It’s 2015, which means it’s time for New Year’s resolutions.  Here’s what I came up with:

1)   I will deal with change more gracefully.  I will accept that now there are dogs at the Humane Society that are simply too strong for me to walk, and find someone younger and stronger than me to walk the ninety-pound Mastiff that is bouncing off the walls of his run.  And I will stop being intimidated by the cosmetics counter at department stores. (My usual routine is to get in, get the product and get out before the twenty-something salesperson has the chance to get a good look at my face, and God forbid, feel the need to comment on it.)  Now I will just march right up to the cosmetics counter and take my time looking over the new products.  And when the sales person suggests I need a stronger concealer, I’ll just smile, thank her, and buy it.

2)  I will work harder at learning to master new technology, and be patient with myself as I learn how to do that.  Remember how I was going to change the ugly header of this blog right away?  It’s been almost a month now, and I still haven’t figured out how to do that.  But I will.  It might take me the better part of 2015, but I will figure out how to do it!

3)  I will offer more sympathy and understanding, and less opinion and advice.  I have a tendency to think that when someone is telling me about a problem, they are also expecting me to provide a solution to their problem.  Which means that all too often, I find myself telling people what they should do, when all they really want is someone to listen to them and validate what they are thinking and feeling.  That doesn’t come naturally to me, but I promise to work on it.

4) I will take better care of myself.  I may not always be happy with my aging face and body (why, and how, do the hairs that are disappearing from my eyebrows manage to reappear on my upper lip?  Seriously, what’s up with that?), but that’s no excuse not to take care of myself.  Middle age means getting a good night’s sleep, regular exercise, and eating healthy food is more important than ever.  And so is taking the time to read a really good book now and then.

5)  I will be open to all the wonderful opportunities and possibilities of this new year.  And that’s the most important resolution of all…..Happy New Year!!!!