C'est la Rentrée! Resolutions 2015/16

C'est la Rentrée! .  For the last few years I have joined Floss over at Troc Broc & Recup in making Rentree Resolutions. They are a tradition in France that coincides with going back to school and are embraced by adults as well as children.  I don't think she is did this last year, or is doing it this year as I know lots of things are going on over there for her and her lovely family. But keeping the tradition I am going to attempt it again this year.

A month late, but better late than never!  Too much was going on last month to even be able to think about this!  

So what did my resolutions look like last year?

1.  To fully de-clutter the house and sewing studio to the best of my ability. This is a continuing work in progress...I often falter and then become overwhelmed by the mess I make trying to clear the stuff!

2.  To walk daily & eat healthily.  On a whole manage this pretty well.

3,  Enjoy life. Yes indeed! Although there have been some ups and some downs...the year has been pretty good. Had a special time with my Mum & Dad - although heartbreaking at the same time as I see the difficulties both my parents face with my Mother having Alzheimers.
I had some special time with a friend while in NZ as well which meant a lot to me as we had such a fun week.

I had a lovely time in Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas this year and look forward to further trips to the USA if at all possible.

4.  Read the books I have instead of getting new ones...and then once they are read, to use the library a bit more...this seems to have slackened in recent years.  I used to be a very regular library user and I miss it.  Have read some of the books I have had, and got rid of a LOT to charity shops etc.

5.  Spend less time on the computer!  Over the last five years, I have become a bit addicted to the computer due to not feeling up to doing other things.  This is now changed and as a result I need to get out of the 'computer habit' and limit the time I spend on it.  Hmm...not sure I really achieved this - although have had a couple of periods of several weeks when I haven't spent any time at all on it.

So what are my goals for the coming year: 

1:  Continue to Declutter the House - in preparation for hopefully moving 2016.  So this is a biggie and even more important than ever!

2:  Finish an online photography course I started...quite some time ago!  I am going to restart it on Monday 5th October.

3:  Try and do some clarinet playing so I can make a definitive decision on whether to admit defeat or not with regards to ongoing pain issues.  This is obviously not a year long goal, unless of course I can play...but one that I need to try and focus on to be able to move on to other things if necessary.

4:  Work on my art.

5: Smile and laugh more - spending time with my husband now there are only the two of us in the house most of the year.  Continue to enjoy life!

C'est la Rentrée! Resolutions.

C'est la Rentrée! .  For the last few years I have joined Floss over at Troc Broc & Recup in making Rentree Resolutions. They are a tradition in France that coincides with going back to school and are embraced by adults as well as children.  I am not sure if she is doing it this year as I know lots of things are going on over there for her and her lovely family. But keeping the tradition I am going to attempt it again this year.

So what did my resolutions look like last year?

1.  Going for a daily walk.  I managed this until Christmas, when the winds and rain set in and it became just too wet.  I did walk daily in NZ during the time I was there and have done a little walking over the summer, but plan to start up again, especially now the nights are drawing in and the daylight hours are getting shorter.

2.  Prepare fresh meals and continue eating healthily.  I have managed to maintain my weight loss and ideal weight through doing this the majority of the time.  The odd slip here and there but on a whole I think we are generally eating a lot healthier.

3.  Continue the de-cluttering...baby steps. I didn't really manage this, but have now started my 'Twenty Items for Twenty Days' Challenge and have already made a huge progress so feeling much more confident at last in this goal!

4.  Finish UFO projects  I finished three quilts, and some knitting.  Still have a UFO pile...but will be re-evaluating it to see if they are things I am ever likely to finish...if not, then they too will be part of my  20/20 challenge!

5.  Enjoy life to the full - it such an important one to have - taking opportunities when they arise and enjoying family and friends.  I had an opportunity to visit my school friend in Australia and I had a fabulous week with her.  I also had the opportunity to travel to Phoenix for the 2014 Sasha Festival and had an amazing time.  I visited Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Tombstone and various other places.

Seeing how my Mum is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and how it has effected us all as a family, but especially my wonderful Dad and sister, who living close to them does so much to help, has been devastating.  This combined with my last few years of Chronic Neuropathic Pain, resulting from surgery for decompression of an artery and nerve due to TOS and the discovery of also having Chiari Malformation, has brought home to me the fact that we must take the opportunities and make the most of life while we can as we never know what is around the corner.  

My resolutions for this year are pretty much the same as last year:

1.  To fully de-clutter the house and sewing studio to the best of my ability.

2.  To walk daily & eat healthily

3,  Enjoy life.

4.  Read the books I have instead of getting new ones...and then once they are read, to use the library a bit more...this seems to have slackened in recent years.  I used to be a very regular library user and I miss it.

5.  Spend less time on the computer!  Over the last five years, I have become a bit addicted to the computer due to not feeling up to doing other things.  This is now changed and as a result I need to get out of the 'computer habit' and limit the time I spend on it.