Catalyst for Change

Today is it. The sparkly ball drops in Time Square at the stroke of midnight. And, so it begins. The infamous rite of passage from the old to the new year.

The start of a new year signals declarations of change, better known as New Year Resolutions. A good number of these such as diet, fitness, and financial reform call upon life changes for success. All require ongoing learning, practice, repair and commitment because they are not simple fixes like a new hairstyle or new tires for the car.

So, this made me think of my 2010 resolutions and the catalysts — my motivations — for these declarations of change.

Resolution: Keep my mind, body and spirit strong. At the start of 2010, I implemented a holistic fitness plan to live better physically, mentally and spiritually. Success was largely due to increased physical activity, outdoor time, balanced nutrition, mental fitness and spiritual development. My regimen has become habit. It is a part of my daily routine. Also, my holistic fitness plan is a work-in-progress. I change it and improve it as I go.

Catalyst - my husband made a commitment to live healthier at the start of 2009. Today, he is leaner, more energetic, sexier and more fun to date. 

Resolution 2: journal three times a week. Writing is therapy I use for managing parental stress. Both of my children have developmental delays with their fine and gross motor skills. Also, my daughter has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). A writing schedule that coordinates with school, extra-curricular activities, and bed time enables me to journal daily. Not only did I write as declared, I created and published this blog.

Catalyst - treatment sessions with physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, speech pathologists, teachers, and social workers helped me learn more about how fitness impacts core strength, muscle tone, strength, agility, balance, mood, and concentration.

Resolution 3: be a friend. I made a pledge to spend more time with my girlfriends. Being a more attentive friend found me great company for playing tennis, laughing at Going the Distance, shopping at Macy's, and eating hot fudge ice cream puffs at Kruse and Muer.

Catalyst - the death of many family members and friends within the previous 18 months. I have lost two grandparents, two uncles, an aunt, a long-time family friend and the toddler son of a cousin. Death of so many at varying ages woke me up. I realized my time on this planet is limited; and the time my family members and friends have on this planet with me is limited. There is no time to waste. I want to spend time with those I love and care about.

In closing, I am declaring my 2011 resolution. That's right. I have just one…

Ignore all celebrity-focused news. Linking to or reading about movies, music and creative projects is still okay because it is important to be informed about art, entertainment, media, and lifestyles.

Catalyst - timely, relevant and critical local, state, national and global issues that need more focus. What if tabloids contained headline-grabbing, quick-reads on city budget deficits, unemployment, unfair international trading policy, and never-ending civil strife in Africa? What would we talk about?

My Wishlist

Creation of a wish list began weeks ago. As I created, the title — Christmas Wish List — was all wrong. My wishes are for every day, not just December 25. So, I penned 2010 in place of Christmas. This didn't read right, either. 2010 is nearly done. My wishes represent future hope. I deleted 2010 and typed 2011. Again, not satisfied. Frustration mounted. Uggh! Just give it a title already…

How about My Wish List? This one could work. The wishes are for all-time. If one or any of them come true, I have a collective wish: that it/they last forever. 

My Wish List

1. Love
2. More date nights with my husband
3. More quality time with my children
4. Health and happiness for family, friends and strangers
5. Good times for those facing adversity
6. Global peace
7. Enrichment and learning opportunities for all
8. Paparazzi-like-focus on local, state, national and global issues
9. More movie nights with my girlfriends
10. Winning seasons for the Red Wings and the Pistons
11. Style for my closet and home
12. More music from U2, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Madonna.

So, it is finally here. December 25 arrived peacefully enough for my family. What about yours? Santa Claus hid treasures all over the house for my two children — Maurissa and Griffin and my husband — Tracy — to discover. Despite finding — among other gems — drums, four Zhu Zhu pets, a police car, and a Superfriends DVD — there is harmony. Plus, it's pajama day. We celebrated big on Christmas Eve so that we could play, relax and reflect without pushing the children out the door for warp-speed feasting.