two oh one one.

Believe me, I recognize how cliche it is that I'm finally writing again during the first week of January.  


Disclaimer:  This is NOT due to a lame New Year's resolution.


However, I am coincidentally back to blogging thanks to the mister.  It's actually amazing how torturous it can be to go months without wi-fi.  Yes....I realize how nerdy that sounds.
So, in order to embrace the cliche....let's talk resolutions.


As I've said before, I'm not one to make resolutions just because it's the start of a new year.  I am, however, a goal setter.  My goals for this year?  Well, besides the ever so popular "workout until my eyes bleed & swear off all solid foods until I lose 452 lbs" resolution, I have a few more attainable goals.


Uno.  
Read more books.  -- I actually love to read.  Unfortunately, there is a part of me that never makes time to sit down and enjoy a good book.  Shameful, I know.  I have a stack next my bed just waiting to be read...and I will do just that. 
Dos.
Improve my guitar chops. -- Yeah, I've been playing around for years.  I think it's about time that improve on my theory and all-around skills.  Actually, I started my first official "lesson" yesterday.  This time next year I will be wielding the skills comparable to Rodrigo y Gabriela.  Not sure how good that is?  Check them out here.
Tres.
Become a "super cleaning fairy." -- Yes, I am OCD.  Although I enjoy organizing and keeping my house clean, I want to create a schedule for my "chores" and stick with it.  I see it more as time management.  How exciting.


I usually just stick to three goals each year.  Seems realistic & attainable. We'll just have to wait and see how it all works out.   I will, however, be sure to blog my little heart out as long as I have wi-fi here in the Dodd house.  


Here's to 2011! :]

resolve.

 
"Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve." - Benjamin Franklin

January 1st.

Just twenty days ago, hundreds of thousands of people proclaimed their annual new year's resolutions. Some stood determined to lose that extra weight. The double-chin. The flabby arms. The love handles.

Others vowed to hit the gym every day and to stay in shape. Visions of treadmills and stationary bicycles danced in their heads.

Some just desired to be more organized. Tired of being affectionately known as the family "pack rat."

Twenty days ago. 480 hours.

Unfortunately, the majority of those potentially life-changing resolutions are now but a memory to some. Making a new year's resolution became nothing more than a tradition. Something expected of us, but inconsequential if broken.

Paul wrote in Romans 7:15: "...for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate, that I do." (KJV)

I like the way The Message words it by saying, " What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise."

So many times I have heard others reference this passage, not necessarily to make sin exusable, but to defend their weakness or maybe lighten their responsibility to lead an overcoming life.

If they would simply continue in their reading to Chapter 8, they would find in verse 9 that we "are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you."

One cannot simply cling to the fleshly weakness of Chapter 7 and claim to be of the Spirit described in Chapter 8.

Society has made it so excusable to be wishy-washy. "Promises are made to be broken..." or at least that's what we're told. It's perfectly acceptable to be as vague as possible so as not to ruffle anyone's feathers. We have to be politically correct, you know. (sarcasm intended.)

Joshua 24:15 says, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve."

Jesus said in Luke 16:13, "No [one] can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other."

Who or what are you serving? What direction are you headed?

What have you resolved to do?

This is not a time for cowards. Nor is it a time for fence riders.

We must resolve to do that which is good and right, and then do it.

Resolve to have resolve.

I confess...

...I have become the queen of good intentions and the princess of empty promises.

I began my wonderful little blogspot here with the statement, "I am going to blog my little heart out. Oh! The things that I will write!"

Where has this gotten me? Sitting here staring at an empty blog. How embarrassing to know that I have to resort to inspiring myself through a so-called "New Year's Resolution."

Now, I'm not one to follow along with the whole "New Year's Resolution" tradition.....it's stupid to me. However I do believe in setting goals. Which is what I am doing this year.

1. ORGANIZE my home to the extreme!

I want people to to be fearful when they see how perfectly clean and organized my house is.

2. Crack down on the D-word.

Yes, diet. I've done well, but have slacked off majorly since November. Holidays out, exercise in.

3. Write.

I enjoy it so much, but why don't I ever take time to do it? Issue resolved. Take the time.

I could ramble on and on about everything I NEED to do.....but let's be realistic and just shoot for three.

Ok....so I am by no means a professional blogger, but why do I get jealous of people who can rattle off about bad celebrity fashion, thoughts on politics, and the happenings of Elmo? No clue.

It's not exactly that they are famous, or make a lot of money.....I think it's because I know that people check in just about every day to see what they're going to spout off next. Being a writer, I suppose that I feel challenged to compete with that. Unfortunately, I come to the battle completely unarmed.

Why am I telling you all of this? Probably to excuse myself from the pressure of wanting everyone to enjoy every tiny little word that I type here. Does it excuse me? Not one bit. The perfectionist in me will analyze everything typed, wondering if anyone will even show the slightest smile while reading it. Who knows why I torture myself over something that has little or no importance when thinking of the "big picture."

So, one down and many more to go.....

We'll see how this thing unfolds.