the new year ahead

I ended the new year, and will start the new one tomorrow, with a nice crisp morning run.

Every year I shy away from running outdoors when temperatures suddenly drop to the 20s and 30s, and snow and ice start taking over the roads. But every winter I finally get out there and get back in the game. I'm happy to say that it just happened over this vacation. It's just a mental shift to get used to running in cold weather. With the right clothing, no big deal. That cold, fresh outdoor air is invigorating when you're spending most of your time inside.

I'm not one for New Year's resolutions. It seems that most of the time they're not met. Smoke and mirrors, I tell you! And, if I want to make a change in my life I'll just do it whenever it makes sense to. Making a big deal out of it at the new year isn't my style. It is nice to start a new year with a good run, a positive outlook for the future, and maybe a plan or a list of things to accomplish over the course of the year. It's also interesting, now that we have Celia, to think about all the things we've done and how much life has changed in just one year. Celia has grown out of babyhood into a bright, happy little girl (although if you ask her, she will tell you "I a BIG girl!"). Chris and I have grown even more comfortable in our roles as parents. We finally feel like we know what we're doing (most of the time), and we're confident in our style of parenting. As Celia has grown older and as we developed a good schedule for her, we were able to use our time in a more balanced way. As wonderful as it is, it's also hard being the mother of an infant. It's hard to retain your sense of self when your identity is wrapped up in someone else's. With a baby attached to you almost constantly, there isn't even time to pee by yourself, let alone pursue a hobby. This year Chris and I had more time to ourselves. He spent a lot of time involved in business school (poor guy- hopefully his free time will be more fun next year). I trained for a marathon! But we also came to accept and love that we will have a little person following our every move, clinging to us, and needing our attention most of the time. This was a year of big change for our little family.

I have a feeling 2011 will be full of even more changes...

A lot of things are in flux right now. Chances are, I wouldn't meet all of my specific goals if I set out to reach them this year alone. Chris will earn his MBA this spring! He may start at a new job. His hours may change. I may lose the luxury of having him at home in the evenings if his new job carries a lot of responsibility. We may move. We may renovate our current house. I may get pregnant. We may even be a family of four by 2012.

This year, I think I should be able to:

• Continue running at whatever level makes sense.
• Continue my other favorite past time of reading pretty much anything I can get my eyes on: fiction and nonfiction, books, mags, newpapers, blogs. 
• Run some races.
• Continue this blog. It's become so much: a journal, photo album, baby book, runner's log, creative outlet, and even a way to meet and become friends with new people. 
• Continue the progress I've made with my change to a vegan diet: keep finding new recipes, and learn more about how to find things to eat when I'm not eating at home. 
• Do some fun new things with Celia, especially over the summer.
• Be a better and more patient wife to my Blub. I have come far with patience, having a toddler. The problem is, Blub is not a toddler and I have slightly higher expectations for him. Regardless of my expectations, who he is (and the fact that he is a man with a man brain- no offense guys, we're just wired differently) isn't going to change and that's okay. So I might as well try to be more patient and less exasperated and we'll all be happier.

The following are things I won't accomplish in the next year, or even the next several years. This is more a list of things I'd like to do someday. 

• Take a photography class or two. I have grown to love taking pictures, and I think I have a good eye that could be developed further if I actually learned how to take good pictures.
• Run another marathon.
• Run several more marathons.
• Run marathons much faster.
• Travel to fun and far away places to run marathons.

Do you see a trend here? ;)

• Get a custom design for the blog.
• Get back to singing in a really good choral group (did you know I was a singer? I had to leave my group when Pita was born. Someday I hope to return). 
• Get back to playing the piano. This is nearly impossible with a Pita underfoot. 
• Maybe someday do something more with writing than just the blog. 

It's a tall order; that's why I don't play to complete these things any time soon! I sure do have a wide variety of interests though.

It has been a good year. I honestly have no idea what 2011 will have in store for us, but I can't wait to find out.

Now if you'll excuse me, Chris is blowing dust off our champagne flutes and popping open a bottle we've had sitting around for about four years. I guess you could say we're not big champagne drinkers. We've had it chilling in a cooking pot.

Happy New Year everyone!