Another year ends, another year begins...

(Pretend there's an image here that says Thank you 2023, Hello 2024)

Another year ends, another year begins...Thank you to whoever's in charge of that.

We get to keep going.

I don't have anything planned as a personal retrospective of my year for this blog entry Am I forgetting something major? My recollection in this last 3 hours of 2023 is that, in my personal life, this was a year of telling myself the truth about some of my blind spots and limitations, such as:

Work people are likely not friend people. Don't confuse the two.

I don't incorporate lessons for improvement into my daily life.

I still believe something magical, or to me unexplainable that I don't know how to replicate, will be the change agent for my life.

I'm still waiting for the change agent to come into my life.

Oh yeah - the change agent needs to be me.

I don't know why I continue making log entries here.

I guess this is a way to announce to the world that I'm still here and I'm still trying.

It would be remiss not to mention all the turmoil in the world at large right now. 

My heart and wishes for 2024 go out to all the people in the world suffering at the hands of their fellow human beings. What a tragedy it is that we, humans of Earth, have the capacity to hurt each other so profoundly when we are fearful.

I hope that people will feel the light inside them (wherever we think it comes from) and let that little light shine. We have to show each other the way out of the darkness of fear.

Let's all envision a world where everyone is valued and loved. 

I have a theme each year that I use to inspire me. When I started doing it years ago, I noticed that I would almost immediately forget my theme. At the end of the year I'd remind myself of the theme and realize that somehow (magically?) I had made at least some amount of progress. I figured that putting the idea in my head got my brain and my spirit and my soul working on the theme while I continued my day to day schedule.

No wonder I believe in magical things happening!!

So, last year my theme was Authentic Empowerment. 

I guess the fact that I learned a few truths about myself this year could be thought of as a bit of authentic empowerment.

I didn't incorporate it into my daily life. Although I did read the majority of "The Seat of the Soul", which was my guidebook, I don't think, though, I can truly say I am Authentically Empowered!

That goal will remain ongoing.

In 2024 my theme is "Act on commitments, not feelings"

I'm pretty good at following through on commitments I make to other people. I'm not good at keeping commitments I make to myself. Even things as simple as household chores or caring for my health. I very easily can say "Eh - I don't feel like it today," because I'm tired, too hungry, not in the mood, overwhelmed, frustrated, uncomfortable, or scared.

Actions will make change in my life (I'm pretty sure I wrote about that a few years ago!!) 

So, this year I'm trying to be more specific about goals and then will develop the habits that will help me reach those goals.

Goal - by the end of 2024 I hope I can successfully pass the sit down-stand up test; sit on the floor from a standing position without using your hands, arms, or knees to slow your descent. Then stand back up—without using your hands, arms, or knees to help boost you back up, if possible. (Hint: Crossing your legs on the way down and the way up seems to help, and loosely holding your arms out to your sides can help with balance.). The test requires flexibility, motor coordination, balance, and ample muscle power relative to body weight. I've been leading an excessively sedentary life in the last ten years. It's time I recognize that I'm aging. I should be able to do more than I'm currently able (I huff and puff walking up/down stairs for example).

Goal - eat more healthy foods. One of the reason my body doesn't respond the way I expect (even with my acceptance of growing older) is because I don't nourish it properly. I haven't worked out what my specific daily plan will be yet. I read that one way to get started without feeling overwhelmed is to pick three healthy meal options that I feel I can accomplish, and that I don't mind eating repeatedly. Practice with those three, make them the foundation. Develop the habit of eating healthy. Try preparing some aspect of the meal ahead of time (such as prepare a batch of quinoa) so a quick meal is always at the ready. I don't have my three recipes nailed down yet, but it involves potato, sourdough bread, carrot/celery/tomato/cucumber/spinach, quinoa, chickpeas, falafel, and hummus.  Maybe a few other things, but those feel like standbys to me. 

Goal - read 12 fiction books and 6 nonfiction books.

Goal - get window blinds

Goal - dental health <-- the one that scares me the most.

Goal - stop saving articles and books I won't read, plus don't spend excessive amounts of money on app games!!!!

That's a lot to accomplish this year. And I feel very cliche putting health and fitness as goals. I want to remember that (sigh) yes, I'm as ordinary as everyone else who wants to lose weight starting out on New Year's Day, but that also means (Yay!) I'm not alone.  

Honestly, I'm sitting here, New Year's Eve night - it's now 10:22 pm when I'm writing - and already dreading this lifestyle change; I don't want to have to do movement/exercise/cook food starting tomorrow and forevermore after that!!!  I want to be a blob (I've had an active couple of days).

This isn't going to be easy.

To me and all the others making plans and goals for themselves, for New Year and all year, who struggle with motivation and consistency...I wish us courage.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!