All is quiet on New Years Day and still quiet two days later...

I am enjoying the quiet of this hour, husband still at work, cats asleep. I am rested and feeling better after staying home from work today with a sort of stomach ailment. I have the house in order and I am armed and ready to take on an entire new year.

Christmas is 356 days away and I will take one step at a time to get there. I did not make any unrealistic promises to myself with resolutions. I did however allow myself to believe that I will strive to live healthier this year...

When I want cookies I will have one and not three, when I want pasta I will not eat as if Italy has ceased to exist and I will never be able to consume Italian again. I fully and freely give myself permission to let my imagination run wild and write anything and everything I can possibly put down in print! I will dream and not be upset when things do not go my way because I know that I am not in control of the way. I will photograph everything I get within my sights. I will make decisions that are weighed and not made from secondhand information. I will buy things that I can afford and I will not want for more. I will feel only kindness toward myself and I will do my best to stay out of prison! These are all highly doable items.

I will face this year being brave of heart. I will not back down from any challenge. I will continue to strengthen the amazing friendships I have and I always welcome meeting new people. I will love my family ferociously. I will be honest with myself and others and I will use the following writing as my survival guideline for 2011...Happy New Year one and all.

I require

I require a soft cushion of light to embrace me always, moreover the awareness that it comes from inside

I require laughing in the face of the ugliness of this world while holding it in a space of beauty

I require to be treated impartially as I will, unfailingly, treat others in this manner

I require attention from you that is positive and leaves out the static

I require liberty to unfurl my wings and glide even flit about, should this be my care

I require that I am seen through forgiving eyes of love and kindness

I require knowledge that when faced with uncertainty, I shall not waiver my strength

Instead I will rush forth to meet it head on and be confident I am on the right path

I require being present in every waking moment of my life

I require being my best with you by my side however, to know when you are absent, I am still my finest

I require accepting no judgments pertaining to myself which are not truthful, especially from me.