Creating New Year Resolutions That You Might Actually Keep

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
–Oprah Winfrey

I’m approaching this new year with such ambivalence. Part dread, part anticipation. I am dreading saying goodbye to the year my mom was alive. To the year when she was breathing, and smiling, and being the amazing force she was in my life. This year marks so much in my life, and saying goodbye to the single largest most painful event in my life is not easy.

So where do I go from here? How does anyone move on after a traumatic event?

I’ve been trying to look at my life how my mother would and feel her presence with me and listen to what she would say to me. I know the first thing she would want is my kids to be happy. For them to feel secure and comfortable in their lives and not worry about anything other than having fun and learning.

But also I know she would want me to look at myself and figure out how to make myself happy. I’m not quite sure how to do that but I know the first step is investing my health. My mother died from a Stage 4 Glioblastoma Brain Tumor and there is a chance it is hereditary. I am investing in my health by throwing out the chemicals and toxins in my house. I am switching all of my cleaners, my soaps and my skin care to essential oils. I am in the process of getting rid of my medicines, but for now at least I can count on NOT relying on OTC meds for pain relief and cough and cold! I have been able to replace all of those medicines made up of who knows what chemicals with natural essential oils made from plants, and I’ve actually gotten better relief using the oils!

I have come up with these new year resolutions and you all can hold me to these!

1. Create an exercise schedule
2. Start money-saving challenge
3. De-clutter the house
4. Get rid of ALL chemicals in the house and replace with my growing cabinet of essential oils
5. Re-institute the dinnertime dance party

It sounds daunting, I know, but I promise it is all doable. I think I can work everything into my daily life whilst working and taking care of the kids. My mom was able to get both her bachelor’s AND her master’s degrees while my brother and I were in elementary school and she was working and taking care of the house, so I should be able to do these few things. Yes, my dad was awesome and helped cook and take care of us, but my mom worked her butt off. She started as a bank teller and worked her way up while going to night school to end up working as a CFO for a long time.

Needless to say, we didn’t have much money growing up. But we were happy. My parents were involved and available and we never felt like we lacked anything.

Here are ideas for some great new year resolutions from a few awesome bloggers:

FREE Printable New Year’s Resolutions Activity Sheet for Kids

How To Achieve Your Goals In 2014

Add the Goal to #ReadMore to Your New Years Resolutions List

10 New Year’s Resolutions for Newlyweds

Do you have any new year resolutions? Tell me what they are in the comments and I will check in later in the year to see how you are doing with them!