretty for complete strangers, when the people we love and care about, we hardly ever get dressed up for and let them see us haggard and "bare" most of our time together. The people I should reserve most of my patience for are those I love the most. (And as another side note, I don't get dressed up for the outside world either. This way, I feel I'm treating everyone the same! :) )

Well, I hope you all have either begun all your resolutions, or have come up with good excuses why you haven't. Only 359 more days left to get those resolutions finished! :)