2024 :: Resolutions Of Hope
Happy New Year! It’s time for resolutions!
I love planning for a new year. There are always new adventures, new music, shocking events that no one saw coming, and memories to make with your loved ones. As I grow older (physically, I think I’ll say 31 for a couple more years), I realize how short time really is and how fast life changes. If you told me I’d be in this exact position last year, I’d never believe it. But the awful things I’ve overcome give me a sense of pride I never thought I’d feel.
These are my resolutions:
- Let the people I love know I love them. I dropped the ball with this. After so much time passed, I got too embarrassed and prideful to pick up the phone to say, “I love you.” I have such wonderful family, friends, and little boys, they deserve to know how amazing they are. The old me would want to plan it out with an action matching each person’s love language, but I don’t think that’s absolutely necessary.
- Eat before 10pm and eat to live, not live to eat. The problem with having a job and living so close to grocery stores (and Canes), is that I eat what I want when I want. That’s not great. I need to prioritize vegetables, and then let everything else become secondary. I have to do a better job modeling healthy eating for my littles.
- Exercise my creativity more. It’s been months since I wrote a book. There’s so much to do creatively. I need to make sure I always have a project going on. I’m always happier when I’m actively creating, whether it’s painting, writing, or photographing.
- Read more books about subjects I’m passionate about. I love reading books about having happy and healthy families, astronomy, ancient architecture, and religious history. I’ve spent too much time this last year reading about celebrities and couples’ relationship issues. It didn’t make me a better person and it didn’t make me happy. But the 7 Habits of Effective Families did, as well as all sorts of religious history books. I need to focus on my happiness and if I never know who Anthony Mackie is dating, I’ll be okay.
- Work out to relieve stress. Honestly, except for a certain area, the rest of my life isn’t full of stress. Doing crunches and sit ups make me happy. Hopefully, in a few days, I’ll have abs. I need to add more exercises. I know my boys would love it if I get giant muscular, hulk arms but I’m not so sure about that for me.
- Learn new languages. I took Latin in school. I loved it but I think Spanish, Mandarin, and French. I think Spanish will really help me in life. I’ll be able to communicate better with people around me in Spanish. I love Mandarin because Jack’s PenPal for 4 years can write in Mandarin and English. I want to be able to do both as well. I want to learn French because my boys’ (and me) have a French surname and I’m sure when we leave Louisiana, they’ll expect us to know more than “Bonjour.” Can you imagine my little Jack LeBlanc out in the world? There are going to be so many expectations of him knowing French. My mom knows French but we don’t.
- Decorating my house. I have so many plans to decorate my house. I can’t wait. It’s going to be so different, so full of love. Also, now that my youngest is 4, I think he’s old enough not to eat house plants. I’m so excited!! (If anyone knows a muralist, let me know).
The bottom line is that this will be our year!! 2023 wasn’t the best but 2024 has to be better. I have plans/resolutions. But what I have the most is hope.
Happy New Year!
