I intended to start this blog yesterday. However, by the time I finally got to sit down to work on it, it was after midnight. So, I figured I'd just start all fresh today. I'm writing this blog for a two-fold purpose. Initially it was supposed to be about my kindness calendar, a way to keep track of the things I'd managed to do each day as a reminder [and a source of accountability so I DO accomplish something each day]. But it will also be about the days of my life. How they are spent. Again sort of as an accountability thing I suppose. I don't want to look back on this year and see it was wasted. I want something to show for my having been here.
I haven't really given much thought to "resolutions" per se this year. Usually I do. But I have just decided on a couple of general plans.. four actually, that I hope to accomplish.
One: I plan to switch to a plant based diet. I have a book written by Dr. John McDougall that I intend to follow to help get me started in the right direction. There are multiple reasons for the decision to begin this type of eating. My health / weight, a love of animals and a desire to be more environmentally conscious are among the top reasons. It seems to be a win-win situation if I can maintain it.
Two: Putting my life back together. I know. That sounds pretty vague, but actually it's not. Before I had some recent health issues, I was VERY active. I was the kind of person who bought myself a flying lesson for my 40th birthday. But recently, I've become all but reclusive because of chronic pain and fatigue. So, putting my life back together is a multi-fold plan including losing weight [see number one on how I plan to do that, along w/exercise], get in shape, get back out in the world. I'd like to start using my home gym, maybe join some type of water aerobics class and as the weight starts to come off, hopefully I'll be able to walk more. My knees will be the deciding factor in that activity.
Three: My big goal - Toward the end of last year I began working on a "Kindness Calendar" for this year. I have made plans for every day of the year to perform some act of kindness. Some are very simple, some a little more elaborate. I love the idea of random acts of kindness, but in all honesty, my life doesn't lend itself to that type of interaction w/people so planning really is necessary. I work an odd schedule, plus when I'm off work, I actually lead a very quiet lifestyle so I'm not often around a lot of people. That limits the opportunity for 'random' acts to just pop up. I just want the chance to do more for those who aren't as fortunate. We live paycheck to paycheck like most people we know. But we manage alright. Sure, there are those in the world who would compare our lives to theirs and think we live in poverty. But unfortunately there are MANY more who would compare our lives to theirs and see us as millionaires living a dream life. People who have to struggle for every bite of food, worry about shelter from the cold, etc. When you look at life from that angle, we're blessed indeed. Everything in life is a matter of perspective.
Four: Make Vanderburgh county a No-Kill county! This has been on my resolution list for several years. But this is the year I accomplish it!!! It won't be easy. I know there are going to be some rough times, but I can't walk away from this. Too many little lives are depending on someone making this happen. I originally thought I wanted to take over the job of Director of Animal Control. But when the opportunity to apply for it came up a couple of months ago, I couldn't bring myself to do it. There was only one reason. I didn't think I'd be strong enough to deal with animal abuse/neglect cases on a daily basis. It tears my heart out to see an animal hurt, but to know it was done intentionally, I didn't think I could handle that. Before we had to put Smidgen [our 18yr old kitty baby] to sleep this year, I felt like I could handle this job. But that changed the way I think about a LOT of things. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. I miss him still every day. I've decided I'll have to go about it in a different way. {more details on that later} So, there you have my main agenda for this year. I turned fifty years old this past June. Half of a century has already gone by. I'm afraid if I don't get on the ball I'll miss out and another half century will be gone by and I'll have nothing to show for it. I want to get my life back and change the world this year. Nothing too grand, huh? lol
Ok.. I'm not exactly sure how I can put my calendar on here for all to see. However, if I figure it out, I'll do that. If not, I'll figure out a way to at least give you a week's or month's worth of kindness plans if possible.
For January 1st's act of kindness: I began clipping coupons which I'll give to those who can use them to help them save money. Some of the actitivies are monthly or ongoing. Some are a couple of times a year things. Money isn't very abundant so I had to be more realistic than I actually wanted to. Yesterday was a busy day. We went to the city's inaugual ceremonies to see our friend be sworn in as 6th Ward Councilman. I was so happy for him. He's worked very hard for this chance and I know, without doubt, that he'll do an amazing job.
For today's act of kindness, I donated an item from the wish list of Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary. This is an AMAZING place. The woman who owns / runs it is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. She [and all her volunteers] are doing such wonderful things for these cats. In 2011, she added a building so she could also take cats that were FIV+. Most of the time those poor little guys are euthanized without a second thought in average shelters. So a BIG and sincere THANK YOU to Alana for all the work she does. Check out the facility at this link: http://blindcatrescue.com/
I had planned to send a card and a few little items to a child on the Make a Child Smile website, but unfortunately they disbanded on Dec. 31, 2011. It seemed to be a very worthwhile organization. I hate to see them forced to quit the good work they were doing.
Ok.. 5 things I am grateful for today:
1. My cats. We have eight of them. I adore each and every one of them. Poor little Andy was unknowingly caught in the closet from yesterday morning until this evening w/out water or food. I felt SO bad for him. Usually I'm extremely protective and always doing head counts w/out even thinking because of this reason. But I didn't hear him crying since my ears are stopped up and I just thought he was keeping to himself today. I'm glad he's alright. Love you Andy man!
2. Red Diamond Sweet tea w/Splenda. I LOVE it. Nectar of the gods!
3. My dishwasher. I've already ran two loads and getting ready to put a third load in. I went without a dishwasher until we bought this house fours years ago. The very first thing I did was buy a new dishwasher!
4. Being able to hear. Today my ears are completely stopped up. I can't hear a thing. It's been an ongoing thing for almost two years now. So I truly appreciate being able to hear well on the days I can. I sincerely feel for those who have lost their hearing permanently!
5. Last, but not least, a whole new year, a clean slate, a fresh start. I'm excited about taking this one on!
Enough rambling for today. Tomorrow's act of kindness remains a mystery for now, but I'll tell you about it in tomorrow's post! G'night!
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