Resolution Schmesolution.

It's the start of the New Year. I've always wondered whose brilliant idea it was to come up with a resolution for the new year. If you break it down into two words you have the prefix of "re-" (which means to do again) and "solution" (which, duh...is an outcome or answer to something). It seems kind of funny...resolve to fix something that is broken in your life. I guess with the start of a new year, it's like starting over--you get a clean slate and voila! All is new again! Only, it doesn't quite work that way. For instance, my bills don't get wiped clean from last year. Not only that, but usually, when you make them, you break them within 48 hours of making them. Where's the fun in that?

This year, I resolve to not make any resolutions. Sure, there are things that I would like to do, but I need to fix a few things in my life before I can do anything. I am VERY proud to say that I am starting this new year 27 pounds lighter than the last one. I have lost 3 sizes and I feel fantastic. I did not do any crazy diets or go hog wild on the exercise (no...marathon training does NOT count here). I watched what I was eating and more importantly how MUCH I was eating. Stomachs are small. Why am I putting a ginormous shovel of processed crap into it, only to feel like a ginormous pile of processed crap later? Yes, I still eat pasta. I still eat meat. I still have dessert. But the important thing is that I don't have to have ALL of it, so I don't. I always keep it in my mind that I am fueling my brain and my body. I don't need it for anything else but that. :) Depriving yourself isn't good. Binging yourself isn't good either. The happy medium is to have just a little bit. Then, get up and move. It sounds simple and you know what, it truly is. We are all busy, and sometimes you have to find a spot to stick it in. But eventually, it becomes a habit. Running has become a part of my life. I am planning this training as the last marathon for awhile. I won't say that I'll never do another one, but this one is it for awhile. So, basically weight loss = Watch what and how much you eat + Getting Butt off Couch and Moving. :)

On to this year with the non-resolutions. Instead of saying, "I resolve to become debt-free sometime in the future--preferably in the year", I'm saying that I need to curb my spending habits and not incur anymore debt. I'm really good at rationalizing purchases. I'm the queen of "If I put it on the card and just pay it off next month or put a bigger chunk on it next month, then it's okay to buy". In reality, I don't pay it off and I don't put the bigger chunk on it next month. It has gotten us into trouble. When the douchebag skimmed my ATM card, it may have been a blessing in disguise. We went through all of our finances: checking, money market account, credit cards and auto loans. We have come up with a monthly budget, so we'll see how well we do with it. I have removed the credit cards from my wallet and have made them inaccessible to me. Well, I have access to them, but it would require me to thaw them out. We refinanced a loan for a lower interest rate and managed to pull enough equity of it to pay off a credit card. It feels good to have a plan.

In addition to curbing spending habits, one other non-resolution is the word "No." I am a big doormat. I hate saying no to people. I am a people pleaser. If you need my shirt, here you go. If you need me to make you dinner, what would you like? You want my Christmas presents, just jot down your address. Okay, I wouldn't go quite that far, but if you have a compelling reason, then probably. Unfortunately, because of this inability to say no, I have a) incurred a lot of the aforementioned debt and b) managed to completely overwhelm myself. I like to stay busy and I like to be social. But there has to be a line drawn. For instance, working and helping out in a child's classroom is busy and social. Working, going to school, volunteering for the OSC, being a stay at home mom (I work from home), as well as all the day to day nitty gritty is stupid and effing insane. Seriously. Because of my inability to say no, I sometimes resemble the living dead. There are days when I will come home from a social and literally pass out. I just can't do it anymore. It's not good for anyone. So here it is: no. No. NO. NO!!!!! See, it is possible. Now, I just need to make sure that I do it when it really counts.

There you have it. I don't have to re-solve anything. I just need to fix the things that need a little tweaking here and there.