We had our last daughter get engaged just before Christmas making this year "The Year of Engagements" at our house as all 3 of our older kids got engaged this year..causing our 11 year old to comment, "They are dropping like flies!"
The new year brings the usual resolutions..to eat better..to exercise more..and mostly for me, "Just DO it"..to live with courage..to take a leap of faith and use my God given talents and see what happens! I remember in my 20's thinking I was too young for anyone to take me seriously and now, in the blink of an eye I am 50 and worrying about being too old! So This year I say screw it. I am going to make art for art's sake and not worry so much about it having a "purpose" or a use. Yes I will still make pillows and totes and whatnot, but I will also make "art" instead of looking at other people's work and thinking, "I could do that" ..just DO it!
I also plan to be myself more often. Some days I look in the mirror and see glimpses of the "old me", but some days I do not recognize the person I see..Julie has been lost to Mom, Honey and Nina(Gramma). I had a mini "moment" (episode..meltdown..whatever) in Target while Christmas shopping with my husband and daughter and the boys. I saw a pair of red suede high heeled boots with nailhead studs that were totally the old/inner "me'...but I started justifying them to myself..where would I even wear them? I only go to the grocery store, the post office and church! What would I wear them with? I bet they would make my feet hurt..those are for young girls...So after some moments of "What has become of ME? I am old and chubby and now wearing granny panties instead of "fancy pants"because they looked comfy!" I put them back on the shelf. And Christmas Eve night when I opened a gift from my daughter..there they were! So I guess now I will be wearing them even if it IS only to the grocery store, post office or church! I also need to ditch the granny panties if, while they are comfy, they make me feel bad in other ways! (I also got some lovely Amy Butler yardage in 4 patterns that I am going to have to be brave enough to cut into and make something for ME!)
I plan to baby myself a bit more often..to try not to justify every purchase. I plan also to give more to charities because even though we don't have a lot, we are way better off than a lot of people in the world. I plan to work harder at my business and TRY to be a BIT more organized! When you have several irons in the fire, it is hard sometimes to juggle and keep all the balls in the air..I think I mixed metaphors there..
