Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Vegetables Aren't Just For Diets Anymore

My sister and her family live in St. Louis, MO, so I don't get to spend nearly enough time with them. One day, when I have access to my own private jet, I will be able to fly back and forth at will, but for now, I have to settle for phone calls and a visit every year or so...It's not enough, but I take what I can get.

So, earlier tonight, my sister and her kids were stuck in their basement due to a tornado warning in their area.In a state of complete entrapment and utter boredom, they turned to me for entertainment! I feel so special! I got a text message asking if I wanted to Skype. As I had some free time, I jumped at the opportunity to chat with my sister and her girls for a while.

Through the course of our conversation we discussed a variety of topics. I got to see my sweet nephew- who is nine months old now, and I still haven't had the chance to meet him. I'm really looking forward to getting him out here so I can spoil him rotten for a while! Anyway, as per the norm when a single gal is talking with her sister (and in this case her 14 year old niece), we got around to the current state of my dating life. It's always a source of entertainment for me to tell about the recent dates I've been on. The good, the bad, the ugly (and I'm not talking physical features here...!).

I generally share a few of the highlights, my sister asks what the future holds, I tell her I don't know for sure but that I am looking forward to finding out and then we move on to a new subject. It's pretty standard procedure. Tonight, however, we had a little variation in the routine. I don't think I have ever come out of a dating conversation laughing as much as I did tonight. (Well, maybe once before I did. Remind me sometime to tell you the "There's your hand!" story.) Anyway...as I was wrapping up one of my dating stories, my niece chimes in "You need a fresh vegetable from the garden. Not an old moldy one from the store!" It gave us all a good laugh!

First,  let me just say, I am so thankful for a family who cares about my dating life. Despite the frustration that is sometimes connected with having an involved family, it is nice to know that they love me and care about who I date. They want me to be happy, to have the very best! I think that's pretty incredible.

Second, I guess vegetables aren't just for diets anymore. To all the single gals out there- it appears we need to be looking for fresh vegetables from the garden. Not old moldy ones from the store! It's good advice for diets and for dating.

Who would've guessed?

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Deoderant and Dental Floss

I would not really describe myself as a resolution setter. I always feel a little silly. Not to mention, most New Years resolutions are abandoned within the first 3 weeks of January. Instead, I have adopted the idea of setting a yearly theme for myself. It is generally a one word phrase that is displayed prominently in my room and a few other places I frequently find myself. Last year's theme was "Hope". The year before that was "Simplify".

This year I have decided to take on the theme of "Charity". It has already been a struggle in a lot of ways. I frequently catch myself being less kind than I should be or getting upset about things that are really of little significance. I know it's a yearly theme, and I can't expect to be perfect in the first attempt on this one (or the second or third or fourth or...you get the point!)  Frankly, there is a lot of room for me to grow in this particular undertaking! But I find it a worthwhile goal and ask you to help me succeed as I try to progress in this. (And to forgive me when I fail!)

In addition to having a theme for the year I have also developed (well, in all actuality, stolen) a slogan. And I have set a few goals. I won't bore you with the details of all I am attempting as I do not wish to put you to sleep, but one of the goals I am working on I do wish to share. I decided that from now until June 1st, I will live without making any unnecessary expenditures. This goal was vocalized a few weeks ago as I went through my room and got rid of a lot of things I don't use anymore. As I moved more and more items from my room to the bag of donations I found myself thinking about how much money I spend on a whim. A shirt here, a pair of pants there. It's no big deal, right? I'm single. It's not like I can't afford it.

I recognize that "unneccessary expenditures" is a very subjective term and can, therefore be twisted to meet the wants of whomever may be making this attempt. And my goal here is cerainly not to deprive myself of everything. I just want to be more aware of my spending habits. When talking to one of my friends about my goal I told her, "Deoderant and dental floss- that's all I am allowed to purchase between now and June! Hold me to it!" Now, that really wasn't a realistic statement, but now, before I make a purchase, I ask myself, "Is this something I really need to fulfill an obligation or maintain my health and well being?" If the answer is yes, great! If, however, the answer is no, I return the item to the shelf, and move on.

It has been working out incredibly well so far. I have been much more conscientious of my spending and therefore have been able to curb the purchase of unnecessary items that do little more than clutter my life. And you know something else? As I have cut my spending habits I have found that the things I find myself wanting and needing have a way of finding me. It's actually pretty great! At the rate I'm going, I may not even have to purchase deoderant or dental floss!