New Years Resolutions 2015

I have never been big on New Years Resolutions. In fact, there are a lot of things about the American New years that I do not understand. I mean, really, what is the point of watching a ball drop. That is what everybody (okay, not everyone but a lot of people I know) looks forward to on New Year's Eve. It doesn't even drop fast,or explode. It is very anti-climactic in it's slowly dropping, color changing that I get way too bored and I don't see what the hype is about. If anyone can explain this American Tradition,to me, please...leave a comment because I truly don't understand.

Although I do not understand the whole, ball dropping thing. I do like that New Year's drives people to make goals to better themselves in some way or another. I think that it is important to have goals and so I made a small list of ways that I would like to improve.

1. I would like to be a better wife. I want to communicate better with my husband and show himthat I love him in a way that he understands. Our "love languages" are just so different but I really want to try hard to show him I love him. We don't see each other much since I have started working, which only means that I need to work harder at communicating.

2. I want to be a better sister to my brother-in-law,sister-in-law and brother. Most of this has to do with communication, sending letters,emails and actually getting gifts out on time. My sister-in-law is not at home and I have neglected talking with her because I didn't know what to say about some of the decsisions she has made for herself. My brother and I don't really talk much and even though I have tried, I know that I have not tried hard enough.

3. I want to be a better aunt to my niece and nephew. This means being a part of their life, somehow and getting gifts out on time.

4. Communicating better with my family. I am terrible about not sending e-mails or calling my family. Not because I don't like them and being busy isn't an excuse. I have actually written on my calendar a sort of schedule to get me started with e-mailing my family and keeping in touch. Most of my family is out of state and the closest family is a few hours away, so frequent visits are not always an option.

5. I would like to read more. I would like to read more professional literature so that I can stay caught up in education.

I think that these goals are a good start. I didn't do it just because of New Years but I did need to start making some goals. The big trend seems to be communication.  I made sure to specify how I know I have reached these goals because things like "Lose weight" doesn't have a number so if that was my goal and I lost two pounds, I would have reached it. I find that it is better to be sepecific in goals.

What are some of your New Year's Resolutions or goals?  Please, feel free to comment below.

The "Husband Interview"

Last night, my husband and had a little chat. It was more like coming to terms with the fact that we are both so busy trying to make a life for our family that we forget to make time for US. And the US is a very important thing in marriage. We don't quite seem to be on the same page anymore and we both understand that a wedding doesn't make a marriage. The people who are in the marriage (the bride and groom) do.

Love isn't a feeling or a noun, it is a verb. An action word. A word that needs another verb, communication. Which is a word that we feel we have been lacking in the bustle of life.

So, my solution? Or the start of it, was to create a "Husband Interview" while he was sleeping. I wrote down all of my questions and asked that he write or type his answers so I can read them and we might be able to talk about them.

Here are my questions:

1. What are your goals?
2. What are the top 3 things that you like about yourself?
3. What are 3 things that would change about yourself?
4. How do you feel about our marriage?
5. What can I do to be a better wife?
6. When do you feel happiest? Angriest? Most loved?

And then a quick think "A few of your favorite things"
Book
Movie
Actor
Actress
Quote
Vehicle model
Destination
Animal (domestic and wild)
Color
Flower
Board Game
Hobby/Pass time
Name (Boy and Girl)
Food/Meal
Number, why?
Season
Holiday
Memory

_____________

I also invited him to create questions for me so that I can answer them. I wanted us to write them down so that I can keep them as a refection and that way I don't mishear anything he says. I intend to give the first six questions to him, every year, at least once. Because I really do want to be a good wife and I don't think I can do that when I don't know his goals or how I can improve.

Communication doesn't always have to be by mouth. Sometimes, it is easier when it is written because you can't mishear and the words are in front of you so you can talk about it.

If you have thoughts or comments, I invite you to post them below. What do you do to keep the communication open with your spouse or significant other?