Happy New Year, 2011!

I was never so happy to say goodbye to 2010. It's weird how you need something tangible like new numbers at the end of the year to feel like you can really let go of the past and forge a little stronger and more clear minded into the future. Last year was just plain sucky. John's company closed in March, the economy seemed gloom and doom, and it felt like a series of broken appliances and car parts had come to plague our home. There were blessings, of course. I was offered a great full time job at my college, the kids are all growing strong and healthy, and for the first time in years, John has been able to spend a lot more quality time with our children (I hope this would also go onto his "blessings" list).
Still, it was a year that I wanted to put behind me. In many ways, I haven't handled the transition from part time worker/full time mom as graciously as my husband has handled sliding overnight into the role of carpool driver, after school parent and meal planner. It has been confusing to me and disorienting to let go of some of the "responsibilities" I felt belonged to me, namely taking children to the doctor, being home with them after school, taking them sledding on a snow day. I muddled along at work feeling a little grouchy that I was in the office so much and resenting the big shift from part time worker to full time faculty. So entering a new year for me is about changing my attitude. I am usually not one for new year's resolutions because I tend to fail miserably at them, but here are a few I intend to start and keep:

1. Write everyday. It may be on the back of a napkin or while I'm waiting for a kid at gymnastics, but I want to daily get my thoughts and ideas on paper. Who knows, it might just turn into something.
2. Be on time. Okay, stop laughing. This involves better planning, so maybe my resolution should really be about planning, but I hope the end result is that I arrive on time more often and get my children to their destinations on time.
3. Move every day. Could be running or walking or maybe just taking all 7 flights of stairs from the parking garage to my office. It beats medication by a long shot.
4. Be less critical, be more thankful. Less critical of my co-workers, my husband, my children, and most importantly, myself. More thankful of my gifts: good health, beautiful children, a loving husband, a charming old home, and plenty of fabulous books to read.

So Happy New Year to all my readers (all three of you!). I plan to keep you better posted in 2011, on time, and with plenty of thankfulness.