For me, New Years resolutions are sorta like vermouth - a splash or two is nice, I guess, but not at all the point of the martini. In other words, I can take 'em or leave 'em. I tend to make changes when they need making. Like, when I have to do the sumo squat dance to get into the biggest, stretchiest pair of jeans in my wardrobe, it's time to reevaluate my position on things like exercise, melted cheese, and beer. You'll recall that blessed moment came at the end of September when I joined a boot camp and learned what pain really is. Three months later, I'm close to my fitness goal and back to eating smaller, healthier meals and enjoying the good stuff in moderation. So, I guess if I have a resolution, it's to keep on keeping on.
There are some other things I'm working on, that I plan to continue with enthusiasm in the new year - and the new decade (I wrote a check yesterday dated January 1, and wouldn't you know, I got the year right on my first try. THAT will be difficult to maintain), and here they are in no particular order:
Variety. I cooked with parsnips the other day. Parsnips! I'd never done that before. I'm going to try to add a new ingredient or recipe to my arsenal a few times a month now because boy, those two crazy little root vegetables sure did make me feel exotic.
Patience. Learning how to be part of a functional, happy couple has meant I've had to make a lot of mental adaptations. Giving up the sick addiction to constant disappointment I'd formed over the years has been a lot harder than you would imagine. Even harder than that, though, has been giving up the need for control over every aspect of my own sphere - the direction and time line my life follows. I'm trying to be more patient.
Mirth. In September I realized that if I was going to be really happy, I needed to take back some time and energy for myself. The Boy is a night owl. And in being much more disciplined about eating and exercise, it has meant a lot more early to bed, early to rise for me. I got really boring. Now, I was okay with that. Until I realized how much it was upsetting the Dork Lord to attend so many late nights out alone. So, in a compromise between discipline and mirth, I'm trying to be more fun - even when going out and spending time with the boy's friends means staying up past my bed time and throwing myself headlong into the temptations of the dirty martini. Four olives, please.
There are some other things I'm working on, that I plan to continue with enthusiasm in the new year - and the new decade (I wrote a check yesterday dated January 1, and wouldn't you know, I got the year right on my first try. THAT will be difficult to maintain), and here they are in no particular order:
Variety. I cooked with parsnips the other day. Parsnips! I'd never done that before. I'm going to try to add a new ingredient or recipe to my arsenal a few times a month now because boy, those two crazy little root vegetables sure did make me feel exotic.
Patience. Learning how to be part of a functional, happy couple has meant I've had to make a lot of mental adaptations. Giving up the sick addiction to constant disappointment I'd formed over the years has been a lot harder than you would imagine. Even harder than that, though, has been giving up the need for control over every aspect of my own sphere - the direction and time line my life follows. I'm trying to be more patient.
Mirth. In September I realized that if I was going to be really happy, I needed to take back some time and energy for myself. The Boy is a night owl. And in being much more disciplined about eating and exercise, it has meant a lot more early to bed, early to rise for me. I got really boring. Now, I was okay with that. Until I realized how much it was upsetting the Dork Lord to attend so many late nights out alone. So, in a compromise between discipline and mirth, I'm trying to be more fun - even when going out and spending time with the boy's friends means staying up past my bed time and throwing myself headlong into the temptations of the dirty martini. Four olives, please.
