Sunday, December 2, 2012

That's the Plan

I love Christmas time. Don't you just love this time of year? All the Christmas lights glimmer and look so festive and we get to enjoy it all longer since it's dark by 4:30. See what I did there?  It gets dark early in December, but look at me seeing the positive. 

This is the first year in a very long time that we planned for Christmas. In January, I opened a Christmas Club account and started tucking money away. Between that and a bonus Lobster got at work, we are set. We can do exactly what we'd like to for Christmas.

Maybe you've heard it somewhere that I have a problem with planning. Because I'm no good at it, I talk about it a lot. I like to pretend I'm organized and people may even laugh at me and think it's a big joke when I say that I'm not, because I fake it pretty well. I usually get things done. I complete assignments. But what others don't see, is the last minute scramble - the late nights, the other responsibilities that get cast aside.

Lobster and I have been married for over 18 years. And this is the first year that we set our own budget for Christmas. We aren't limited by whatever is left over after the bills get paid or using credit that we shouldn't. He and I are actually buying gifts for each other this year - not just for our extended families and our boys. 

We made a plan and followed through. Imagine that. We - he and I - did that.

This planning thing works.  

Most successful people know about planning. It's how most responsible people live their lives every day. It's how the new roof gets paid for, it's how they shop for a month's worth of meals, it's how days get scheduled and items get checked off the To-Do list.

I started this blog with the idea of keeping a record of my weight loss. I'm doing that, albeit S-L-O-W-L-Y, and that's OK with me,  but it's turned into something more. I've remembered how much I love to write. Although not many read my words, it helps me feel better connected to those around me. Writing every week helps me to examine my feelings. Sometimes, until I start writing, I don't even know what I'm feeling. I've learned that well to hide and stuff them.

I think I've lived my whole life waiting for something. When I was young, I was waiting to be an adult and live my own life. When I was a young adult, I was waiting to find the love of my life and get married. When I was a wife, I was waiting to have children...and waiting...and waiting. 

Now we have our beautiful boys and what am I waiting for? Well, I've decided I'm tired of waiting. It's not a happy way to live a life. It's like saying, "I'll be happy when..." but there's always something else to look to for happiness. 

I don't want to just chronicle my weight loss. I want to write about my life. Weight loss is, of course, a big part of that. But do I wait until I'm at a healthy weight to be happy? There is so much more to enjoying where I am. Enjoy the journey, as they say. Make a plan and follow through. Not every thing goes according to plan, but that's all right. Some of the best things happen that way. The important thing is to have a plan.

My house is crazy. Really. No, REALLY.  I am not an expert - at, well, anything. But you're going to get to hear all about it. I'm going to write. I'm going to lose weight. I'm going to be strong. I'm going to learn to parent these, um...lively boys. I'm going to live my life well and be happy. 

That's the plan.

10 comments:

  1. This blog made me cry. I am proud of you
    and your efforts. Enjoy today. love you. mom b.

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  2. GO AMY!! I know exactly what you mean. I have calenders and planners filled at the start of the week, list and plans all ready to go, then it all falls apart and I am left scrambling.

    But I can say that you must be doing something right if you are still getting things done. It's a step in the right direction.

    Also, I fully encourage you to make this blog about more. If who you are presenting to the world solely defined by weight loss... well we all know you are so much more than that. You are working at bettering yourself in many ways, in sharing it helps inspire others to do the same

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  3. I started doing that about 10 years ago. It makes Christmas so much more enjoyable. We still go over budget a bit, but it doesn't stress me out. I do the same for our insurance. I put money in a savings account, then pay it once a year to get the good discount. I have recently considered doing that with school fees...the older the kids get, the more expensive it gets.

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    Replies
    1. It sure does make Christmas more enjoyable. I don't know why I haven't ever done it before. I'm telling you, I didn't get that planner gene and learning it now, as a middle-aged woman, sure sucks.

      I'm glad you figured it out early. But, then, you've always been a smart one!

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  4. I loved this post! I love all of them. You're an excellent writer. I wish I could get it together and post even at LEAST once a week. Your Christmas plan sounds great. We really ought to do that around here so we don't keep doing the same thing. I ask the hubs about how much I can spend on him, he says he doesn't have want/need for anything, I get him something little, and then he surprises me with something like diamond earrings. Ahhh! It doesn't help that he's SO hard to shop for!
    See? I wish I could have your attitude about the holidays.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jocelyn! Believe me, this planning ahead thing is new to me, but it has sure made this Christmas a lot less stressful.

      That would be so frustrating about presents - no fair! Lobster usually tells me exactly what he wants and sometimes even buys it himself. No surprises here, except for stocking stuffers and that's my favorite part anyway.

      Christmas really is for the kids, but it is nice - every once and a while - for the grown ups to feel the magic, too. ;)

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