New Year, New Me!!!!

Hello Friends!

OK, so maybe I should have written this last night, but what's a little procrastination among friends? :-)

At first I wasn't going to make any resolutions. I mean, I am kinda awesome. Do I really need improvement? Then I decided, YES! There is always room for more awesomeness. So what I am I going to do this year to improve myself? Am I brave enough to risk public failure and ridicule to announce my resolutions? Why not? It's not like anyone really sticks to resolutions anyway. So let's begin!

1. I will lose weight.
A bit boring I know. But I am plagued by excess weight and have been for most of my life. After examining my life the last few weeks (meaning drinking lots of wine), I have determined that this weight is an albatross around my neck, a proverbial noose. In my head I am a 5'8", 130#, curvy, red-head that wears 5" heels to grocery shop. But sadly, I am just a 5'1" with a weight will remain undisclosed. I am curvy though, albeit in all the wrong places. And I have managed to become a red-head thanks to L'Oreal. And I am a nurse by trade, so I stick to sneakers at work and flip-flops in my normal life. So I am determined to make my outside look more like my inside! Everyone that knows me has been blessed with my greatness. I obviously think I am magnificent, so why shouldn’t I be magnificent for all the world to see? So, I will make an honest effort to lose this weight! I haven’t figured out how yet, but I will keep you posted.

2. I will be more creative.
I have millions of ideas bouncing around my head…. Constantly. From writing ideas, to painting, sculpture (metal sculpture specifically), I even have taken a few guitar lessons the past few weeks. However, I am always short on time and think that if I don’t have time to finish a project, I just shouldn’t start it. So I am determined to carve out 20-30 minute blocks of time – everyday – and do something creative. Today, I am writing this blog. Tomorrow, maybe I’ll paint. The next day, I’ll practice my guitar. Who knows? As long as I’m creative, I’ll be happy. Creating something from nothing, from just an idea in my head, is simply…..magical! And everyone loves magic! So why shouldn’t I create – anything – and share it with the world! I refuse to let limited time deprive the world of my creations!

3. I will hug more.
I am a very affectionate person. I always have been. I love to kiss and hug. I was blessed to be born and raised in South Louisiana and being affectionate is just part of this culture. When I meet anyone in my family, we hug and kiss and no one thinks this is weird. However, since I have graduated from college and entered the working world, I have met people from different cultures and backgrounds. I have even befriended some. But being that affectionate can be looked down upon by others. Aunts and uncles, etc. still get the hug and smooch but I have noticed that I have gotten out of the habit of embracing my friends. So I have decided that I will hug and/or kiss (on the cheek, of course) anyone of significance in my life, as a way of showing how important they are to me. A simple resolution I should have no problem keeping.

4. I will watch less TV.
This one goes along with #2. I have been vegging out in front of the TV far too much lately. Adult Swim has become my favorite pastime. Pathetic. Just pathetic. So instead of watching TV to relax, I will read books!!!! J I’m still gonna watch my favorite shows, but only new episodes – no more Adult Swim, TV Land, or Lifetime for me!! Gone are the reruns of Family Guy, Seinfeld, King of the Hill, Everybody Loves Raymond, The King of Queens, and Will and Grace. I’ve loved you. You have made me laugh. You have made me cry. You have made me lazy! I continue loving you even though you have given me nothing new in years! I am breaking up with you. I have grown stagnant and need to grow. I need to express myself instead of ingesting 10 year old jokes. It’s not you, it’s me.

5. I will significantly decrease my soda intake.
I was gonna go cold turkey on this one. But HELLO, everyone needs an ice cold Diet Coke on a hot Louisiana day! So I will allow myself one soda a day. I could easily drink a case a day, so this is gonna be a tough one. But I will only allow myself a diet soda if I drink at least 8 glasses of water first.

OK. I think that’s enough. That’s five things to work on to improve myself. Wish me luck!! I also wish you nothing but luck on your journey of personal improvement.

Happy New Year!!

WTYL,

Jodie