Happy New Year - we all have work to do in 2009.

Happy New Year!

Earlier this week I wrote about popular New Year’s or better yet, “New You” resolutions and promised I would share mine…
My resolution has not made the popular list…
Most of my days, the word balance is related to core strength and stability, not today though. My “New You” Resolution for 2009 is  - I will commit myself to a life style with BALANCE!

Balance has several meanings, just check Wikipedia, the two definitions that I like are the metaphysical and the balance ability in bio-mechanics.

In the metaphysical or conceptual sense, balance is used to mean a point between two opposite forces that is desirable over purely one state or the other, such as a balance between the metaphysical Law and Chaos — law by itself being overly controlling, chaos being overly unmanageable, balance being the point that minimizes the negatives of both.

In biomechanics, balance is an ability to maintain the center of gravity of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway.

Just like you, in the past I have had other resolutions, get back in shape, eat better, learn something new, and so on.  So this year I decided that 2009 will be the year that I will bring my life into a more balanced state.  Now this may seem unclear to a lot of people, but for any one who knows me I tend to jump right into whatever my heart is attached to at that moment without a second thought.  I leap toward a new challenge with my entire body, mind and spirit. While this can be a great at times, I know that if I set my mind to something, it can and will happen.  While other times this dedication is not always so great, because as my life is consumed by one area, other areas can suffer.

This year ahead, 2009, will be the year that I find balance, I am Tricia, a women, a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a granddaughter, a friend, a volunteer, a personal trainer and nutritionist and more. I am so blessed that I have the opportunity to be all of the people I have listed, and I want to continue to work toward doing all of them the best way I know how.  I have also made a plan…

1. Reduce the Chaos - take a look at all my daily functions and find the most important and go from there leaving out the not so important items.  Sort of like the “Rocks in the Bucket” story about time management.

Start with a bucket, some big rocks enough to fill it, some small stones, some sand and water.Put the big rocks in the bucket - is it full?Put the small stones in around the big rocks - is it full?Put the sand in and give it a shake - is it full?Put the water in. Now it’s full.
The point is: unless you put the big rocks in first, you won’t get them in at all.

In other words: Plan time-slots for your big issues before anything else, or the inevitable sand and water issues will fill up your days and you won’t fit the big issues in (a big issue doesn’t necessarily have to be a work task - it could be your child’s sports-day, or a holiday).

2.  “This or That” - It is not likely that I will be able to keep my head above water if I continue to add new things without removing a few.  Every ‘no’ is a ‘yes’ to something else, and ‘yes’ is a ‘no’ to something else.  Choose wisely.

3. Delegate - this is done in big business everyday, why not try it at home.  I will find help where I can to free up time to do other things.

4. Let go of the perfectionism, do good enough.  While this is not always possible, it is often adequate to not go overboard, after all we can not all be Martha Stewart.

5. Live for today, with tomorrow in mind.  Be flexible and make your best choice.

6. Stay organized - I am actually pretty good here.  I love lists, we have a family calendar, homework calendars and a weekly dinner schedule to keep track of a few vital family functions and events. I think it is time to bring back the weekly family meetings.

7. Play, take a break and have FUN!  Sometimes I get all wrapped up in the business of being an adult and it would be great to stop and have fun.

So I have let you all in on what I will be up to in 2009, keep me posted on your progress.
Let us all have a GREAT 2009!