My First New Year’s Resolution: Pay More Attention

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I’m just not the New Year’s resolution type. 

I never have been, but then again, it’s not something anyone in my family really does, so it’s not as if I’m a rebel in this area. It’s just that from what I’ve seen, those who make resolutions often don’t seem to follow through, so I’ve never seen the point.

But this year has brought many changes to my life. 

I’m finding a need to make more concrete a thought that has been rolling around in my head. I want to write it down. To post it somewhere I’ll see it every day. I want to remind myself every day.

Pay More Attention

Put More Quality Into Your Time

Between a recent visit with my mother and the prospect of having less time with my children, I’m feeling an urgency to make more of the time I spend with all of them.

I was recently fortunate enough to spend two weeks travelling with my mother. Just the two of us. In my entire lifetime, I don’t remember ever having spent a whole day together. More than a few people expressed concern about our ability to share 200 square feet for 12 days without killing each other. And sure, there may have actually been a moment or two where one of us considered bodily harm.

But we went for it and we shared some great experiences together. Now that the trip is over and she’s back home, I’m realizing two things:

  • The opportunity for an experience like that is not likely to come again.
  • My time with her is growing shorter at a rapid pace.

I know I’ll never regret spending the money or taking the time out for the experience of having this trip together.

Pay More Attention

Time Is Flowing Fast, Make the Most of It

It’s the same with my children.

In the throes of raising them, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that one day (sooner than we’d like), they will be gone. Out on their own. My oldest is a college freshman, and that serves as a reminder for me to make the most of my time with her and her younger siblings. There is so much more that I wish I’d done with her. So many more times when I wish I’d paid more attention to her and what was important to her.

Time with them is slipping through my fingers, like water wildly gushing from a faucet. I know I can do nothing to stop or alter the flow. But I need to do a better job of closing my fingers and creating a cup to drink from and savor before it flows over and passes me by.

So, this year I resolve to do better.

I resolve to:

Pay More Attention

Put More Quality Into My Time With Them

Maybe I’ll get a sign printed.

Or a tattoo.

On my forehead. 

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Kristin, Senior Writer
Once Upon A Time, in another life, Kristin graduated from the University of Michigan with a plan to teach high school math. But then, life happened when she wasn’t looking…. She married an Army guy and 23 years, 3 kids, a few dogs, 7 homes, and 2 continents later she’s now a single mom living here in Colorado Springs. Along the way she volunteered for the Army, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and several schools; managed volunteer organizations, coached judo, trained to be a whitewater rafting guide, biked down Pike’s Peak and even managed to teach some high schoolers a little math before forging new trails writing, teaching and financial planning. She never knows what’s coming around the bend, but she’s learned to handle whatever life (and the Army!), throws at her with a smile and a laugh. She’s pretty sure you can get through anything with those, even if you have to fake it occasionally!!