It's time for that old familiar drill, listing our New Year's Resolutions: Clean the storage room, lose ten pounds, write the book, spend more time with family and friends, spend less time with family and friends, and lower our kids HbA1c's by ten percent.

Come late December when I'm writing shopping lists for New Year's Eve party supplies, I reflect on the past year and begin to think about the one to come.  As I reflected on 2009, events both positive and negative shaped my thinking for the upcoming year. Thoughts of personal development and accomplishment gave way to those associated with our kids' diabetes. For me, my 2010 plan is based on one thing: an attitude change.

I noticed a small book laying on my bedside table. It was Richard Carlson's, A Dont Sweat the Small Stuff Treasury, A Special Selection For Mothers. It's a collection of entries from his previous books that as Carlson stated "are specially selected to lift the spirit and soothe the soul of any mother." For us type 1 moms, lifting spirits and soothing souls sounds especially warming.

Carlson lists some recommendations we've all heard at one time or another. I'm going to try to incorporate some of these in my plans for 2010. Here they are:

1.  Make Peace with Imperfection.

2.  Ask Yourself, "Will This Matter A Year From Now?"

3.  Lower Your Tolerance For Stress.

4.  Choose Your Battles Wisely.

5.  See The Glass as Already Broken ( and Everything Else Too).

6.  Cut Yourself Some Slack.

7.  Fill Your Life With Love.

8.  Do One Thing at a Time.

9.  Remind Yourself Frequestly What Your Children Really Want.

10.  Have A Favorite Family Charity.

11.  Recognize When Someone Doesn't Have an Eye For Something.

12.  Create A Relationship with Someone You Already Know.

13.  Remember to Show Your Appreciation.

14.  Don't Go to Bed Mad.

15.  When Someone Asks How You Are, Don't Emphasize How Busy You Are.

16.  Don't Be A Martyr.

17.  Create a "Selfish " Ritual.

18.  Stop Exchanging Horror Stories.

19.  Ask Yourself "What Message Am I Really Sending to My Children?"

20.  Don't Wait For Bad News to Appreciate Your Life.

21.  Encourage Boredom in Your Children.

22.  Don't Answer the Phone.

23.  Make Peace with Bickering.

24.  Learn From Kids as They Live in the Moment.

25.  Marvel at How Often Things Go Right.

26.  Learn to Delegate.

I especially liked #3, #6 and #17  the most.  Which ones do you like?

I hope you have a Blessed New Year!!!

 

A Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Treasury: A Special Selection for Mothers (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (Hyperion))