Monday, January 4, 2010

January 2010: New Year, Old You?

As soon as January rolls around, I can be sure of two things: my jeans won't fit and the magazines will proclaim "New Year, New You." Not to worry. The new year brings me a cosmic surge of exercise energy, my jeans will fit in a few weeks, but the whole new me thing? I'm boycotting it this year.


I like the old me. The one that whines about laundry every Monday, eats more chocolate than apples, occasionally drinks a Coke before noon (don't tell Mom!), and adores her family and writing. I don't want to change. Not today.

This month, we're embracing the "old you" and focusing on what is working instead of what could be improved.

From our eating and exercising habits to our writing routine, we'll flesh out the things we're doing right and use them to make 2010 our best year.

To all the new followers--thank you. Thank you very much for taking the time to follow my blog. I hope you'll join the conversation and leave a comment, but, if that makes you uncomfortable, you're welcome to lurk!

Join me on Wednesday when we'll discuss which old habits to embrace. They're not as bad as we think!

43 comments:

  1. Well this is refreshing! Can't wait for Wednesday. There are parts of the old me I like as well. Happy Monday Jill!

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  2. I agreee! Let's focus on what does work for a change. What a lovely post. Thanks! Hope to see you on www.bluamaryllis.wordpress.com soon.
    Maryse

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  3. What a fun idea. I'm totally all about the old me. I think I've become a pretty cool old me :) I'll embrace these ideas with you Jill!

    Can't wait to see you on Wednesday!

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  4. Excellent point Jill! There are a lot of things about the old me that may not have been so bad after all.

    See you Wednesday! Happy New Year!

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  5. Well, yes! Thank you, Jill, for this reminder that it's okay to be happy with who we are, to not feel some glaring reason to change. Thank you!

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  6. I like this post very much. It's good to remember all that we have accomplished in our lives.

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  7. I drink Coke before noon too! Shhh.....

    PS. I like the old me too. Great idea to examine what's working :D

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  8. ooo nice...starting out positive! So many people are so focused on what they need to improve on (which is ok) but sometimes it's nice to remind ourselves that we aren't all THAT bad and we have some good habits too :) I like starting out this way!

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  9. I'm okay with the old me too b/c the old me knew God and the old me wanted to change and the old me liked to learn.

    As long as the old me is slowly becoming new. I'm okay with both.

    Fun concept.
    ~ Wendy

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  10. Jill--you are made of awesome! I love the idea of embracing the things that work instead of focusing only on things that don't.

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  11. You always come up with an interesting twist for your blog posts! It is great to embrace those things that are working well - discipline for writing, consistent quiet times, etc. I love all of the possibilites 2010 has to offer! Looking forward to your post on Wednesday! Happy New Year!

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  12. Good Morning! So wonderful to be back into the routine.

    Katie: That's right!

    Maryse: Welcome! I'm thrilled you found my blog--look forward to learning more about you.

    Marybeth: I think you're pretty cool, too! :)

    Tamika: We don't have to start from scratch each year, right?

    Janna: Good point--I often look for glaring reasons to change.

    Tess: Right on! (I'm so proud of your recent accomplishments!)

    Georgiana: **Shhh...** :)

    Amber J: Me too! I get tired of setting myself up to fail.

    Wendy: Oh, yes! And the old me had such a great sense of humor!

    Kristen: Cheers!

    Danyelle: Oh yeah! Hope your move hasn't been too much "new" yet!

    Maria: That's right. We do so many things wonderful, let's focus on those!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  13. It's good to back conversing with my lovely blog friends after such a long break for me, Jill. And embracing some of the old me is a wonderful way to boost my mood in this too-quiet home. Thanks! Now I must dig deep to find what qualities I do want to keep. Oh, yes, my love of family and dedication to them and God is high up there.

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  14. This sounds lovely! I'll be sticking around to see how this new year unfolds for you. I hope nothing but prosperity and success for you!

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  15. I agree with Katie. This is refreshing. I think I'll take a moment today to consider what is working instead of focusing on what I need to change.

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  16. Great idea, Jill! Thanks for reminding us that "new" isn't always "better." Here's to a great 2010. Patrice

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  17. Happy New Year! I love thhe idea of embracing the parts of us we love that are old---hmm--can that be all of me considering my age!!LOL

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  18. Oh what a lovely thought...embracing the old me. I wonder if any magazines would like to buy an article like that? We are bombarded with pressure to improve. God must look down on all of us saddened that we don't like what he created! I am already looking forward to Wednesday to see how you follow this up!

