Musing on change. Is a penny’s worth, worth anything?
“Jamie, why try? You’ll never change.”
That was my husband last night. The one person who has eaten, ran and slept by my side longer than anyone on this planet.
I’m a big one on setting goals (my preferred term) but why make them, if I’m never going to change?
* * *
Goodbye anything good happening 2012. I swept out all good fortune. One tradition says there should be no cleaning, certainly no sweeping away from the house on January 1st. That brushes all luck away.
Hmp. Well, I actually took the tree out January 2 but I entertained on New Year’s and cleaned my house in a manner I should everyday.
Or should I?
Why do I want to spend my entire year cleaning house? But that is a different post entirely.
It’s January 4, 2012 and I chose to share my world with a husband and three children. Gladly share, most days
But the most positive of mental “I can do this” attitude quickly erodes when expending energy searching one more time for a child’s shoe or refereeing another fight caused by playing tackle football in a 6 foot triangle between the television cabinet, sofa and other piece of furniture that people sit on (not sure what to call it?).
Goals for me in 2012?
What about all the goals for my children?
Art, dance, more art, tutoring, playing school sports, playing recreation sports, tennis, Spanish, French, fluency in Mandarin Chinese? Reading levels to be leapt in a single bound and square roots to 1,225,400 memorized. Rough drafts for senior papers which were to be completed by the end of this break.
Pets. Goals for them. Keeping them alive and happy. We have one very sick Oscar at the moment and it took over an hour of my day cleaning his tank yesterday. Time I should have been putting Christmas decorations in boxes.
I will set goals.
I’ll set them this weekend. Setting goals the second weekend of January is something my husband and I have done for over a decade.
The same husband who half-affectionately/half-exasperatedly said I’ll never change.
He’s right you know. The way the good Lord wired us isn’t going to change.
But I intend to work improving the way he linked up my DNA — the good and the bad.
Taking my inspiration from Cinderella, our tortoise. She gets places.
Not fast but before you know it she’s clawing at the door.
I need Cinderella’s focus. Not the focus of another Disney favorite, Dory, from Finding Nemo.
My children need better than Dory, my husband needs better — and no one knows better than me I need better then Dory.
If I can just remember what they were?
What about you? Does setting goals work?
I think setting goals works if you use the metaphor of a car in fog. You have to understand that it’s not possible to see miles and miles ahead…that you might not even see a car a car length in front of you. You want to keep moving in the right direction, putting one foot in front of the other, but moving carefully enough to avoid crashes that could keep you from getting where you want to go. Understanding that sometimes pulling over for a bit can get you there more quickly, and more safely, than hurrying.
That’s so true Lydia. And I feel like I’m a fog some days. Goals are a touchstone to keep us centered.
That taking a road trip and only being able to see the distance of your headlights is something to think about. Of course, the journey in fog is kind of claustrophobic. Make sure you pack a lot of snacks and games.
BTW a penny (pre-1980) is worth about 7 cents. Think about that!
🙂
That story about taking a road trip and only seeing as far as your headlights is something to think about. Kind of claustrophobic. Make sure you pack a lot of snacks and games.
🙂
BTW, a pre-1987 penny is worth about 7 cents. Also something to think about.
Hi Jamie,
I think I’ve finally figured out the whole new years resolution thing. You see, unfortunately my brother is right…were not going to change, I mean not really, really change. For most people New years resolutions break down like this. we either want to stop doing something we shouldn’t have ever started, or, we desperatley want to start something we really should be doing.
Every year I play the game …and every year I lose. Until now.
You see, this year I’ve tweaked the system. In fact, I’ve made two resolutions, and so far it’s a %100 success. I have resolved to stop something I never started and to start something I’m already doing. So, as of Jan. 1 I’ve drawn a hard line:
No more space travel…and, I’m going to start wearing clothes. Bingo! Problem solved. Give it a try. I can tell you it really takes the pressure off!
Blessings,
Jim
hmm. let me get this. No more super-modeling in Fiji, I’m going to start brushing my nose hair. That’s perfect. Thanks bro.
7 cents….good grief. My children will now start examining every penny they find.
Oh my goodness…you have a tortoise? That is the coolest thing!! And I love your line about her…”before you know it, she’s clawing at the door”. Sounds like a lot of us. 🙂
I do pretty well at setting goals, if I remember to make them reachable!
I’m certain I never said any such thing.
I’d prefer to call them “goals” as well. And I don’t care if I never accomplish them, or if I’m hardwired to be just as ADD as Dory, I’m still going to try. After all, even Dory says:
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”
I think you’re on the right track and I’m right there with you!
I can make a goal or two at a time. Anymore than that and I A.D.D. big time.
I just love that you have a tortoise named Cinderella.
I haven’t set any goals, because I know in my heart what I need to do.
Trust my path.
Sounds so simple, and can be so difficult.
Happy New Year!
Wait? That’s from your phone? I need to get serious with my camera phone.
Yes, I set goals. And it’s funny, because I am a serious NY Resolutioner, and my husband is talking about sitting down to do it this weekend 🙂
Yes Angela – that was with my phone. But I played with it afterwards on my Mac iPhone picture thingy. And do your goals with husband. We write them down and read them at the end of the year. Good luck.
Absolutely stunning photo, friend!
And yes, I do set goals and they do work but only if I’m committed! Vicious cycle, yes?
A lovely read, as always!
[…] to my husband’s view and honestly contrary to my […]
While setting goals may not always work, they at least point me in the right direction…
Goals have to be specific and reasonable…but even then, it’s the pursuit of positive change that matters most.
The pursuit of positive change. I love that thought Kathleen.
I do set goals, I make them achievable and don’t beat myself up when I’m human and get off track.
I set goals (I don’t call them resolutions, either). I started keeping them to myself when my husband had said too many times to count, I don’t want to hear you talk about it; just do it. That’d be all year long. Why let January make us so damned crazed about it? I have things I want to do, do better, start doing. And I will. I just have to focus like Cinderella, be determined, and know that it’s needed. Once I convince myself it’s a necessary change or thing to do, I’m usually good. Like yoga. It makes me feel good. I want to feel good more often. So I stick to it. I fall off, but I get back up. Much luck to you in all that you attempt this year and beyond.