Happy New Year!

With 2013 coming to an end I wish that I could say I am being thoughtful and reflective, carefully choosing those things I will fix/change in 2014 but I'm not.  Nope, I have never really believed in making a list of resolutions as they always seem to fall by the wayside come January 3rd.  Here's what an average resolution has looked like like for me in the past:

Me:  "Okay this year I am going to eat healthier."
Sickles McWiggins (my inner voice whose name constantly changes but for now that's what we'll call her): "Oh?  Healthy eating?  Good for you!  What else are you going to do?"
Me: "Daily scripture study!"
S.M.: "Excellent!  Make the body and the spirit healthy!"
Me: "Indeed!" a smile of pride bursting on my face.

*Day 1*
Me: "Healthy, healthy, healthy" looking for breakfast.
S.M.: "Oatmeal is healthy."
Me: "Not in the mood."
S.M.: "Eggs!  Good protein?"
Me: "Nah, I think a bowl of Frosted Flakes sounds about right."
S.M.: *audible slap to the forehead*  "Well did you at least do your scripture study?"
Me: "Yes I did!" slurping on my sugary cereal milk and a smaller smile of pride bursting on my face as I did accomplish one thing that day.

*Day 2*
Me: "Healthy, healthy, healthy" scrounging for a snack.
S.M.: "Almonds?  Almonds are healthy?"
Me: "What am I a squirrel?" reaching for the bag of M&Ms
S.M.: "Something is wrong with you."
Me: "Green is a vegetable."
S.M.: "Scriptures today?"
Me: "One or two verses, I did open them."  Almost discernible smile as I shove more green M&Ms in my mouth.

*Day 3*
Me: "Healthy...."
S.M.: "Really?  We're going to go through this ridiculous ruse again?"
Me: "Hey I resent that comment."
S.M.: "Oh shut up and feed me Doritos."
Me: "You read my mind."
S.M.: "I am your mind!  Hey how about those scriptures?"
Me: "Uh....  I sang Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes does that count?"
S.M.: "What??  How in the world would that count?"
Me: "The little kids at church sing it so it must be considered a hymn ergo it is scripture."
S.M.: *Huge sigh* "You know what let's just give this up and turn on some Walking Dead, you don't tell anyone and I won't tell anyone, deal?"
Me: "Deal!  I like you..."  turn on Netflix.

As you can see no matter my resolutions on Dec. 31 the idea of a list and a mental compilation of all that I should do never seem to do me much good.  There are lots of things that I could (and should) change but rather than create that list and inevitably fail I'll tell you what I will do and not fail at in 2014:

1.  Spend time with my daughter & be the best mother that I can be.
2.  Read more.
3.  Edit my writing.
4.  Sleep when given the opportunity.
5.  Nerd out whenever possible; the genre matters not (fantasy, sci-fi, superheroes, costumes).
6. Be true to myself.

S.M. and I just had a chat and that list seems to be one we can both agree upon. So there you have it!   I hope that whether you are a resolution maker or not you are able to find those things that will bring you joy and fulfillment in 2014.  May your year be blessed.  Happy New Year!!