I was inspired by
this blog, where the author asked her readers what they intended to STOP DOING in 2010. We place so much importance and weight on our New Year's resolutions, what about the things we're resolving to NOT DO anymore? Here's my list:
The Stop Doing List
I will stop...
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...Feeling guilty about a messy house. I don't need the guilt. I live with an almost two-year old who is full of life and energy. When he's not using that energy to inspect and explore every square inch of our home, he's using his energy to splash in the bathtub, throw a tantrum, make me laugh or RUN. More important than vacuum lines in the carpet is the amount of myself I'm able to give to him.
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...Fighting to keep the laptop open. Henry sends me a loud and clear message when he yells "NO!" and runs full-charge to slam my laptop. He needs me then. I don't need Facebook as much as he needs my attention in that moment. Just surrender already.
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...Letting my commitments interrupt what could be a more relaxed day. Yes, every day is chock full of things I've committed to. Be there at 9:30am, be somewhere else at 1pm. If following through with those commitments is making me unhappy, stressed-out and anxious, it's not worth it that day. There's always tomorrow.
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...Believing that my weight says something about me as a person. It doesn't. It's me on the outside, it's not me on the inside. Enough all-freaking-ready.
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...Waiting for people to offer to watch Henry so Ben and I can have a date. I have a phone, and it wouldn't kill me to actually ask every now and then. Dates are important, and it's just as important that Henry is around nice people often so he learns that the world is full of nice people who want to play with him.
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...Trying to decide the future today. I'm tired of feeling that all major life decisions in my future must be decided and written down in permanent ink today. I don't want to keep up this pressure to figure it all out right away. I will learn to answer myself, "I don't know. I'll figure that out later."
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...Being hard on myself for eating fast food once in a while. I'm a busy mom who tries her hardest to get healthy food on her family's table. If I decide to run to Dick's because I'm in the area for a shoot and can't resist, oh well. There are worse things I could be doing.
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...Playing the compare game. We're all doing our best, right? Well, maybe not all of us. But what good does it do for me to compare where I am, and how I'm living with other people? If it's good enough for me and my family, that's all that really matters.
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...Wearing so little pink. No color makes me happier or makes me feel more feminine. In high school I wore it every single day. (Seriously.) Maybe I'll trade some of my black clothes for a brilliant pop of bubblegum pink.
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...Sacrificing a shower or washing my face so I can be places on time. I'm almost never late. I don't take long showers. Feeling clean and refreshed is important to my sense of self-worth and confidence. The answer here is simple.
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...Texting while I drive. It can wait.
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...Scheduling photo shoots on both weekend days. The weekend is the only opportunity we get to be together as a family for more than a few hours. Spending that time with Ben and Henry is as important as my job. There can be balance, and I intend to find it.
