Resolutions? I prefer to call it Ambition.

Now I'm not particularly fond of New Years Resolutions. But I really dislike the statement "My New Years Resolution is to not make a New Years Resolution." If that statement has left your mouth before, then thats lame. I feel like calling it a resolution gives people the idea that when the resolution is broken, then they can't possibly attempt it again until the following year. For most of us that is within the first few days. Like uh oh...I promised to not eat junk food but now I stumbled into a McDonalds. Well there goes 2011.

My good friend, Stephanie, and I seem to have an ongoing list of "ambitions" as I like to call them. No not all of them started on the first day of the year. Whenever something happens that we don't like, then we just add it to the list. The list has gotten pretty lengthy, but I don't feel there is anything wrong with that. You should never stop trying to be a better person.

Here are a few:

1. Less Complaining. Just b/c I don't love my current situation doesn't mean everyone has to hear about it. I'll save it for Ruby.

2. Cook more - this should be easy. I simply can go from cooking nothing at all to cooking sometimes. Voila ambition completed.

3. Hate less - I seem to "hate" many things right now and thats not even a word I like to use. However, I did try goat cheese again and I still hate it. I'll let that one slide.

4. Love more - sounds cliche but sometimes I just need to remind myself of all that there is to love.

5. Cuss less. Okay okay okay...I don't have a sailors mouth by any means, but occasionally "damn" just seems appropriate. Well I'm gonna cut back. I've tried using other less offensive words, such as "rats" and "stink" and I get somewhat the same satisfaction. On another note - as I listen to the music I have playing while my blog is up, I realized a Mumford & Sons song I picked drops the wicked "F" bomb a few times. I apologize. However, I said I would cut down on the un-lady-like words. I can't say the same for Mumford & Sons.

6. Less couch-potatoing (yes I'm using that as a verb) and more activity! I always say there is nothing to do, but honestly I never look for much to do unless its knocking on my door. I'm going to try to be more proactive....even if this means going to the Western Horse Museum. Woo. Hoo.

7. Affirm more. I love the 5 love languages, but I do not speak the "Affirmation" love language. So I need to work on that b/c it is other people's love language. To start it off - Mom you are a wonderful woman and I love you more than words (and affirmation) could ever express!

8. Uh oh the dreaded EXERCISE MORE ! AAAAHHHHHH!!! Okay actually this one isn't terrible. I'll tell you why. The gym I go to always has Cash Cab on so I walk while learning meaningless trivia that I'll never use. Isn't that great?!?

9. Judge Less. I might not voice all the nasty little judgments I seem to come up with, but it doesn't mean I don't think them and it doesn't mean it makes them less hurtful. I have to remind myself that I have no right to judge. Hey it's a work in progress.

10. Travel to more places! Hey why not add something on the list that I absolutely LOVE to do!

These are not resolutions, but ambitions. I might stumble on these a lot, but it doesn't mean that I can just cross it off the list and better luck next year. I'm a work in progress...nothing wrong with that.