Exercise & Memorize

I think I’ve finally decided what my New Year’s resolutions will be.  Actually these are things that I’ve been thinking about for a while now, but the New Year and new semester just seem like a good time to put in a renewed effort at accomplishing them. 

One of my Christmas gifts this year was a very pretty little pocket-size notebook and I’ve been trying to decide how I would use it.  At first I thought I would keep it in my purse for lists and notes, but I made one grocery list in it and it just didn’t seem right to be crossing off eggs and milk on such pretty paper. So, I decided I needed something more substantial to be recorded there.  I decided I would use it as a “commonplace” book – a book that collects quotes, scriptures, recipes, or bits of knowledge and often around a theme. 

My theme will be prayer and scripture.  I would like to memorize some of the prayers from the Book of Common Prayer beyond what I’m already beginning to know deeply from repeated exposure at church.  I mean certain lines from the liturgy just seem to speak truths that I need to hear again and again like, “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open and from you no secrets are hid. . .”  My first scripture passage is going to be a review for me – Matthew 6: 24-34.  It will probably take me a while to get through it, but it is always good to remember Jesus’ words about trusting God for everything – even the little things! For a prayer, I was thinking I would pick one for each season of the church year starting with the season of epiphany. 

Another major resolution for me is to stop making excuses and exercise! Actually, I just weaned my youngest a few months ago and she is sleeping through the night in her own bed, which means I can get up early if I have to and/or expect to get a predictable amount of sleep.  Both of which have been essential to any of my past success at regular exercise.  I won’t go into too much detail about my exercise plan, because it seems like whenever I do share too much about an exercise plan that’s all I really end up doing.  I’m hoping to really stick with it this time, so I’ve decided I’d better say less J

         So that’s it.  Exercise and memorize.  I’m hoping that’s going to be my focus for 2010.  What are you thinking about? Do you have something you want to focus on this year?