Gratitude for the New Year

Happy January 1, 2017.  Like many of you, I am making my New Years Resolutions.  Rather than making new resolutions, I'm actually reaffirming ones that I've been working on for quite some time...

• ?Exercise more -- attend aquacize and Boiler fit etc.  Mix it up so that exercise seems fresh and new.  I can't wait til we arrive in CA and walk the bluff trail above the Pacific.
• Meditate in some way for at least a few minutes EVERY day.   Walking the bluff trail on Fiscalini Ranch allows me the space to focus on this second affirmation.
• Write a little every day.  Writing this blog ensures that I'll write more often.  It's something small and doable and puts me in the mood to do more.  Sometimes I'll receive supportive messages from you, Soupers, which is a great motivator.  Thank you!
• Improve my writing.  I've registered for a challenging class.  The self-doubts are there -- a) I'll be out of town the first week so why start on a negative b) the other participants are more experienced c) I only write poetry.  I can't write fiction.  And the list grows.  Despite all those nagging thoughts, I am registered and I will do the best I can.
• Take some risks!  My husband and I plan to do a challenging trip in 2017.  I have my reservations about the saneness of what we are doing.  However, I recently read  that the majority of people on their death bed regret the things that they Didn't do more than what they did.  So bucket list, here we come!!
• Continue to make new friends, strengthen existing friendships and improve familial relationships.    One of the sorrows of growing older is the loss of friends and family members.  I lost my brother, Jim,  in 2016 and lost communication due to a stroke with another brother, Rich, two years ago. These losses strengthen my compassion bone.  We visited Jim's living site recently and said good-bye to his roommate.  We see Rich and support his wife as much as we can.  
  • Finally, remember that I don't have total control.  In fact, I often have very little control.   So, I must leave a large part of my resolutions to the spirit within that guides me and knows best what I can do or not do.  Here is a favorite quote from Shakti Gawain.  THIS OR SOMETHING BETTER NOW MANIFESTS FOR ME IN TOTALLY SATISFYING AND HARMONIOUS WAYS, FOR THE HIGHEST GOOD OF ALL CONCERNED.

?Happy New Year to all you Wonderful Soupers out there.