These are my 2013 resolutions:
1. I am not resolving to keep up my morning yoga. Not one bit. Since every year I resolve to keep it up, I end up letting it slide, and so I am resolving not to resolve to continue to practice morning meditation/yoga.
2. I am resolving to make a trip to visit each of my siblings this year. The middle one is easy, since she lives near my mother, but the other three will be a bit more of a challenge. Weekend flights will be in the budget, m’dear, because I’m making this happen.
3. I resolve to run three organized races next year. As I’ve already signed up for three, this seems likely!
4. I resolve to take at least one long, leisurely bicycle ride, with or without family. Preferably flat.
5. I resolve to increase our charitable giving. I suppose the husband has to sign onto this one, but I think he’ll be with me. I like the idea of “tithing” – giving 10% total, but to various charitable sources, not just the church. We are nowhere near there, and I’m not resolving to get to 10% in 2013 by any means, but I’d like to creep towards that goal. Besides Cystinosis Research Network and St. Jude Cancer Research, do you all have any pet charitable projects you’d like to propose we contribute to?
6. I resolve to write something 10+ pages long for pleasure. A short story, perhaps?? A terrible epic poem?
7. I resolve to read ten – TEN – amazing novels. Hit me up – any recommendations?
8. I resolve to do 200 workouts next year. Totally stealing this from a friend, but I love the idea. My problem will be keeping track of this, as much as making it happen, but that’s all part of the challenge. Yoga counts.
Oh, that’ll do. I’m most excited about #2. Memphis*, sisters**, and soon? We could split a hotel!!
New Year will arrive very soon. We are drinking some pretty gross champagne, and since Clemson just had an amazing win against LSU, we are wide awake with adrenaline and likely to make it to midnight. Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night! Farewell, 2012, you were largely kind to me, and I am sorry to see you go. Hello, 2013. Please be gentle with us. We are a bit battered, and eager for rest. Peace and blessings to all –
RG
*My only brother lives in Memphis.
**I have three sisters. Which means my brother has four sisters. Don’t pity him, he’s spoilt from being the only boy.
I love your resolutions, particularly resolving not to do yoga (I see the same phenomenon occur) and the 200 workouts. I like how the 200 changes the parameters to less guilt-inducing if you miss one early on.
As far as the resolution of charitable giving, may I suggest my law school friend and her family? I will be giving what I can, but the need is tremendous. She is a fellow 2L. She, her husband, her sister, her brother, and her parents were traveling in a van over Stevens Pass in Washington when a tree fell on their SUV December 22 (2012). Both of her parents died at the scene. Jaime (my friend) and her husband are still in ICU. Her sister has just been transferred to rehab. Her brother is out of the hospital. Jaime is one of the greatest people I have ever met. As you can imagine, medical bills are adding up exponentially. Here is the link to the newspaper article http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2012/12/falling-tree-kills-2-from-bothell-on-highway-2-stevens-pass/ and to the blog post her family is keeping with the address for donations http://lovetheowens.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/498/ .
I am sure you will give to great causes and needs. Whereever you give, I am sure you will bless others and your own family in the process. Thank you for letting me share my thoughts!
Happy New Year!
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I haven’t read Bring Up the Bodies, the second book in the trilogy, yet, but it’s supposed to be amazing.
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.
Language of Flowers was lovely.
I’m excited to hear all the book suggestions! I really like your resolutions this year. I would like to increase charitable giving but it’s so hard to do when things are tight!
Yay! We donated to our children’s hospital and a craniosynostosis charity last year. I hope your friends are doing well- I didn’t want to intrude and ask them 🙂
I’m doing the book thing too. In desperate need of good books.
Diabetes? I usually give to March of Dimes and American Diabetes Association, and whatever my billions of siblings ask for…and a few children’s hospitals, and theatre. Just call me moneybags.
Also, Beth introduced me to Sabriel, Lireal, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix. I’ve read the first two, pretty fantastic (get it? They’re fantasy books. Fantastic). That’s the only memorable book this year, but I do still enjoy the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley.
Let me know if you find any totally awesome novels worth reading. I want to find a page turner that isn’t literary junk food.