A letter to myself looking forward to 2010

Gloria Swanson in "The Trespasser" 1928
Photo courtesy www.mptvimages.com

Dear Me,
  
Well, 2009 whizzed by, did it not? You blinked and with a flutter of a few eyelashes, a brand new year (and decade) is upon you, like a brand new baby dropped off on your doorstep. The doorbell rings and you open the front door to find at your feet an unmarked box housing a curious bundle.
  
For a moment, you contemplate just shutting the door and ignoring it altogether. But, despite your attempts of delaying the inevitable, you bring the box in and set it on your kitchen table. You open the box and lo and behold, it is the new year 2010 wrapped in white and silver tissue and fancy ribbons. The gift of the new year is like a newly washed blackboard, freshly fallen snow, an unopened box of chocolates, a restaurant you've never tried but always wanted to, a first date, a first kiss, a ripe peach ready to be eaten, or the moment you step onto sand on the first day of vacation. The new year is waiting for you to write a meaningful sentence with crisp new chalk, make snow angels on pure white fluffy snow, savor each chocolate like it is your last, order everything on the menu, flirt shamelessly on the first date with your future husband, hold your breath and let it out after that handsome future husband kisses you for the first time, relish each juicy bite of the perfect peach, and wriggle your toes in white soft sand while sipping a tall cocktail complete with pineapple slice and umbrella.
     
You feel like this on the first day of every new year...2010 is no different...a new year...a new decade...a clean slate...life is anew!
     
Things you need to do more of in 2010...
1. Kiss and hug your kids more everyday. Instead of 100 kisses and hugs, you need to give 101!

2. Kiss and hug your husband more everyday. Same math as noted above.

3. Actually sit down for at least 5-10 minutes while you drink your morning tea.

4. Walk the dog at least twice per day.

5. Cook with more flair and imagination (like your awesome weekend-chef-husband).

6. Read more (finish at least one book this year).

7. Write more (finish at least one chapter in your "Great American Novel").

8. Drink more water.

9. Exercise more (walking the dog does not count).

10. Take more vacations.

11. Go out on date nights with your husband.

12. Beat your husband at Scrabble (which includes getting more bingos).

     

Things you need to do less of in 2010...

1. Yell at the kids.

2. Yell at the dog.

3. Let dishes pile up.

4. Let laundry pile up.

5. Pass off McDonald's Happy Meals as lunch.

6. Obsess about shoveling the driveway.

7. Procrastinating and waiting to the last minute for EVERYTHING. This means you have to start Christmas shopping in January!

8. Being late for EVERYTHING.

9. Being so critical (of yourself) and obsessing about EVERYTHING!

10. Multitask less. Yes, I said it.

     

What you really need to do in 2010 is just enjoy life every day. You will always have your To Do lists but you must remember to stop moving sometimes and just breathe. Linger a few moments and then GO!

     

Happy New Year and Decade to me/you/Yen!

     

Yours affectionately,

Perfect Me

     

P.S. Stop blogging and go fix lunch. Put in a load of laundry while you're at it. And get the dog water and food as well. Vacuum the basement. Put away the dishes in the dishwasher. Shovel the driveway. Bake some cookies. Make a list or you'll forget!