Marypause50 ~10 years later still a blog about gardens, simplicity, friendships, gratitude, health,

New Year's Revolution ~ Recipe for a Fabulous 2018

    Happy New Year 2018!! Another year has flown by for all of us and we have the urge to get it started on the right foot, right?!
    As with your Christmas prep & celebrations, perfection is overrated. Perfection suggests flaws & other things about ourselves needing work. What you need to embrace is that you are fabulous right here & now on January 1, 2018!! Fabulous is more your attitude & that aura around you... not a focus on specific body parts and the number a scale says. I received a birthday card years ago that I still have in my work cube. Fabulous is a lot like perfect but less boring & more fun! It's true!! Fabulous is easy because it is a state of mind, an inner confidence that you only need say 'yes' to right away. Trying to work towards perfect can be boring for you to do & others to hear about (I did 3- 60 minute planks yesterday....blah, blah, blah) This is not to say that we don't always strive (most days) to embrace a more healthy diet & lifestyle than the previous year. Having structure & goals are how we get through most weeks. (vacation weeks don't count! - substitute an itinerary or not!)

So I propose this New Year's Revolution Recipe for your Fabulous 2018:

200 parts Fabulous
100 parts Gratitude
50 parts Healthy Eating & Exercise  2 parts Cheat Days
20 parts Goal & Vision Board Focus
100 parts Love, Laughter & Fun
1 pinch Setbacks
1 pinch Disappointment
20 parts Resiliency & Forgiveness
Happy New Year to you all!

The Twelve Ideas of Christmas ~ Twelfth Day

The Twelfth Idea of Christmas My Blogger Gave to Me...

Forgo perfection for the love and warmth that Christmas brings when we open our hearts & homes.

Christmas Eve & Day hold very high expectations for many; if there is a hiccup then there is potential ruin. Well, no Christmas ever turns out perfect, from missing gifts to no appetizers because your cousin got the flu to snowstorms that keep some loved ones away.  I know I suggested those 'perfect' ending Hallmark & holiday movies, but those are meant to warm the heart not raise our expectations of ourselves. Not many Christmas Days end up perfect and that's just fine, really. Remember the true meaning on this day. Mary & Joseph entered Bethlehem and found way less than perfect accommodations. They made the best of their situation. And you know what, the most memorable night in all of mankind occurred. And the visitors still came to visit the most beautiful of sights, yes the simplest of mangers & the loving, holy family. What those visitors felt was the overwhelming love. That is what's important. 
Merry Christmas to you all!