What About New Years' Resolutions For You?

Last year I made a vision board for 2022. I didn't look at it more than a handful of times. Was it a waste of time to make it and post it? Probably not as I stopped thinking about new years resolutions right after.

So, what is on my mind for 2023 and what about you? Maybe you can relate to some of mine?

My daughter (47) is always going places with her family. She doesn't always tell me, but she put me on an app called Life360, so I can see where she and her husband and 3 children that drive are at any time I want to take a look.

And when they travel to fun places I ask for pictures and she posts them on Facebook, so I can save the ones I want.

My two boys and stepchildren are not as considerate. Ages 36, 41, 44, 47, 49, and 50. My daughter is the only one in the will! FYI: I don't have anything much to leave anyone, but she gets it!

When I talk about my children, it is usually about something they are doing. I was told that I talk about them like they are just kids. It is because I think of them that way. All of them. We have grandchildren that look like the picture above, but I think of our kids as looking like that.

I know they are grown and have families of their own. But really? Are they adults, peers in relationship to the folks? I hear parents say, my daughter is my best friend. My husband is mine. My daughter that is in my will is a close second. Then I have several friends that I consider besties.

I have prided myself on being a good listener, as a therapist, it is important. I don't want to be a therapist with my children, family, or friends, nor should I be. And that is no longer my job. I retired.

A friend said to me recently, "I don't have anyone to talk to about this, and I just want you to listen." I knew what she would be talking about as I have known her a long time. It was hard to not say anything. As soon as she dumped everything, I could tell she felt better, and then she had to go.

I'm glad I can do that for a friend, but it works two ways and in my later years I want to figure this out. Because I allow someone to have a one-sided conversation, do I really have a friend or has it been a therapy-type relationship? It is a temporary fix for her without therapy.

Having someone to listen is only a small part. I allow others, including a few of our children to do something similar. I want to figure this out and change this pattern in my old age.

I used to not want to go anywhere because our family is here in this state. Lately, I have been thinking that I know why some people are snowbirds. We have talked about getting an RV and traveling for part of the year. I am looking into that this year.

We have snowbird friends and I miss them when they are gone for 5 months or so. We missed the hubby's brother when he was gone and the in-laws.

I am tired of feeling sick. The side effects from the medication I take are responsible for some of it. I am tired of the specialists I see and my cancer concerns. I agreed to see a cancer psychologist starting tomorrow.

I agreed to start physical therapy, in a heated pool to build up my strength from losing much of it due to the side effects of the medication.

I am going to take a look at my part in relationships in my life. I want to be the very best wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend that I can be.

To simplify, I want a better 2023 and I am starting today.