a new year...

...and of course with it comes thoughts of what i'd like to accomplish, focus on, devote my time and energy to. 2009 felt like the year i finally got our house organized and decluttered. not that this is a task that i can check off my list, and never come back to... in fact, it feels like something i'm consious of on a continual basis so as to not let the clutter creep back in. but it feels good - calming - to have a place for everything, and that the amount of "stuff" in my house isn't overwhelming. i'm also finding that because the major organization is out to the way, i'm able to evaluate small aspects of our home/organization that aren't working quite right, and find a better way.

i've also learned to let things go. that i can't do as much as i'd like, and that's okay. that my kitchen floors won't get mopped & vacuumed as often as they should. that i won't cook all the recipes i might want to try. that i can't do every craft project that interests me, or read all the books i might want to. that i need to prioritize, to select what i really want to do, and let the rest fall to the side - that perhaps in the future i'll have time (and the interest) to try them, or perhaps not.

what i gain by letting those things go, those expectations, is more time to focus on what is most important. my family. my friends. my (part-time) job. and the few other things that i'd like to focus on.

with that said, i sat down and thought about what i'd like to say i accomplished when december 31, 2010 arrives. i'd like to get our photo albums organized - print out & include those i really love and that tell the stories i think are important for our family. not scrapbooks, but albums that focus on the photos and stories. i'd like to learn more about photography, about how to use my camera and the different aspects of it. i'd like to get in better shape, physically, and complete a 5K and a sprint (short) triathlon, & make a few more changes in this area of my life. i'd like to find more ways to volunteer. i'd like to develop more routines and structure for our family life, continue with traditions and start a few new ones. most of all, i'd like to spend time raising my children.

there will still be projects, of course, although i'm working on just picking one at a time. and i'm hoping to get quite a few things crossed off my 101 in 1001 list (posting about that next)... but i'm feeling less like i have so much to do, and so little time. like i can focus on what's really important. that feels like a good way to start the new year, and a new decade.