Taking Care of Business

I hate resolutions, yet each year, I line myself up with the rest of the sheep and sign up for some lofty unattainable goal. Really, all I’m resolving myself to do it make me feel bad because I fail. This year, I did make a resolution, but I decided to keep it vague enough that I couldn’t outright fail, but could also use it as an excuse to get massages. Any resolution that involves massages is okay with me.

So I decided that my resolution for this year would be to take better care. Just in general. Of myself, my car, my pets, my house, my relationships...I tend to get lazy and just let stuff go. Like my car, for example. The engine has been stuttering for over a year. I took it in for an oil change in September and they couldn’t figure out why it was doing it in the time allotted. They said to bring it back when I had more time and they’d get it fixed up. I went back Monday. I finally, finally got it fixed. It was just a hassle and I was too lazy to take good care of my car.

So I’ve been trying to brainstorm different fun and productive things I can do to meet my resolution. I’ve already had the car fixed (although now the newly turned rotors and new brake pads are making a ruckus.) I plan to make myself wash it once a month, clean it out once a week, and I’m going to replace the broken wheel covers so it doesn’t look so tacky.

For my pets, I bought them new beds and feeding bowls at Christmastime. I’m going to get my cats a water fountain so they always have fresh water. I’m going to try to walk my dogs more since they’re not as free to roam as they should be. I’m also resolved to fix my fence so they can spend more time outside without escaping.

For my house, I’ve put together a cleaning schedule that I can hopefully stick to. It’s just a little each night to keep the house neat, not spotless. I’m considering paying my mom to help me do a “big clean” once a month. Better than paying someone else and she could use it.

For my relationship, I’ve started with the dirt bike purchase. It’s such a large part of DB’s life that I’m completely uninvolved in, so I’m taking the step because it’s important to him. Going camping for a weekend and riding is something we could do together that doesn’t involve us sitting on the couch or computer not talking to one another.

For my writing, I’m going to finish putting my office together so I can actually get some work done in there. I hate to quantify, but I’d like to focus on some consistency in my work. Its an issue for me. I think establishing my workspace is a good place to start.

Then there’s for me. Barbara inspired me to sign back up for my online Weight Watchers program. I’d like to lose weight, but really, putting a stop to the gaining and eating better foods is the real goal. I’ve started packing my lunch each day so I don’t end up with drive thru junk. I’ve also started mass cooking on the weekends so I have easily prepared dinners and lunches available for both DB and I that are healthier. Taco Bell is far too close and too easy.

I might do better on WW this time if I actually exercised, so I’m working on that too. As PC mentioned, we signed up for some yoga classes. I thoroughly tweaked my shoulder, but it’s once a week, so hopefully I’ll be healed up by the time we try it again. I do like yoga as a whole, but some of those poses are just torture. Pity I can’t earn activity points just for the meditating portion. We’re going to branch out and see what other kinds of classes we can take. There may be some bellydancing or water aerobics in our futures. She threatened me with ballet. Not sure that will fly, but I’m open. Of course, I still have my Curves membership, so I thought I might show up, maybe once a week there, at least. There’s one near my house. No excuse. And I try to walk a time or two a week with Maven LJ. If I could do all that, maybe walk my dogs and do the occasional Sweating to the Oldies Tape, I’d be in good shape in terms of caring for my body.

For my mind I’m planning to reward myself with therapeutic massage. I’m putting together a goal sheet with different rewards that include pamper me treats like mani-pedis, massages, facials, etc. I’m also looking into detox programs, accupuncture and doing more meditation, outside of yoga, to deal with some of my stress.

Wonder how such a simple resolution could turn into such a big hoopla? Well, I’ll probably do better than I would if I said I wanted to lose 30 pounds or something. We’ll see. I’ve resolved to treat myself better this year. Are any of you resolving to do something for yourself in 2008?

SP