BETTER! 2014
Let’s be real: 2013 was a heart breaker, wasn’t it?
Everyone ~ and I mean everyone ~ has a story of hardship within the last 365 days. At the same time, everyone is looking forward to the New Year.
There’s always a sense of fresh. New. Hope. Promise. Something Good.
Am I right? As you’re reading this, aren’t you nodding and mentally going over your resolutions and new to-do’s? Don’t you feel like whatever happened in 2013, today begins the chance to change? A completely blank slate, to shape it however you want it to be.
Sitting Around
Yeah. Me, too.
The last two years I started the New Year with a theme. Two years ago I dared to be an awesome orange. Last year I set boundaries.
Today, I’m starting to be better.
2014: BETTER.
I have a brain bucket full of resolutions and ideas and goals and insights and dreams and warnings and… you get the picture.
I wrote out began my list. Things I want to accomplish/achieve/acquire in 2014:
- Get back to meal planning.
- Read a heck of a lot more.
- Do the Popover Project that I never did last year.
- Finish the interior improvements at Bedford Manor.
- Write. Write. Oh, and write.
- More Mother-Daughter Dates with my daughter.
- More Mother-Daughter Dates with my mother.
- Reach out of my comfort zone more. To people. To locations. To experiences.
- Create new recipes. And lots of them.
- Spend more time in my kitchen creating, less time cleaning.
- Redo the outdoor sprinkler system.
- Buy a reciprocal saw.
- Plant an olive tree.
- Craft more.
- Plant rose bushes.
- Buy fence slats.
- Buy many mason jars. In many sizes. For many reasons.
- Visit the Midwest.
- Get a passport.
- Visit Canada.
- Keep money in my savings account.
And so much more.
And as I looked at my incomplete list, I began to feel… overwhelmed.
This is the part where I channeled my mother’s mantra: “Simplify!” And, in case I didn’t hear her the first ten guzillion times: SIMPLIFY! (Stop yelling, Mom. I get it!)
My list is too long. It’s too exhausting. And honestly, too stressful. I can’t possibly achieve everything on that list.
And I’m not really sure I want to.
Sure, it looks good to put out there all these great goals. Oh, look at Molly’s Resolutions. This Girl’s got gumption! She’s a go-getter for sure! Okay. Quit laughing.
So this year, it’s not about New.
It’s about BETTER.
Taking what I already have, and working with it. Doing more, not different. Fixing, not forgetting. Stop adding to my plate and just enjoy what’s already there.
My goals for 2014 are the same no matter what day of the year it is: Be Better.
Do.
Be.
Dream.
Feel.
Live.
BETTER.
I’ll continue with the meal planning and the budgeting and the home improvements and the writing. Those are not new. If I gain a reciprocal saw and a passport, I’ll be happy. But if I don’t, the world doesn’t end.
I’ll make my life better because I’ll be better for the people in my life. I’ll surround myself with people who get it, who get me. Who encourage me and strengthen me and love me and support me. I’ll reach out more when I need them. And I’ll reach out to them when they’re not reaching out to me. I’ll make girl dates with Pam and Megan and Lisa and Nancy and let them know how they affect me and challenge me to be better.
I’ll let my family know I’m proud of them. For all they do. I’ll make the efforts to let them know I love them. No matter what. Just because they are who they are. And that’s good enough for me. They are always striving to be better, and I appreciate each and every one of them. All the time. And I’ll be better at telling them so.
Reading is something I do but not enough. Two years ago, I challenged myself to read a book every ten days. What was I thinking? In 2014, my goal is 12 books. Total. That’s right. Just one book each month. If I read more than that I’ll count it as a bonus. 12 books in one year is 10 more than I’ve read since last Christmas.
I’ll work on my current writing projects without starting new ones. I’ll finish NOLA and Amara’s Light and Broken Girl. I’ll record episodes of Five Minute Faith. I’ll do whatever I can to be the Writer I say I am.
I’m going to be a better version of myself and make my world a better place.
Not new. Not different.
But fresh. Hopeful. Good.
And definitely
BETTER.
Do Something
What’s your word for 2014?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Following Fabian
You can’t see where you’re going if you’re always looking behind.
The Friday Five – STORIES
Amara’s Light: Book One of the Grenalia Chronicles
Doing Something. Good.
Very inspirational, Molly Jo! A happy, healthy and better new year to you!
Sylvia recently posted..My Word for 2014
Thanks, Sylvia. And to you and yours!
Molly Jo recently posted..2014: BETTER.
Better is a great word! This year my word is “Expansion”. My parents both passed in 2013 and now there is nothing tying me to the US. Time again to seek adventures and opportunities all over the world!
Lynda Lippin recently posted..Happy New Year 2014
That’s a great word, Lynda. I wish you happy journeys!
Molly Jo recently posted..2014: BETTER.
Great thoughts! I almost started panicking when I got to your list, though!
I’m so glad you changed directions! I’m a list maker and can’t rest until everything’s marked off. That would have driven me to insanity!
Carrie, that’s exactly why I’m choosing the improve on the tasks already on my list instead of creating a whole new list! I, too, like to mark things off, so a new list would be counter productive. Thanks for stopping by!
Molly Jo recently posted..2014: BETTER.
Great post! BETTER is a great word for the year. Mine is CHOICE.
Last night a friend and I were talking, he is upset with his current life. I told him life is nothing but CHOICES. His life is what it is because of the choices he has made. I suggested if he didn’t like his life, then he needs to change his choices.
I woke up this morning and realized I needed to follow my own advice. So CHOICE is my word for the year.
Good Luck in 2014. I am sure you will reach your goal to be BETTER.
Deb Hathaway recently posted..What Was I Thinking??? – DP#147
Deb, CHOICE is an awesome word! So full of potential and power! It’s an animated word, an action word. You’re right; we can’t sit back and wait for the world to change. We have to work to change our world! Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to reading your blog!
Molly Jo recently posted..2014: BETTER.
Hi! Visiting from NaBloPoMo!
Love your post! I’m ready to throw out my list and just write down the word “Better”
Better at eating right
Better at making time for my kids, husband, family and friends
Better writer
Better reader
And if I don’t do it all, life will go on.
Happy 2014!
Elisa, thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your comment, and wish you a better 2014! You don’t have to be perfect (who ever is?!), so make 2014 BETTER for you and yours!
Molly Jo recently posted..2014: BETTER.
Sounds like some good goals for the new year! I am sitting here off from work for 2 more days (finally off after a crappy holiday of overtime and stress). I think it is great you are sitting down to write down stuff. I will follow you lead in that way. PS. Plant those rose bushes, you won’t regret it. I suggest a large planter of herbs for your cooking, those are tasty, and relaxing and don’t require much work at all. Hugs, all the best in 2014!
Winnie recently posted..December Tag – Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013
Thanks, Winnie. I’m hoping to get the lawn sprinkler system working properly before I do any planting, and then it will be rose bushes and olive trees! I like your idea for the herbs, and will let you know if I do it.
Molly Jo recently posted..My Soundtrack: The Year of the MoJo
As a Canadian, I can say that we are well worth missing… as long as you avoid a crack smoking mayor and an autocrat currently in the Prime Minister’s Office. With luck we’ll be rid of both of them soon enough.
Happy New Year to you!
Ooops… I mean well worth visiting!
Haha, William. I’m glad you clarified your comment. Well, no one place is perfect, I guess. Happy New Year to you, too!
Molly Jo recently posted..My Soundtrack: The Year of the MoJo