Cursive

I am a little nervous about this post. Not because I am revealing anything super secretive about my family, but because that photo is my signature and I fear that some handwriting analyst out there will analyze it and my craziness will be revealed. But in the meantime, I have to tell this story.

As you know, Eden and Clara are well into the first year of Kindergarten. The first Kindergarten field trip is quickly approaching - which meant I had to sign and return a permission slip. In a few weeks, Eden and Clara will be headed out to Johnson Farms to visit the pumpkin patch with all their new school friends. Wow!

As I signed the form, this was the conversation that ensued:

Clara: Mom, what are you writing on that line?

Me: My name

Clara: Lump Lump Lump Bax

I guess that is how cursive looks to a 5-year old!

Have a great weekend!

"A"

In a conversation Clara had with her dad today, I overheard...

Clara: Dad, I learned how to spell the word "a" today.

Dad: Really, how?

Clara: A

Very astute.

New Year, New Goals

No, I did not go out and drink too much last night and confuse it for the new year. Today is my birthday (no. 38) and so I decided it was a good time to set some new goals. A friend of mine who writes a blog by the title Dalai Lina wrote a post about goal setting a few weeks ago when school started - also a great time to set/renew some goals and it got me thinking.

If you check our her post she broke up goal setting into seven categories:

Financial
Career
Health/Wellness
Family/Home
Recreational
Relationship
Charity/Volunteer

So, I started thinking in those categories. And because I know that by writing them down (and especially) by putting them out here, it makes me a little more accountable. Generally, I am pretty good at these types of things - we shall see!? What I have done here is just put down the yearly goals - I am going to have to do a little work to break these up into monthly and weekly goals. But this is my start.

Financial - Focus on the necessities - spend money on the things that provide value to our family - time together, adventures, etc. things that help us live a better life - probably means a new dress for a party (when I have several in my closet upstairs that I have worn once) isn't in the cards for me this year!

Career - (Working on this)

Health/Wellness - Without sacrificing the "fitness" I have worked so hard for since my early twenties, I am going to really focus on being pain free by September 6, 2011. Meditate - that is going to be a hard one (anyone with suggestions, please send them my way). Practice more yoga. Continue pilates and continue my focus on healthy foods, smoothies, snacks, etc. Keep writing...here and elsewhere!

Family/Home - Get rid of all the processed food snacks. Promote each of my children's unique qualities (see photo of Clara above). If they want to wear knee pads to school - good for them. Create some kind of recreation room for my kids. A place in the house they can go and just be!

Recreational - Two great family vacations and make time to take a class/workshop once a month, i.e. cooking class, photography class, rock climbing, etc.

Charity/Volunteer - I want to find something the kids and I can do - still working on this - any ideas?

Relationship - This is hard for me. I think generally I just want to be in a better place. More on this some other time - I will definitely have to define some real objectives here.

Well - that is it in a nutshell. I have a lot of crazy details in my journal - but I will spare you. Have a great labor day. Oh and I found this the other day - I am huge fan of the athletic apparel company lululemon! They had a great post the other day about goal setting - I have copied it here.


Why goal set?

There is a way to write your goals so they are powerful and meaningful. Goals set an intention and are not a one-time deal but an exercise for living every day.

Goal setting:

provides focus
creates your life
helps you discover your personal path
teaches you where you are taking personal responsibility
what is a goal?

A goal is a written statement with a deadline (or “by when”, as we call them here at lululemon). A goal inspires you to do the work. Your goals should excite and even scare you.

A goal is not a ‘to do’ list or an idea, what your family/boyfriend/girlfriend/etc. wants for you, or what society states is for you.

Goals are to create what does not already exist.

Goals are based on a long-term plan that has no constraints. Anything is possible. Whatever you need to achieve your long-term goal (skills, funding, experience, etc.) you can gain with time.

Language

Your words create your world and you become what you think about most of the time. Remove the following words from your language and you will reach your goals: try, hopefully, wish, might, maybe.

How to get started

Start from where you are. Reaching goals is hard work, so get ready to dig in and discipline yourself. Accept total responsibility for everything that happens. Ask for feedback along the way.

Questions
Here are some questions to help you start thinking about your ideal life:

• What are you willing to give your life to?
• What are you willing to commit to everyday?
• What causes you to be inspired everyday?
• If a wish could be granted, what would you wish?
• What kind of difference do you want to make in the world?

Your vision
• State your ideal life
• Be descriptive
• Choose a moment in time and explain everything that is going on around you
• Get beyond your life. What is the state of the world?

Writing exercises
- Write your obituary. Imagine your eventual demise. It has an amazing impact on how you live in the moment.
- Write your retirement speech. What would you say? What would your oldest colleague say? What would your mentor say?

Vision board
Collage your ideal life and hang it somewhere you will see it often. Watch it all come into being.

The Truth...

The Whole Truth and Nothing But The Truth.

I want my kids to be honest. I want them to grow up believing that honesty is the best policy and no lie (whether a little white lie or a big whopper) is acceptable.

That being said, I have to admit - I recently lied. I had to go get my driver's license renewed. So this week I drove over to the DMV to renew my license. By the way, just because I know the DMV gets such a bad wrap, there was no line and the gentleman that helped me was very nice. When it came time for me to answer the questions about height and weight, he asked, "Height, 5'3"? "Yes," I replied. "Weight 105?" "Yes," I replied.

Okay, I don't weigh 105 anymore. Not sure I weighed 105 five years ago when I had the last licensed renewed. Not that I am far from that - but I probably should have been honest. Anyway, I feel better now. Dad, if you are reading this, quit making yourself an inch taller every time you renew!

September

I love September. It is my birthday month and the month that marks the beginning of all things fall. It means Honey Crisp Apples will be in the stores soon, the weather will start to chill and we can get back outside after the last few weeks of a hot summer. Love it.

I only read one horoscope (it always comes from Town & Country Magazine monthly) and I don't even put much faith in it, but when I read this one, I just had to mark it somehow. So hear it is. This one really speaks to me. I have written it down and put it on my bulletin board in front of my desk so I can see it and be reminded of it. Will let you know how it turns out.

"You have every reason to feel hopeful - even buoyed up - as your birthday rolls around this year. You've paid quite a few dues since Saturn entered your birth sign in late 2007, but the page has turned, Saturn has finally moved on, and you're on the brink of a brand new era. Once Mercury turns direct on the 12th, you should act swiftly to take advantage of all the positive developments happening around you. Jupiter in Pisces makes partners more generous, and any offer coming your way near the 21st may turn out to be the opportunity of a lifetime. Financially, you now appear to be on a promising new path."

How is that for a positive outlook!