Tonight, I'm sitting on the couch in my cozy little living room with a cup of hot chocolate in my hand (when I'm not typing), looking out the window at the blizzard that, according to the news, is part of the "worst storm in decades to hit Chicago". Illinois has declared a State of Emergency (I felt like doing the same for my house earlier today) and Mike is on duty all night at the hospital Command Center. My two favorite little boys are asleep in their toasty bedroom. Right now we have a windchill of 1 degree and about 10+ inches of snow on the ground with more falling.
Now that I had my month-long break in January, to recoup from the holidays and my temporary work, I'm ready to start my new resolution. Are you ready?
This year, I've decided to do monthly goals that accumulate into a larger goal, or resolution, over the course of 2011. My overall resolution for the year is summed up as follows: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy Soul. I want to focus on doing things that will help me be healthy in every way. In some ways, last year was a time for me to recover from my pregnancy and c-section, and then, learn how to be a mom of two little ones. Now that I'm feeling much more comfortable in the role of mom-of-two, I am ready to take some of the energy I have left at the end of the day (pending I still have some) and put it back into myself. After all, I believe that being a healthy me, will make me a better mom and a happier mom.
So, about the goals. I will be picking and announcing a new goal each month. Each goal will either fit into the Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, or Healthy Soul category. "Mind" goals might be something that would stimulate me (or the opposite - relax me) in an intellectual capacity. "Body" goals would refer to a goal that is more "physical" in nature. Finally, "Soul" goals will be intended to help me journey in a spiritual or emotional way. I already expect that some goals will have an overlapping effect into at least one of my other "healthy" categories, but each will be initially intended to focus on just one of them. I've already compiled a list of some ideas I've had, but I will be doing a constant self-evaluation to make sure that I'm working on goals that are currently relevant to me. I'm so excited to begin this journey and share my strengths and struggles as I go.
Here's the first one: February's goal is related to a "Healthy Body". For the month of February, I'm going VEGAN!
That's right, this self-proclaimed lover of cheese is going to see if it's really possible for distance to make "the heart grow fonder" when it comes to my favorite animal byproducts. It's not all about my cheese "addiction", however. I've been increasingly interested in the vegan lifestyle (do you call it that?) particularly for it's health benefits. I have yet to do much research, but I am curious if I'll notice anything after a month of no cheese, eggs, sour cream, or even michigan cottage cheese (a loud gasp is appropriate). Although I am already mostly a vegetarian, I do occasionally partake in some chicken or fish. This goal will, of course, eliminate any of those rare moments from my meal choices. Since I hadn't decided until this evening that I was going to pick this particular goal for February, I'm forced to officially start my vegan journey tomorrow, as earlier this evening I enjoyed a plate of my homemade macaroni and cheese. Considering this goal, I'd say it was the perfect "last supper".
Let the resolution begin.
