What I want, what I really want, is to be a better person.  I’m currently the type of perfectionist who never starts because the end result won’t be good enough.  Carry that through my family, my health, my housekeeping, my life, and things look a bit messy.  Lately I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my priorities; after all, I know I can’t do everything (most days I barely manage to do anything).  Lauren at Hobo Mama posted years ago about balance, about allowing yourself to pick and choose what is important to you and then letting the rest go.  I’m sure for some people this comes naturally, without thinking.  If you live in your head like me, it’s a process.

So I’m giving myself a year.  A year to define my priorities, to work to make them a reality in my life, to design a life I love to live.  Stealing a page from Cooking Light’s monthly Healthy Habits series, I hope to end up with 12 priorities.  I know they will mostly center around improving the way I feel about myself and improving the example I set for my children.  But I don’t have all twelve yet.  And I don’t think I can work on just one a month.  I’m still constructing this roller coaster, but you’re welcome to come along for the ride.

In no particular order . . .
1. Increase the number of whole, home-cooked foods my family eat.
2. Strengthen my family ties.
3. Become fit.
4. Be proud of the home I live in.
5. Surround myself with people and things that I love.
6. Parent to respect my children’s individuality and “nourish their self-esteem.”
7. Define myself.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Maybe 7 is enough.