I just did some toy shopping. I ordered a big plush version of Dory from Finding Nemo.
And I bought it for myself. (And maybe, just maybe, I will let my two toddler friends play with it if they promise to be really, really careful.) Let me tell you why I had the sudden need to have a giant stuffed fish on my desk.
Last year, I made a huge list of all the things I wanted to get accomplished in 2010. And you know what? There weren’t a lot of checkmarks.
I started to get really depressed around June. Why wasn’t I getting things done? Why was I working so hard and I wasn’t getting the checkmarks I wanted – ney! – deserved?!?
Until I realized, even though I wasn’t getting the list done, I was getting other things done. God was taking me in new and unexpected directions – it wasn’t what I’d planned on, it was better.
I love how Dory just keeps telling herself, “Just keep swimming”. Don’t get distracted.
That’s my resolution for the year – to just keep swimming. Even if I’m not heading in the direction I though, I need to keep swimming.
So Dory and I are going to be doing 2011 together. I have some things I want to get accomplished (we already made our first Goodwill and dump runs this year – talk about a cleansing ritual…) but I am also going to just keep moving – not get bogged down when things don’t go the way I want them to. I’m going to keep learning, keep seeking God, and keep discovering His plan for me.
So tell me – what is your 2011 resolution this year?
Kathi,
Defintely loved you new years resolution and one to abide by, mine is a bit longer.
To love more, to be less critical of myself and others.
Learn to serve the Lord better, because he is the only way to live
Learn to take his decisions with grace and not like a child( this is going to be hard!!!)
Learn to more stamping and cricut technques so that I can do more crafts!
Make a home wherever the good Lord tells us to go!
I have lots of New Years resolutions this year (not in order of importance):
Take my dog out for runs (did it Sat but have been too sore to go again but promise to soon)
Play with my dog more often
Work out more
Play with my kids more often
Cook dinner more often (did it Mon-unfortunately dishwasher broke down)
Put solar panels on my house
Buy a car that uses less gas
I switched from ‘resolutions’ to ‘goals’ several years ago and it’s a much friendlier way to go, for me.
I just heard about ‘themes for the year’ last week and like that idea, a lot.
My theme for 2011 – declutter through downsizing.
I still write goals and review them. I love to put a big check mark through them when accomplished, but I no longer have a stick chasing me to ‘get it done before the end of the year’. Some goals move forward year to year and some goals are dropped as life takes on new directions. Resolutions were stressful and depressing. I’m happy to have buried them.
I just LOVE this Kathi…Dory and I…well…we are tight! I have the same “problem” or is it a blessing? The older I get the less and less I try to make my own plans and the more and more I just try to go where He leads me. Do I have lists? You betcha! Do I like to check them off? Oh my YES! But…I’m learning (slowly) that it’s ok, to let it go and go forward where He takes me.
I don’t do resolutions any longer, but just yesterday I spent a lot of time pondering this “One Word” theme idea and prayed through a long list of “words” and settled on what I believe this year is all about…SURRENDER! My life, my calendar, my agenda, my plans, all of me. It’s not going to be easy, especially for a Dory girl like myself, but I am going to “keep swimming” and see what’s next!
I can not wait to catch up in October in Ft. Lauderdale…hopefully we can chat wayyyyyyy before then!
Have a super fantastic day!
~ Melissa 🙂
Thanks for sharing. My word for this year is “give”. So my goal is to give encouragement through words and actions. 2011 is going to be a wonderful year!
Hey Kathi– loved this blog! it reminded me how I felt so many times with resolutions. I too wasn’t fulfilling those resolution check marks off as well as I thought I would.
The end of 2009 I read a blog from Dan Britton and what he said changed what I did in January. Instead of doing resolutions and deciding things I wanted to get accomplished or done that year I would ask God to give me a one word theme for the year. This word that is given to me by God is what He wants to see changed in my life. It was life changing. This last month I have been reflecting on 2010 as many of us do at this time of year and I saw how that word was at work. It was at work in so many other ways in my life throughout the year that at the time it was happening, I did not even see it was something God was working on with my word. I see it now and I am still reflecting and working on all the changes. My word was focus. I love how you have a visual reminder of your word, swimming– it’ll keep you focused at the tasks on hand 🙂 if your interested in a copy of the blog you got my e-mail sent me a note and I will attach a copy for you. May God Bless you and keep you swimming in 2011
Hahaha. Loved this post, Kathi. I hope your Goodwill run didn’t included six bags of new clothes from Macy’s!! 🙂
I hope to swim with you this year…paddling now.