Resolutions. Most of us make them. We just can't help ourselves. Who am I to judge? I've broken many more than I've ever managed to keep.... but there's something about the start of a brand new year that just says "Try again! Maybe THIS will be your year!" And, as the eternal optimist, (although the older I get, the less I feel like one...) I establish some goals for myself, hoping that at least some of them will be met. (I'm not foolish enough to think that I will actually accomplish ALL of them, after all.) Anyway, since the dawn of 2011 is quickly approaching, there's no time like the present!
Before getting to my goals, a little update. Much has happened since the last time I posted. Arthur has been working since October, having been hired by Parker-Nichols as a direct hire through Bonney Staffing. It was such a relief for him to find a full time job! On the down side, he works nights (11-7) with mandatory 6 days per week, so that has posed some challenges in our schedule (and his sleep!), but hopefully within the next few months he will be able to make the switch to first shift. It seems to be a good company to work for, and on the positive side, it is a large enough company that he can take vacations when he wants to, rather than being the low man on the totem pole and waiting for everyone else to choose their weeks before he can. Maybe this year we can actually take a couple of days during April vacation and do something as a family, which would be great. :)
Football season was very successful in the Gaudreau household! AJ's middle school team (combined Memorial and Mahoney Middle Schools) just missed being in the gold championship bracket, but managed to win the silver bracket championship. They had a super season, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them play together at SPHS next year. Arthur's team (which Benjamin was on) had an excellent record and much success as well. They lost in the first game of the Harvest Bowl, but it was to a team that was undefeated and only gave up 14 points all season (7 of them to Benjamin's team), so they had reason to be very proud of themselves.
It's hard to believe that AJ will be in HS next year.... OMG. We got his class recommendations a few weeks ago and will be meeting at the high school in early January to sign him up for classes... yikes! He joined the gym with me recently too, so I've got a partner to work out with. He is using the gym to prepare for lacrosse season this spring.
Middle school has started off well for Noah... he is finding his way with support from us and his teachers. He loves the switching of classes and is very involved in Builder's Club (community service group) and the band. For this second half of the year, he has joined the Chorus as well.
Benjamin is the last one in elementary school, and of course is very independent. He loves school and can't wait to get there. He is having a great year so far and is looking forward to playing lacrosse in the spring.
Christmas was great (and not over yet... still have a Dean family celebration on January 8th) but as usual went by much too quickly considering the amount of time that we spend preparing for it! Vacation has gone quickly as well, so here I am on Friday with a to-do list that's almost as long as it was at the start of vacation.... *sigh*.
Getting back to my original plan, which was to establish some goals... yeah, I'm a bit scatterbrained lol! This is why I tend to start a lot of projects and don't necessarily finish them... ya think??! I received an email from Spark People's Healthy Reflections today that I think is worth sharing. It started, as usual, with a quote:
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"Something we were withholding made us weak, until we found it was ourselves." ~ Robert Frost
Here are the thoughts that followed:
Imagine someone regularly tying small weights around your ankles as you try to climb a mountain. Doesn't sound fair, does it? But that's exactly what you can do to yourself, a little bit at a time, if you don't watch out. When you think of who and what is standing in the way of your dreams, it's easy to forget your own responsibility. Even the best of us can be guilty of unknowingly hurting our own progress. Procrastination, lateness, being disorganized, pessimism, not being honest with yourself, severe self-criticism, downplaying achievements, focusing only on weaknesses while ignoring strengths, keeping goals a secret, demanding perfection, giving up after a small setback--these are all ways you can make it tough to be (and do) your best. Smart systems, the right attitude, and a promise to keep going no matter what will make a world of difference. How true is this?? Such great thoughts. I sabotage myself all the time, and expect myself to be without fault, when that is an impossible task. In 2011, I need to forgive myself for past mistakes and be as patient with myself as I try to be with others. I need to own the fact that I am where I am at because I put myself here. I can't blame anyone or any circumstance for my choices, and I am the one that has to deal with the consequences of those choices. Not all of them are easy to deal with, but there's no way around them. I'm going to start my own Happiness Project tomorrow, even though I haven't completed worked out all of the details. I'm going to try my best to live in the moment. I am going to look for the good in my life and appreciate it, while attempting to change that needs changing. I hope that a year from now I will be able to look back at 2011 and be satisfied with my accomplishments. What have I got to lose? The year is going to happen anyway, right? :) Happy New Year!
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