Thursday, January 1, 2015

Resolutions & Revolution

Looking back over the past year, 2014 was good to my little family. We celebrated our son's first full year of life and our first year as parents, bought and renovated a home, and shared much love and laughter. My heart spills over with gratitude.

I don't know what life will bring us in 2015. But I do know that I have a growing list of important things that have been neglected over the busyness of the past year, and what better time than a fresh, new year to write down the list and get started?

1. Start and keep up with a blog (I'm halfway there!)
This is something I've been talking about for a long time. And out of fear, that was all I did: talk about it. Worried that I wouldn't have the right words or enough wisdom, I kept putting it off. But I crave a space where I can be honest about where I am now in life, no matter how messy and imperfect. Thanks to the encouragement of many amazing people in my life, I'm going for it.

2. Become a part of our church
Over the past two years our church attendance has been spotty at best. Between nap times and illnesses, traveling and home renovations, we've had no shortage of excuses to stay home and drink coffee on the couch. The honest truth is that starting at a new church can be awkward and uncomfortable, and watching Good Morning America in stretchy pants is not. But we've felt the loss of worship and fellowship in a big way, and we need to hang up the excuses.

3. Break up with my iPhone
Without a doubt, I spend more time looking at my phone than looking at my husband's face. I have it on good authority that this is not okay. My phone is almost always within my reach, rarely does an entire hour go by without me refreshing my Instagram feed, and I fall asleep every night only after scrolling through Facebook and Twitter for an embarassingly long time. While I'm thankful for the connection it can provide to the people I love, it has become an unhealthy habit. I'm missing out on sweet moments and sweet slumber, and it's time for some separation.

4. Be active
Confession: I'm a couch potato. If given the opportunity, I could happily waste away an entire weekend watching a Karsdashians marathon. My favorite weeknight activity is to curl up on the couch next to my husband with a full DVR and some cookies hot out of the oven. Unfortunately for me, being a couch potato doesn't lend itself to a long, healthy life filled with energy and good moods. So I'm determined to be more active, to toss in a pilates DVD now and then, and to leave the house at least once a week with the intention of sweating.

5. Read
Reading is the primary way that I learn and grow now that I'm no longer in school, and something that I love to do but rarely make time for. My goal for the next year is to read at least one book each month, and to (maybe) cut back on the Kardashians.

6. Practice honesty
As a die-hard people pleaser, this one is tough for me. I like to tell people what they want to hear, and I want them to like me for it. But I'm going to start saying more things because I mean them and they are true, and try to let go of the fear of what will happen if not everyone approves.

7. Foster creativity: learn to cook & start a garden
On any given weeknight I'm busy in the kitchen whipping up some pasta or chicken, but I want to really learn to cook. To understand ingredients and how they work together, and how to properly chop an onion and sear a steak. Along with that, in the spring I'd love to start my own garden now that we have a backyard. Even if everything is dead by May, I'm going to give it my best shot.

8. Spend time with Jesus
Last, but far from least. It's hard to admit that that this is not something that is part of my daily life right now, but it's not. As far back as I can remember, I go through seasons of spending time in the Word and praying, when my faith grows and my heart is changed, and seasons where I fall away from it and become stagnant. I believe that this is true for many Christians, and that there is grace for those seasons, but I also know how much I miss out on when I'm not pressing in and seeking God.

It's easier to continue letting these things slide, to float along in life without intention or purpose. But I don't want a life that's easy and boring. Few things bring more fulfillment than seeing the results that hard work can bring, and I'm ready to dig in and work hard for a life that is full and worth living. I'll let you know how it goes!

Sincerely,
Sarah