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  19. LOL I like the old me too! Just ate five chocolate covered cherries, in fact, even though I had to buy new jeans to fit my booty. LOL
    Looking forward to your posts. ;-)

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  20. I love your way of thinking Jill! What a novel idea at this time of year... I think I kind of like myself the way that I am too. :)

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  21. Eileen: So glad you're back! I missed you. Hope your house doesn't feel lonely in the quiet.

    T.Anne: Wow! How generous! I'm throwing those beautiful thoughts right back at you! Let's both have a wonderful year. :)

    J.J.: Ha! :)

    Susan: Try it--it's fun!

    Patrice: "New" definitely is NOT always better!

    Terri: Hey, at least as our eyesight fades, we can't see the wrinkles as much :)!

    Wendy: Yes, I know God loves us as we are. If only we could see it.

    Jessica: I squeezed into some stretchy jeans, but I feel sorry for them. They weren't meant to handle me after 8,000 holiday parties!

    CMOM: You should! :)

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  22. Jill, I'm really bad about drinking coke before noon. Usually it's a diet Pepsi but that's the same thing. I've definitely eaten chocolate before noon, too, and that's definitely not something I'm planning on changing. As far as writing, there are many things I'd love to keep the same. I'm still deciding on the rest :) Happy New Year!

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  23. I embrace chocolate. I'm sure it's the bottom of the food pyramid.

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  24. Jill, I LOVE this post, because I LOVE the old me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

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  25. Me too, it'll just make me disappointed and depressed if I make resolutions and breka them. So I'm sticking to the nmaster plan.

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  26. I love this! I love to celebrate what we are doing RIGHT because too often we focus on what we're doing WRONG.

    I'm exercising, refocusing on my writing, and trying to stay focused on the Lord.

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  27. Cindy: That's why we have chocolate fudge pop-tarts: chocolate & breakfast!

    CJ: Absolutely!

    Maria S: Welcome! We're so hard on ourselves and then we give ourselves more reasons to beat ourselves up when we break resolutions. No fun!

    Melissa: Good for you! You sound energized!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  28. Hi Jill -

    I like the way you think. :)

    I'm thankful for all my blogger buddies and hope to do my part encouraging you. Blogging is one of my writing joys - love, love, love it!

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  29. That's so funny. I was reading your blog when your name popped across the bottom corner of my screen b/c I had received an email that you commented on my blog. The little things make me smile.

    I love your post. I, too, hate looking backward at the things I can improve on, but I'm inspired to look forward in an attempt to shake things up and reach for future goals.

    I've been awful about going to the gym lately, but that's okay, b/c I still managed to go spinning today. And, I had a Diet Dr. Pepper before noon, after already having a coffee. I'm okay with all that. My jeans will fit soon enough, too.

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  30. Great Idea! I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say on Wednesday. I like the idea of building on the positive things about us all.

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  31. Susan R.: You are always encouraging--thank you!

    Heather: Too funny! We're on the same wavelength. And I hear you on the Dr. Pepper after coffee yet before noon. High five!

    Sallyo: Yes, we are going to build on the positive!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  32. Yay! What a great idea. I'll be here!

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  33. Happy to be a lurker....:O)

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  34. This is the greatest blog!
    Hmmm. What works? It'll take till Wednesday to figure it out!!
    LOL!
    Patti

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  35. Erica: Yay!

    Destrella: Happy to have you lurk :)

    Patti: Don't be giving me a big head now! Thanks--it might take me a few months to figure out what works!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  36. yes, I like the old me.. the new me doesn't quite exist. So there.

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  37. Missed you Jill! But wasn't the blogging break really nice!? I really need to email you and catch up a bit. I keep having this thought that for some reason I forgot to finish filling out the Christmas card that I sent to you, and that when my kids sealed all of the envelopes, yours got sent out only half completed! Tell me it isn't so! :-) Please!!!

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  38. I like most of the old me, but can I make me to sleep less, so I can get more done every day? Tell us how to do that, please, without being Grumpity.

    Welcome Back!

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  39. Shelby: That's right! She doesn't even exist!

    Jody: I know! I need to e-mail you. I did get your card and it made me very happy. Your kids are the cutest things. Thanks!

    Jen: No, I can't make you sleep less, and I don't want you to. You need your beauty rest! You deserve it.

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  40. My eating habits aren't so good. I'd better find something else to love about the old me. I guess I love some things just fine. I'll come back and see what you have to say.

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  41. Nancy: I'll bet some of your eating habits are great. It can't all be bad, right? :)

    Thanks for stopping by!

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I love to hear from you!