Planning for the New Year

My employer gave us Christmas, and the Tuesday following, off from work. I took vacation days for the remainder of the week. Today, being the last “vacation day”, I took the kids to the YMCA for some swimming. I didn’t get a whole lot of exercise, but we did have a lot of fun. We reeked of chlorine when we returned home.

As my vacation comes to end, so does 2006. I have begun to draw up the plans for 2007. I have reviewed the race calendars and made a list of races that I am “considering” for the upcoming year. Though I would love to schedule a marathon in the spring, it is too early in the recovery from my peroneal tendonitis, and contused cuboid (foot bone), to commit. I have my eye on a few shorter to half-marathon races for the early part of the year. Trail races have also drawn my eye a bit more than in the past.

I am not big on New Year’s resolutions. At the end of last year, however, I had a couple of things on my list of things to work on in 2006. Today, I looked back to see if I had accomplished what I had “resolved” to change in 2006.

Last year, reflecting on the loss of my stepfather, I noted that 2005 was a difficult year. The song, “Live Like You Were Dying”, had meaning that hit hard. I learned that no matter how young you are, it doesn’t mean that you will live for many years on end.

In 2006, there were more loved ones lost in addition to many that are fighting the good fight to remain with the living. As I sit typing this, we are dressed for another rosary. It’s another reminder for us to show those that we care about all the love that we feel.

Along these lines, at the end of last year, I resolved to stop myself from going overboard in arguments, and saying things that I would later regret. I did that this past year, but the outcome wasn’t all good. There were times when I let the harsh words of others linger in mind head for days. I would sit in pain, waiting for an “I’m sorry” that was never said. It only hurt me more. For some reason, I did this even more in the days when I was not able to run due to my injury.

I realize that it is those who love you the most that often hurt you the most (and visa versa). They have the ammunition, and know the fragile spots best. Rather than destroy each other over little things that don’t even matter, I want to strengthen my relationships.

In 2007, I would like to be better at forgiving and forgetting. I don’t want to let the hurtful words bring me down. I have not been a saint either, so I will continue to strive to be kind, and to show those around me the better side of Juls.

Another item on my list was to give more hugs. I did that too. It’s pretty easy with YaYa. He is a hugging machine (except if he thinks any of his schoolmates might see). BoBo, however, is rapidly delving into his teen years in the most major way. Hugging his Mom is not exactly at the top of his list. I will take what I can get, even if I have to arm wrestle him to get it.

Of course I am joking. BoBo has hugged me four times in the past 30 minutes. It’s sort of a celebratory hug as he beats the NCAA ’07 PlayStation game. I think he is a little too into the game. He’s acting like he is the QB on the TV screen.

Well, I must be going. Along with tears to be shed, there are plenty of hugs to give and get tonight, and my big brother has text messaged me three times to say that he doesn’t know anyone at the rosary. Later.