New Years

With New Years around the corner, I think I should start getting my New Years Resolutions together! Not only compile the list, but make a plan to carry them out. That always seems to be my downfall. I've been giving a lot of thought to it recently more so than I have in years prior. Many things I've noticed about myself that I'd like to alter or just things that would make me happier - help me reach the ideal person I'd like to be. So far my list is short, but dense. Hopefully with the proper execution and support I can reach these goals and complete a New Years Resolution for the very first time :-)

1. Get fit

2. Eat healthier

3. Give my all to my schoolwork

4. Make sure people know when I appreciate them

5. Build a better relationship with my parents

6. Spend more time with my brother

So far, so good! For the past year and a half I must admit that I have put on some weight. Not to the point that I am overweight - to be honest I'm probably the expected weight for my height. Unfortunately, the expected weight is distributed in the wrong places. With a new semester starting up, my class times and work shifts are being moved around. Luckily, my classes don't start until either 11AM, 2PM, or 330PM. This leaves me with a lot of time in the morning to either work or take care of anything else I'd need to. I've worked out a schedule to go to the gym every other day during the week, three times a week for an hour. Along with that I've picked up a few work out materials to do at home either in the morning or before bed to really keep myself going. My new diet should also help me along. 

I've decided to go on a "no-carb" diet. I'll eat as few carbs as possible. I'll cut out bread - so no bagels, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, pastries, pizza, anything with dough. That's a lot already, but also no pasta! Which is something I make a lot on a limited budget and limited time. I'm focusing on fresh fruit, veggies, a lot of salad, chicken, yogurt, all of that healthy stuff! And it's not that I don't eat that stuff now, it just isn't balanced enough. My mom ended up doing this a month or so ago and she dropped fifteen pounds in the first week! My goal isn't really to lose weight to be a twig, but just to keep it in check. Being under five feet and being muscular to begin with is almost setting me up to gain weight faster than others, so watching out for it and keeping it in check and keeping myself healthy is my goal!

Schoolwork. I've always struggled with keeping up and consistently doing my best. It's very simple though. This past semester I ended up with a 3.6 GPA - all A's and one B. I wouldn't say that's terrible at all, it's the best report card I've gotten since elementary school most likely. Ugh, that sounds awful! My goal is to continue on this path and do well. Now that I'm in a major I love and I find interesting I can apply myself. I'll keep it up!

I appreciate others more than I let on. I don't really do it on purpose either, not showing my gratitude as often as it happens. I am very gracious for everything anyone does for me, even if it is something so small like letting me borrow their notes for a class. Whenever anyone does something for me I am overflowing with gratitude even if all I say is a quick, "Thanks". Well, I'm realizing that isn't enough for me to feel expressive about how I feel. I plan on even being overly thankful to people, it'll make sure they know how grateful I really am. Hopefully I'll get a lot of smiles :-)

Ahhhh, my parents. A lot has happened throughout my life that has shaped the way I interact with my parents. As I get older my relationships with them have changed and grown in some ways, but become more conflicted in others. I suppose every person in college goes through this as they mature and become more independent. I really want to focus on enjoying my time with them and doing more with them when I am home. My parents do work a lot and my dad has my younger brother to focus on as well. Both of them are relationships as well, so they do have a lot going on. I hope that I can really make an effort to be with them more than I am now. It's important to me.

My little brother Ethan will be six years old on New Years day! Since he lives with his mother in NH, I'm only home now and then, and my dad lives in NH it has become harder to see him. I haven't seen him in a month now, which isn't that long of a stretch, but this summer I only saw him a handful of times and I was home for four months! I get really upset about it sometimes, but I never let on to my dad. This year I am going to ask more often to see him and really spend a lot of time with him so he knows who I am and we can get to know each other better. 

Phew! That was a lot. This list will go into action the second the ball drops. Here's to a New Year! 2012 should be a good one :-)

Silent Night

Life is hard to figure out. You can make all the wrong decisions and all the right decisions. There will be times when you're cruel and selfish - there will be times when you're kind and giving. At times you will hate yourself and at times you will love yourself more than those around you. If you haven't done all of these things then you haven't even begun to live. Allow your actions to speak just as loud as your words and be the best person you can be. You're never alone and the journey is never over. Learn something about yourself every day, whether it be bad or good. Love everyone. Each day is the beginning of something extraordinary - you just have to make it extra ordinary.

Holly Jolly Christmas

All I can do is sigh. I haven't been on this thing in over a month now! Maybe I should add "keep up to date with my blog" to my list of New Year's resolutions. That's a thought, huh? I can't kid myself. I'll have to accept that my blog entries are sporadic. Life always gets in the way. It's either work, school, or friends. I'm going mad! In the best way possible :-)

Christmas has come and gone in a flash! The holiday was wonderful. My mother and grandmother always seem to bump heads when it comes to how to run a household and keep up with house work. No matter the occasion they find a way to exchange sarcastic comments. It never puts a serious damper on the holidays - they're always saved by a great meal! We can't help but continuously chew therefore we can't talk to one another. My father, his girlfriend Pam, and her granddaughter Monique came down as well for a few hours. We opened up presents at around 2PM. My mom sang in her church choir that morning, so the day started a little late. Then we all sat down to a great dinner. 

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My family hasn't necessarily carried out traditions over the years. I suppose more so they're not as prominent because I'm becoming an adult and I no longer run down the stairs at 8AM to a mountain of presents - everything is a lot more laid back. Being with my family, no matter how crazy and loud they are, is a blessing. Even if I have trouble enjoying the feuds after the day is over and everything has settled I can sit back, laugh, and appreciate all the good out of the day. And there is always plenty of it! The best part of the day was watching my mom and grandmother's eyes bug out of their heads when they saw the pictures I had taken of all the Christmas decorations. Watching my mom open her Peanuts presents was priceless as well! Love and family are all that is important, whether the holiday's go as planned or not. They will always be there. Happy Holidays and a promising New Year to all!

A

PS. This will probably be the seventeenth time I've said this, but this year I will do my best to keep up with this blog for myself! It's therapeutic. Sometimes it's nice to just have a release.