Countdown To 2015

Three days remain in 2014 and I have to say I will be happy to see this year end and the next one begin. Of course, calendars are rather arbitrary - numbers on a schedule that have become accepted and commonplace. But since most of the people I interact with (and I suspect most of those you interact with as well) use a standard calendar that will switch to a new year on Thursday, we're all in this arbitrary mess together.

The calendars just keep track of time for us. It's almost time to put
new calendars up, though. Yippee! I love new pictures...

I'm looking forward to 2015 in many ways. I'll have some exciting classes at Bead & Button Show in June once more, I'll have an opportunity to write again now that my crazy November/December schedule is kaput, and I hope to switch my schedule somewhat so that I can add exercise to my menu. I am appalled at how much weight I allowed myself to gain over 2014 and need to remind my body that it can move again. I'm seriously thinking about joining my local YMCA and will look farther into that on Wednesday.

I want equipment that I don't have at home, and I want to take some
classes because I always do better in a group. DH, on the other hand, prefers
to exercise solo and just doesn't understand my need to have others around me. 

2015 is supposed to be the year that I retire. I'm really hoping that will come to pass because I'm sick and tired of working as much as I do and I want more free time to be able to take an exercise class or a class in creative writing or drawing if I want. But saying that I want to retire and having it happen when you own your own business is a bit harder than putting in a 30-day notice. It's a firm goal of mine, though, and even though I have no idea how I'll accomplish this, I'm going to be working towards it every day.

I'm looking forward to retirement in so many ways, but if I can't get
a handle on my physical condition, retirement won't be enjoyable at all. 

Yesterday I had time with the family to celebrate the holidays. DH and I went to the new house that my sister-in-law and her youngest daughter purchased and joined the rest of the family there. It was a huge group of people - all eight of my sister-in-law's children, their spouses and the various children all gathered in the new digs sharing football, food and gifts (kids only). It was really nice, although three hours was my limit. The new house they purchased in the spring is lovely and very roomy. That's good because it's two families merging there. There's plenty of room for everyone to be available for each other and still stay out of each other's way when necessary. I envy my niece her beautiful new kitchen complete with a skylight. It was great to see everyone - lots of hugs.

Look back once to see how far you've come, but then
turn around and look ahead. 

As we go into the last days of the year, I usually join the pack and look back on the year past. All in all, it was a good year. There was room for improvement, but I'm pretty happy all around. I hope, when you look back at 2014, you'll be happy with your accomplishments for the year too.