Now that we’ve entered the 13th b’ak’tun of the Maya Long Count Calendar and are only 4-plus days before the start of the New Year (Julian calendar), TAKE ONE STEP NOW toward a goal you didn’t yet achieve.
C’mon, you say you didn’t make any resolutions at the beginning of the New Year?
The New Year still remains a mark of a new beginning–a time for hope and a fresh start.
Look forward to a new beginning and feel better about yourself by taking just one step, now.
On most New Years’ eve mornings, I take several hours to look back on the year. It feels as if I’m looking in my rear view mirror at the roads I’ve traveled. The view is often framed as a picturesque painting, except on a rare occasion.
Late this year, for the first time in my life, I went on a diet after 15 extra pounds attached themselves onto my body. Sure, the last several years, my LIFE road has crossed menopause, hypothyroidism, and cravings for chocolate. But I had enough when I felt my belly jiggle each time I drove up the bumpy road to my home. Then I saw another woman trying on clothes in Macy’s dressing room. Fat hung from her waist. When I looked up at her face, I saw ME! By August, I decided to lose 15 pounds. I have about 5 – 6 more to go.
As I get ready to change lanes into the New Year, I look left and right for potential obstacles.
While trying a lifestyle lane change with diet and exercise, a LOT of obstacles like celebrations, dinners with alcohol, and delectable desserts make it almost impossible to move forward. Although, I don’t deny myself some of these temptations; I am mindful about using small plates and bowls and drink far less than a college student. These days, more than two drinks take away the inhibitions and the calories add up; so, I often opt for water.
Join me in looking back then carefully navigating past the obstacles to change lanes in the New Year.
Hope reigns anew that a simple transition from December 31st to January 1st will bring a new beginning.
On New Year’s Eve, join me. I’ll be reviewing the handful of goals I wrote at the start of the year. I am amazed each year how many of them see the light of day. Sometimes, even with life’s unexpected twists and turns, the spirit of the goals carry throughout the year; whether the actual goal is realized or something different.
Join me again, on New Year’s Day. I’ll be up early setting forth a rough map for the New Year. I’d like to have a sense of where I’m going.
We have the power to choose which roads we will travel in the coming year.
Brenda Avadian, MA
TheCaregiversVoice.com
For a different perspective on setting goals, and the old Harvard study, read CEO.com read Consider NOT Setting Goals in 2013
Don, your comment leaves me feeling all tingly.
First, because of the challenges you have endured; despite, others lack of understanding of what was really going on. This is why it’s important to ask a lot of questions of a caregiver and really understand the answers.
Second, because of the undying love and commitment you have shown to Marie through all of this. I am glad you have been able to find those JOYFUL moments, like when the two of you celebrated your anniversary at the GMA show.
Finally, because of your thanks for The Caregiver’s Voice. For anyone reading these comments, please visit TCV’s Caregiver of the Month – Don Mc Cormick
Brenda, Well here I go. As I reflect on the past year, I have had many good and bad times.
The year started out fairly well with the Lewy Body kicking my butt but at least it wasn’t that bad. (Well it’s always bad but what can you do?) I got throught the winter because I had found a support group (Facebook/MP) which has a lot of fantastic members like Gary Le Blanc, Marcus Bennett, Bernadette Brady to mention a couple. They had really helped me get through some tough times. I made the mistake of probably saying more then I should say and after an incident where Marie and I had thrown water at each other, the leaders of the group turned me into Social Services for abuse. I had expessed times when I yelled, kicked pillows etc all they tell you to do to relieve the stress. I had done the yelling etc outside the room where Marie was but I just never said it that way. That was in July when Marie was improving a lot. That incident when the Adult Protective Services came to to door threw Marie into a tizzy. She was so afaid that I was going to be taken away or her away from me. Then they kicked me out of the group for no reason. I did not agree wth the “Execute Administrator” that Marie should be in a home, the worst thing fr LBD. The result was not what these two wanted but it did make Marie and I stronger for each other.
Changes of some drugs caused UTI’s which bring out the worse in some especially Lewy Body dementia. Because of these drugs, my loved one has suffered about 8 UTI’s in the last year. The increase it the Exelon Patch in October had helped the cognition for about a month but now it has slipped back to where it was and the hallucinations are a little worse.
All of this and then finding out our primary caregiver, Juanita, needs another Kidney transplant. Her health is not well. So the ending of this year causes me great concern. There is a lot of medical information about possible help for Parkinsons’s which Marie has as well, so we are hoping and praying that this will help.
To close I had a very good moment last night when Marie had tears in her eyes. I asked her what was wrong. Her Response was “I just want to thank you so much for being such a good husband and sticking with me through this”!!! I thanked her for being here for me all these 48 years and for what she has done for me. That one moment made me realize that she really does know who I am and what I do. What a blessing to have her say that to me. I love my Marie very much and hope and pray to God that there is a cure for Parkinson’s, Lewy Body Dementia and other illinesses this year. fnding the Caregivers Voice and being caregiver of the month lifted my spirits as well. Thank you and praying for the cures.
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for the reminder! I must have been in the fitting room next to you because I saw the same woman! LOL! I am trying on some new goals myself this new year! Thank you for all your wonderful work on this site!
Sheri Zschocher
LOL! I love it, Sheri!
Brenda