Promises, Promises

Yesterday, during casual conversation, a new friend shared some Words of Wisdom from her Mother that truly hit home with me.  We were discussing her resolve to quit smoking, when she told me about breaking a promise to one's self.  According to her mother, breaking a promise to yourself is a huge blow to your self esteem.

Consider that your inner, or higher self, knows what the next step in your development should be.  You know the path that you should be on.  For instance, you know that by quitting smoking you will be healthier.  You promise yourself that on such-and-such a day, you will walk away from this bad habit and never look back.  This is truly the best choice for you.

Two weeks after making this decision, you falter and go back to old, unhealthy habits.  This action is telling your subconscious that this much needed change that would have a positive effect on your development is not important because you are not important.  You are undermining your self worth. 

This idea stayed with me.  It puts a whole lot of weight on new resolutions.....  Samhain is coming up, and I usually write my Top 25 goals for the year.  These are the things that I would like to manifest in my life over the coming year.  ..... I am ready......

New Beginnings

I am terribly excited at how this new year is shaping up.  My son has entered the first grade, my daughter is in preschool, and my wee one has moved to the bumblebee class.  These transitions have all gone seamlessly.  They are all doing really well.  In fact I believe they are thriving, learning more than they were previously.

I am also beginning my final semester as an undergrad.  I was a bit upset about having to go back to classes so soon after completing the summer semester (less than a week and a half), but I am alright with it now.  My classes are so lovely and interesting, and the professors seem to be passionate about the subjects they are teaching.  In all, I see this as an exciting few months ahead....

As is my way, I have made a list of goals and small achievements I hope to keep up with over the semester (and likely beyond). 

This semester I will:

1)  Walk/ride my bicycle to all of my classes instead of riding the bus

2)  Do the majority of my homework on the weekends, so that during the week I can pay more attention to working with Z on his reading, A on her letters, and N on signs and communicating

3)  Take the stairs instead of the elevator

4)   Schedule in 'me' time, where I actually do nothing other than enjoy my life (i.e. no homework, no housecleaning)

5)  Be better about keeping up with the housework by ridding myself of my excess.  This will be done by giving away more of the things that I do not need, and that I know my friends will enjoy.... (maybe a garage sale as well)

Just five simple goals, but they are enough to keep me busy, yet simplify my world by huge degrees....

I awaken this day, counting one year passed in this life, and another just beginning. This is my New Year! I do not make my resolutions on January 1st when the rest of the world's good intentions are pooled. I make my resolutions on my birthday, November 21st. Not far removed, if at all, from the usual and classic resolutions, these are the ways I desire to affect positive change in my life. I hope that these changes will not only endure this year, but be patterns that I instate and cultivate to endure all of my "ages." I feel a need/desire to declare them "out loud," so that I may not be permitted to ignore them....

* This year, I promise to take better care of my Mind, Body, and Spirit.
- Often I neglect the balance of the three as I engage in my academic pursuits.

This year I shall make time to work out: run, ride my bike, lift weights, and practice yoga (more than just a physical pursuit, to be sure).

To care for my Spirit, I shall continue (with greater diligence) in my endeavor to become one with G-d.

My Mind is fractured with the weight of my many responsibilities. To repair this, I must de-clutter. I shall not take on more than I KNOW I can handle. To do so is self-sabotage.

By balancing and caring for my 'trinity,' I believe I shall become a better mother, wife, friend, student, and artist. In sha' Allah.