"Doing it by the Dozen"-January 2012

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that 2012 is here! I welcome it with open arms, an open heart and with great anticipation. It is going to be a wonderful year, with many exciting things happening and I’m ready to get it started!
As for 2012, My personal goal (not resolution because, frankly, those never work out for me) is to “Do it by the Dozen”. I will do 12 things each month to make myself a better wife, mother, florist/artist and person in general.
For the next 12 months I will make a quick (because I don’t have time to linger) evaluation of myself and list 12 ways to better myself and/or those around me. For instance, in January I will-and not necessarily in this order: (#1) make meals for a friend and her family who has become incapacitated; (#2) I will do at least one thing that I tell myself I can’t do. (#3) get my laundry room organized so that it is cute, accessible, and no longer the catch all and most dreaded room in the house. (#4) Make myself a flower arrangement every week and not put it off or sell it to someone else. I am famous for selling the arrangement that I have made for myself and then when it’s time to go home I’m too tired to make another one, or the flowers I really wanted are gone. No more!!!! I’m a customer too!!!! (#5) I will make time to write a letter to one person a week (that’s 4 letters, 4 people in one month -definitely doable!). (#6) I will make it a point to meet one new neighbor. As a florist, I leave for work early, I come home late, I’m tired, “peopled” out and just want to chill when I get home. My family just moved into a new neighborhood and other than the neighbors on the left and right, I know no one! (#7) I will take flowers to my local nursing home and spend one hour visiting with someone that doesn’t get visitors. (#8) I will invite someone I don’t know very well to dinner. (#9) I will read a book, from start to finish. As I was saying, we moved.......can I tell you how many books I found with bookmarks about 1/4th of the way in. I will pick one each month and read it! (#10) Write my husband a love letter. (#11) scan at least one box of pictures of my children into the computer each month (I only have about a million---boxes, and many more pictures). And (#12) do something each week unexpected for a total stranger, such as give them a flower, buy them a cup of coffee, pay for their lunch, or whatever strikes my fancy. I will keep you posted as to my progress. Wish me luck!!!!! Oh, and my resolution?......Lose weight of course