Looking Ahead 2015

Last Saturday DH and I had a frugal evening out at a local pizza and pasta chain. I frequent this place with a group of friends several times a year, and it is also a gift card vendor of choice for a couple organizations I volunteer with.  I've previously signed up for the rewards program, and received a e-coupon for a free pizza last week.  This, combined with using one of three gift cards I had stockpiled, provided dinner with beer and an appetizer for just the $10 tip.  I'm never sure if you are supposed to use gift cards for tips or not, so we just left the $10, or 20% of the full bill without coupon. DD#2 rarely likes to go out for supper, and she was still basking in the glory of having received seven new books for Christmas and was in full marathon reading mode.  The restaurant was busy, but not crowded so we could take the rare opportunity to linger and really discuss priorities for the coming year. 

He is as equally tired of the clutter and backlog of procrastinated projects as I am.  My health issue, on top of the scare we had three years ago with him, nudged us both to the reality that health and wellness has to be out on the top of the priority list. Knowing we are now in the final 4 years of having a child at home means jump starting savings to be earmarked for college again must be high as well.  These are the practical, responsible things that we agree need to focused on.  Then there are the more ethereal priorities-the ones that make the day to day special, meaningful, and help put the bad days into a new frame of reference as only being a minor blip.

Many of the barriers to truly living meaningful in the day to day are a direct result of the concrete and tangible being some what mucked up.  Having friends drop in, sitting back with a bottle of wine, is not stress free when all you see are unfinished projects and messy clutter if not down right signs of poor housekeeping habits everywhere. Taking a long walk, a morning swim, or a game of tennis is difficult without the stamina, resulting in being wiped out as opposed to feeling invigorated. Fretting over any expense now, because of nagging fear of future tuition, induces guilt, robbing us of satisfaction.

These priorities will not be resolutions, but hopefully the result of my new resolves. I've decided that for my resolution for 2015, I will make efforts to develop better skills in the art of compromise and alternative choices or solutions. In terms of clutter control, there are hundreds of tips and strategies on the web, in magazine, on television and the newspaper.  I don't have to master all-I just need to come up with a few compromises and  options that work for me.  I don't have to cook from scratch every night, but I do need to get the processed and overly chemicalized garbage out of my kitchen. The 10 for $10 side dishes are filling, but not nourishing, and they have to go. This will mean very basic meals on the busy nights, and probably quite a few pieces of toast and a banana eaten quickly before rushing out the door, but the reduction in salt, fat, and preservatives will be worth it. I don't need to run three miles before work each day, but I can actually take my lunch break as opposed to eating at my desk, and using 10-15 minutes of it for a brisk walk outdoors. We don't need to say no to plans and evenings out, but we can spend 1/3 as much and invite friends over for drinks and snacks as an alternative once in a while. Our $60 pizza and beer night is evidence of that.

With that, I'm kicking off 2015.  It will be a year of new beginnings, as all new years are. I hit the mid century mark this year, and exciting and challenging events are on the horizon for friends and family.  Those momentous events will sure to be etched in my memories for years to come.  However, next year I want to look back and see more blurred lines between the calendar dates.  I want every day to be meaningful in its own right.  I think that is possible.