“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~ Winnie the Pooh
You know Winnie the Pooh is a very smart bear. I realize it might not seem that way when he can never get the honey pot off his head, but I am going to attribute that to carb overload – happens to everyone.
As the New Year dawned this week and personal challenges became somewhat overwhelming, a little Pooh wisdom is good for the soul.
As I look ahead to the new year before me, I have given some serious thought to future goals and resolutions. Usually, I make a pretty lofty list of resolutions for the new year with goals to improve everything from my time management to creative mothering, otherwise known as “Parenting in a Pinterest World,” something I will have to write about at length later.
Without fail, by February 1, those resolutions and goals are long forgotten, and my bruised self-esteem is something I struggle through until the trees bud.
This year, my resolutions are simple: Work to become healthier and spend more time with my family and friends.
Now I have no plans to run a marathon. In fact, if you see me running down the street, call 911 because someone is chasing me. I’m talking about moving more, spending more time outside in the sunshine instead of behind a desk, picking the salad not the burger, and not canceling wellness checkups because I am “too busy.”
I want to be around to enjoy spending more time with my family and friends, and I have already made plans.
My husband, Keith, and I work a lot. That’s just who we are and our chosen professions, but this past year, was a little overwhelming due to unusual circumstances.
From the very start of our relationship more than a decade ago, Keith and I have enjoyed weekends away at the lake or day trips around the state to enjoy a popular restaurant or catch an attraction we haven’t seen. And, we are already planning a weekend trip in February that I promise will not get canceled.
Then there is the whirling dervish, Dean Ferguson. He is now in the superhero stage of childhood. There is a lot of running, swishing sounds, bicep flexes, and machine sounds as the Batmobile is thrown down the dogtrot hallway in our house.
An only child, Dean demands to be entertained. Half the time, I feel like the cruise director of our family. “And tonight following dinner, which will include mac and cheese as requested, there will be a rematch of Hungry, Hungry Hippos, followed by hot chocolate in the kitchen.”
Now that Dean is older, there are so many cool things for him to do. I don’t want him to miss a thing. I see trips to the movies and two brand new museums in our future.
Most people know how close I am to my parents and sisters. Daddy asked one time, “Do you think other people are jealous that we all have so much fun together?” Well, yeah!
There is nothing like a family dinner with voices rising over the others just to be heard or laughter at the most unfortunate times or knowing there is someone there if you need some comfort from a bad day, an anxious mind, or hurt feelings. And it always is good to have someone on your team no matter what.
My sister Deana was already planning soup night just last night, and there is nothing more fun than my sister, Stephanie, and nephew, Hunter, playing with Dean at Toys R Us. Bless them.
As I leave you thinking about your own New Year’s resolutions, remember these immortal words of Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Even Pooh knows a rich life has nothing to do with silver and gold but people you share it with.
I hope all of you have a very blessed and prosperous New Year.
