Hello 2011

I had some trouble coming up with a word for 2011. It's going to be a big year - I'm doing a Dip Ed Bachelor of Teaching this year, on campus at UTS Kuring-gai. Charlie starts school, and Ben starts at a new school with a whole host of extra-curricular activities.

One of my focuses recently has been food - eating a better variety and only eating food I actually want to eat, rather than whatever's in front of me.  I had considered "mindfulness" or some such, but it feels a little proscriptive - something I can fail at, rather than something to improve my life.

Then I was writing a comment on Samantha's post about New Year's resolutions, and "energy" popped into my head. That feels right. "Energy" will be my word for 2011. Mostly it's about an attitude shift - trying hard to work on the assumption that I do have the energy to get through the day, rather than assuming I'm too tired, and I need to get some more sleep, or eat better or whatever else before I can really tackle the housework/get myself moving more/study full time. It's also about doing the things I know help with my energy levels. Good breakfasts, belly dancing, listening to music, varied diet with lots of fresh stuff. "Energy" will sit comfortably with my efforts to approach food in a more sensible way, and will also hopefully improve my overall mood and if I'm really lucky, might even increase my patience! (Or perhaps that should be if my family is really lucky...)

So what's 2011 going to be for you? Do you have resolutions? General or specific goals? Are you just glad to see the back of 2010, or are you hoping for more of the same?