happynewyear2022kimblog

Project Birthday...on the Main Line

Hi Neighbor! It’s hard to believe that the holiday season has come and gone, and, another year at that! I’ve never really felt the “new” of the New Year.  To me, September has much more…

Hi Neighbor!

It’s hard to believe that the holiday season has come and gone, and, another year at that!

I’ve never really felt the “new” of the New Year.  To me, September has much more of a fresh start feeling.  Maybe it’s the start of the back-to-school routine, or maybe it’s the visual change that happens in the transition from summer to fall, but I embrace the start of fall with the mindset of “new.”  There are new activities for the calendar, new flavors (pumpkin spice, anyone?), new (gorgeous) sights and (delicious) flavors, and a new crisp in the air that announces that the winds of change have arrived.  See?  I’ve convinced you, haven’t I?  Fall is the “new” fresh start.  I proclaim it officially (kidding, kidding)!  January just feels “blah” to me.  There isn’t much of anything “new,” but, here we are – Happy NEW Year!

One New Year’s tradition that I HAVE actually grown to love is the making of resolutions.  A few years ago, newly divorced and muddling through all of the feelings and forgotten routines of being on my own again, I admittedly let some of my usual habits fall to the wayside.  I grew up with the expectation of my bed being made everyday and have been a practicer of that rule for most of my adult life.  Well, while in that weird “newly and sadly” divorced phase, bed making ceased.  As I sat alone on New Years Eve reflecting and thinking about the “new” year that would most certainly be better, I decided that I would start making my bed again.  That was it – my big resolution.  But you know what?  Every morning when I finished piling on the throw pillows (I have a slight obsession), I felt a little sense of accomplishment.  It did wonders for my broken spirit.  Isn’t it amazing how much power there is in small victories?!  I’m proud to report that my bed was made every single day of that year, and it has been ever since.

This year, I’m re-inventing a “project” that I started during Lent years ago.  This may be an unpopular idea, but, I sometimes like to take something ON during Lent instead of giving something up.  So, years back, my “project” during Lent was about all birthday cards.  There is nothing better than getting REAL mail as an adult, and so often we only get bills and junk.  Adult birthdays can be a little bit ho-hum too, and I like making a big deal about birthdays!  I sat down with my calendar, marked down my loved ones’ birthdays, bought and filled out cards, addressed and stamped the envelopes and clothes-pinned the cards to the wall next to may calendar.  Each month when I’d flip the page of the calendar, I’d unclip the cards to be mailed, add “mail card” to my daily planner where needed, and then send accordingly.  I did this almost without fail for almost a decade.  Admittedly, 2020 and 2021 have not been my best years for birthday cards.  I’ll give myself a little bit of grace since life has been anything but normal for everyone, but, enough is enough.  So, my 2022 resolution is to resurrect “Project Birthday.”  The pile of cards is enveloped and ready, and I’m excited to celebrate my special people with some good ole’ mailbox cheer.  I’m hopeful that this will be another resolution success!

I wish for everyone a 2022 of health, heart-warming moments and small victories.  Happy New Year!

Warmest regards,

Kim

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