Finding peace and joy in December.

   As I write this I have so many things to do, so I'll have to make it quick!
 
   If we're not careful we can let December get away with us. Today as I drove from superstore to home, I didn't start driving as soon as the light turned green, I guess my reflexes weren't 100% but I saw it and was about to go when the car behind me honked really obnoxiously. I mean, obnoxiously, not a friendly reminder honk, but a loud long honk of a honk. So I drove all flustered, and as he pressed on the gas his wheels slipped, which I imagine only added to his little fit, and then as soon as he could he passed me doing twice the speed limit. I smiled as he passed, because I was content with the speed in which I was driving. To his dismay, at the next light I was right there behind him, and all his anxious speeding and cutting in and out of traffic didn't save him any time.

    Now, we've all been there, on both sides, we've been the anxious late, sporadic driver, and also the peaceful driver, so this isn't just bashing Mr. Honky pants, it's more of an illustration.

   I've had a pretty peaceful day, I'm feeling a little under the weather, but I just feel like I have a real concept of time today.  I know how much time I have, and that I can use it however I want, I can waste it, use it, bless someone with it, take away from someone with it, feel productive with it, dance in it, or sleep it all way.  This is rare for me.  Usually I waste it, and dread looking at the clock to see how much time I've carelessly spent, and other times I try to get way too much done, and dread how much time my work is taking up, knowing how much more I have left to do.

  In December, theres a tendency to try to do WAY more than we usually do, to make Christmas happier, brighter, and more joyful for others, but it is really adding these things if we're all rushing around, avoiding time itself? I don't think so. I'm really bad at this, but I've just experienced a bit of clarity today.

  So, I tried to bless someone, spending time I could have wasted, and they really appreciated it, then I decided to really enjoy all the time I had doing my work today.  Today I'm baking loads of Christmas cookies, and where last week I rushed through it, not really cherishing the time or the process, today I'm really enjoying the process, the colours, the textures, the smells, and just having an all around more peaceful experience.

So, yes there's a lot to get done, but I really want to add to the season and not take away from it.  I'm so thankful that Jesus is always here, coaching me through it all, and helping me to find peace and joy in the chaotic month of December.

Peace.

One day I'm actually going to blog on what I say I will, but until then here's an early new years resolution.

I love new years. I'm like my mama in that regard. There's something about a communal fresh start thats nothing short of refreshing to me.

On new years day I  like to wake up early and make my yearly January first journal entry.  It usually starts with a setting, where I am, who I'm with, how I spent new years, and how I'm feeling. (these journal entries are VERY fun to look back on!)... Then I move on to resolutions.

Depending on the spirit I'm in it may be a physical resolution (lose 20 pounds) a spiritual resolution, or an environmental (both the earths environment and my own little environment (thats in a physical, spiritual, or relational sense) resolution. Last year I allowed myself to make one  resolution in each category... I feel like I achieved bits and pieces of my resolutions...but not entire resolutions.. Which I've forgiven myself for :P

Anyways this year I'm going to take a cue from my dear friend Katy.  She doesn't know this yet, BUT I really admire her specific goal setting... And she always manages to get way more done than I could ever dream of.  I would resolve to "develop my art," and she'll set goals for 5 attainable projects.  She gets hers done, and I... Kind of swim around for months, acting only when the rare wave of inspiration hits.

So, I'm going to make much more specific goals this year... Attainable resolutions.  I am allowing myself one wide sweeping resolution, however, for old times sake.  The limit of total resolutions is 5.

Resolution 1:  I want to buy USED before I buy anything new. (this is my wide sweeping one).  This is both a spiritual and environmental goal.  Spiritually it will help me break a minor shopping hobby, as well as help me to focus more on what really matters, and environmentally its obvious (people buy and throw out so quickly now that you really don't have to sacrifice style anymore!).  I notice that when I'm shopping in new stores, I feel like I want more than I need and have, and when I shop used I feel creative and excited!  So this goal covers clothes, and all housewares and decorations, the exemptions are craft/art supplies, and of course obvious ones like food and such. We'll also save a lot of money... Buhbye ikea.

Resolution 2: I saw this really cool journal in a book store called the five year journal (I'll explain why this is cool) and I wanted to buy it but realized that I could easily make my own! Each page of the journal has the days date for the current year, and then the same for four consecutive years.  The idea is that you write one sentence about your day, and then close the book.  Then you do the same every day for the whole year, the cool part is when you go back the next year and start again at January first but for the next year, and you read in one short sentence exactly where you were one year prior.  I love it! I'm going to make my own, and really whats a one sentence a day commitment?

Resolution 3: In my other more than one sentence a day journal I'm going to be like Katy and write down all the little goals and projects for the month and ACTUALLY tackle them! All the art projects and cooking, and decorating things I've thought of and still want to do will have their chance to really get done! I'm excited about this.

So thats that for now, I have room for two more which I may or may not add, I've got a month of wiggle room!

Have you started thinking about your resolutions yet?

Peace.