Resolving to remember my gratitude

And so this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, a new one just begun.

 Although Christmas is behind us, John Lennon’s lyrics are still apropos – this is the ideal time for reflecting on the years of our lives, past and present. It’s Wednesday, midway between Christmas and New Year’s, and I’m gazing out my window at a windy gray day that looks much like November. I’m feeling suspended in limbo, wondering how to spend these last four days of 2011. Should I try to be wildly productive, or should I just wallow in self-indulgence and resolve to be more proactive in 2012?

I don’t know about you, but I can’t help making resolutions during the darkest days of the year. They’re generally much the same  – exercise more, eat better, lose weight, get organized, stop procrastinating, throw stuff out, write a new novel. Oh yes, and stop playing computer games. I usually make only marginal progress, but there’s always the hope that next year will be better.

Today I lazed around in bed till noon, reading a book about procrastination – what causes it and how to overcome it. I picked it up at a library book sale last spring, but I’ve procrastinated about reading it till now. Will it help? I realize that’s pretty much up to me. Back in high school, I remember making the resolution, “Stop being a procrastinating perfectionist.” I’ve long since stopped being a perfectionist, but the procrastinating part definitely still applies.

A new resolution I’m adding can be summed up in one word – gratitude. Yes, it’s discussed in lots of self-help books, and my Nia teacher frequently ends class by having us focus on all we have to be grateful for, especially the people who are most important in our lives. Many writers have suggested reviewing and maybe writing down the things we’re grateful for at the end of each day. It’s something I haven’t done enough of, but this coming year I plan to take it more seriously.

Above all, I’m grateful for my beautiful and wonderful family – my husband, my daughter Stacey, and my two wonderful granddaughters, Kaya and Jasper. I can’t resist posting the beautiful photos my daughter took of the girls. I gave them the fairy wings they’re wearing in the Christmas photo, and their other grandmother gifted Kaya with the cello, which she’s been playing for a couple of years. Doesn’t she look every inch the brooding artist? It runs in the family, I guess.

I’m also grateful to have had the wherewithal to buy them a reasonable number of gifts, though we didn’t go overboard. Nor did we use our credit cards. But my checking account was pretty well tapped out, and I’m grateful for the Social Security payment that showed up in my balance last night. With grandchildren, it’s truly more blessed to give than to receive, but I’m looking forward to going to the mall momentarily to take in a movie – Sherlock Holmes, maybe? – and to indulge myself in a couple of gifts for moi, as Miss Piggy would say.

Here’s wishing you a wonderful New Year. May you have much to be grateful for.