The Best I can Be

This is my second attempt at this entry.  AOL ate my first attempt!  But I think it's terribly exciting to be here and I find it fascinating that I can post entries here.  Thanks so much for including me!

For those who don't know me, my name is Jeanne.  I am 46 years old and have been married to the same guy for 20 years.  We have three great teenage kids.  Kaitlin is 19 and is in her second year of college to become a Music Teacher.  Kelly is 16 and  Junior in High School and Brian is 13 and in 8th grade.  I live in Southern NJ and I am a very busy stay at home mom.  I am the President of the High School Music Boosters Association and I do volunteer work for the Ronald McDonald House and Cathedral Kitchen.  I'm also a ChemoAngel and on the PTA at the Middle School. 

I have alot of goals for 2008.  One of them is to "clean out the old."  I have so much crap in my house that really needs to go.  Unfortunately, hubby decided that we should start TODAY, so this morning we were cleaning out the attic.  It's a refreshing feeling though.  I am one of those people who can't stand clutter.  If my house is cluttered...my brain is cluttered too and then I can't think straight.  So I am all into getting rid of stuff.  Today the attic...tomorrow we attack the basement.

In 2008 I also want to exercise more, eat healthy and lose 50 lbs.  Keep in mind, I wanted to do that in 2007 too, but I wasn't very successful!  This seems to be one of the hardest things for me to accomplish.  I have such a hard time.  I'm a busy person who is always in a hurry and eating healthy and exercising takes so much planning and organizing.  I just want to "grab and go" and usually those foods are not the healthiest choices.  Plus, my brain craves "comfort foods" and those aren't always good either!  I need to retrain my brain to think they are!  This will probably be my biggest challenge for 2008 and I would love all of the advice and support I can get!!

Those are two of my bigger goals for 2008.  What are yours?

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• #6 Comment from helmswondermom 
  1/6/08 11:59 AM | Permalink

  Very nice entry.  I know how it is to be so busy that you don't really have time to take care of yourself.  It sounds like you have your hands full.  I hope you are able to reach your goals.  I have a lot of de-cluttering to do myself, and some weight to lose.
  Lori
  http://journals.aol.com/helmswondermom/DustyPages/
• #5 Comment from nanmm11 
  12/30/07 2:47 PM | Permalink

  As most of us do put ourselves last on the list of "things to do", let us all make a pledge to finally put us on the top so that we can be there for all those important people in our lives. I'm getting very excited here and the momentum is building to the start of a new healthy,smoke free "best I can be" person in 2008!!
                               Here's to us all,may we reach all of our goals!!
                                             HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!
  Nancy
• #4 Comment from lifes2odd 
  12/29/07 11:22 PM | Permalink

  Jeanne,
  
  I work full time, take care of my home, my family, do all the cooking, cleaning, errands and most everything in-between, I'm super busy but my schedule is never as hectic and crazy as yours is! You do so much for everyone in you life. I've been reading your journal for a long time and I really don't know how you do it!
  
  The only thing I can think of as far as advice for you goes for your 2008 goals is that you need to make your own health and fitness just as important of a priority as everyone and every thing else in your busy life. It's hard, I know. I had to learn to say no to many things I normally did when I decided my health had to come first (gave up being the coordinator for the PTO, gave up being class mom for all three kids, gave up attending every last practice and game no matter what sports the kids were involved in). It was hard, but woth it. I have so much more quality time with my family now and that's really the most important thing, right?
  
  If you aren't healthy you can't take care of others. You need to put you first for once!
  
  Love you, Martha :-)  
• #3 Comment from monicasmemoirs 
  12/29/07 7:31 PM | Permalink

  WoW, you have a full plate iwth all the activities!  De-cluttering seems to be a goal for many of us.  I think I'd like to get some of the items out and maybe sell them on e-bay.  Then take that money and put it toward my vacation. Comfort food is a big thing for me - certain foods just provide comfort and I need to find other ways to comfort/soothe myself.
  
  I'm looking forward to seeing all of us achieve our goals!  Welcome to the group! :-)
  
  Monica
  
  
• #2 Comment from lsfp1960 
  12/29/07 6:37 PM | Permalink

  I have to de-clutter too.  Maybe we could just trade stuff!  That wouldn't solve the problem completely but at least we'd have new stuff to look at.  Linda in Washington state http://journals.aol.com/lsfp1960/LindasWorld/