Resolutions

Today is the last day of 2014. Besides watching song mashups like this one and this one, I'm taking time to look back at some of my favorite memories from the past 365 days. Remembering the best bits helps me prioritize what I really want to focus on in the following year. It's my version of "resolutions." Because isn't it more fun to make a list of things to strive for rather than deprive yourself of?

By sharing this list of things I'm working towards in 2015, my hope is that you can find something relative to your own goals and aspirations for the year. While the stroke of midnight may not make us perfect, there's something a bit magic about feeling that new opportunities await us next year that we just have to make realities. So why not start today?

1. Be Adventurous

A couple of months ago, some friends and I went to an audition for Wheel of Fortune at a nearby casino. It was a little random, and definitely out of the ordinary, but we gave it a shot. I ended up being called up on stage to play a mini game in front of hundreds of people and continued on with the auction process. It was one of the most unique and fun moments of the year and I can't wait to find more adventures in the year to come.

2. Be Active 

If you asked me two years ago, I would tell you one of the things I despised most in the world was running. I was the girl in high school who would find excuses not to run the mile with the rest of the class. So it was a huge deal when the girls of my family all signed up to run the Tinkerbell 10k in January of 2014. I semi-trained for a few months beforehand and came to the point where I not only tolerated running, but actually looked forward to it. This year, I'm hoping to get back into the running habit. Besides that, I want to park a little farther away when I run to the mall, take a stroll when it's warm out and spend a little less time on my tush.


3. Be Spontaneous

When Matt and I were first married, we were super spontaneous. We would take spur of the moment Disneyland trips, go on drives to nowhere in particular and try new restaurants on a regular basis. Having kids has made us a little more predictable. With a two year old and a four year old, those quick adventures seem to take a little more time and planning. However, last year, we had a couple of weekends where we just packed the kids in the car with a change of clothes each and hopped a ferry to one of the San Juan Islands. It made us realize that not only do we not need as much as we may think, but we can still be spontaneous with kids and stray from the expected day to day. Even a surprise picnic in the park can turn into a fun and meaningful memory.

4. Be Myself

I love this picture of my friend Amy so much. She and I recently went to a movie that clearly wasn't a must-see by anyone else's standards. But we wanted to see it and, together, had a great time. It's a good reminder to me that it shouldn't matter what other people may think; staying true to who you are will bring you the most happiness. I'm trying to focus on avoiding making comparisons to other people and instead be happy with the person I am.

5. Be the Cat's Meow

Looking good isn't always a matter of vanity. For me, it can be a motivation for my inside to match my outside. When I'm feeling stressed or sad, a little mascara magically makes me feel a little more pulled together. As a bonus, I'm making an effort to look like the girl my husband would want to date, even if he wasn't already married. Of course there will be days when it just doesn't happen, but I'm committing to make the effort.

6. Be Conscious 

Confession: I am not a big fan of veggies. I'm always looking for new ways to get some extra greens in without making my inner four year old's taste pallet squirm. My introduction to green smoothies this last year was life changing. In the upcoming year, I'm looking for more ways to be conscious about the food I eat. I want to stay more hydrated, get more sleep and be more in tune with what my body needs.

7. Be Proactive

I have a pile in my closet of clothes I've wanted to donate for the last two months. It grows and grows as I continue to say, "I've got to take care of that this week." But another week goes by, and another, and the pile sits. This year I want to make more of an effort to get things done. When the thought comes into my head to do something, I want to do it right away. Ella will be my example in her no-hesitation smooch on the Peanut M&M.

8. Be On Time

Tardiness is one of my biggest weaknesses. And it's rude. This year I'm working to be more respectful of people's time and working even harder to be prompt. Maybe I'll be a bit early, but I will just keep in mind that the extra time will give me a chance to stop and smell the roses (or in this case peonies) rather than being rushed.

9. Be Present

I'm sure that unplugging a little more is on the top of a lot of resolution lists this year. It's so easy to become stuck on our devices now that they're so accessible. I see my kids already asking to play on phones, iPads, etc. and it doesn't sit well. I'm implementing new rules at our house that severely limit screen time. We're pulling out the puzzles, crayons and legos. More hands-on quality time and less digital entertainment for us. I want my kids' memories growing up to be more playing with me and/or being outside rather than having one (or all) of us playing on a screen.

10. Be Happy

The main point in all of these goals is to continually strive for happiness. One of my absolute favorite moments of the past year was a sisters' trip I took to Arizona to see the One Direction concert. We were embarrassingly excited and had an awesome experience spending time together and laughing so hard it hurt. Surrounding myself with people that make me happy and doing things to live a little are definitely on my list in 2015.

And while there are a few more things I hope to work on in the coming year, these are the ones most important to me. They may not follow the classic measurable rules that resolutions tend to follow, but they're manageable and a great place to start. So what's on your list?