Let's See How I Do With This One.

Rather than making a laundry list of resolutions like I have done every other year, this year I have decided to keep things simple and manageable. I have one resolution; To Breathe.

This resolution revelation came to me in Saturday's yoga class when my favorite instructor, Ms. Emily Phillips, put her hands on my back and said "breathe in 2010, breathe out 2009." And just like that I did.

I know this concept seems simple but I can think of countless ways that this can help me in my life.

• As I have said before, I am severely lacking in my ability to be patient. Somehow I just didn't get that gene. I am extremely reactionary with my little man, my husband, my family, my contractors, and with the guy that cuts me off on the highway. I sometimes feel like I go from 0 to 60 in about 2 seconds (often in less time than that.) While I am not a yeller, I absolutely do get myself more worked up than typically is necessary. In turn I have noticed that those around me, ahem my little man, do the exact same thing. For the past few days before I react I have been trying to take a minute, take a deep breath, and then chose my course of action. I have already noticed a positive difference with my son, and in the environment around me.
• I think I need to take the time to appreciate where I am at more (aka breathe, relax, enjoy.) I am a total perfectionist which means that I am always striving for perfection. I did this in life, school, my career, my marriage, and with my son. While I recognize that there is no such thing as perfection, it hasn't stopped me from trying to achieve it. This exercise is not only exhausting but it is also futile. I need to take more time to appreciate what I have, what I have done to get here, and enjoy my life (which luckily for me happens to be the life that I have always wanted.) No more obsessing over what's next or what my next move is. This type of thinking has just made me feel restless. This year, this decade, I would like to live more in the now. No more living in the future, it will be here soon enough.
• I really need to breathe more in my yoga practice. I find that I am strong enough to get into some of the more challenging poses that I have been working so hard to achieve, but when I get there I have completely lost my breath. In fact, a lot of the time I am actually holding it until the posture is over. This is probably the most counterproductive thing that you can do in yoga, so this year my focus is not the pose, but rather the breath that leads me into it. Really, isn't that the point anyway?
• The list goes on and on...

So there it is. One resolution. Breathe in 2010, breathe out 2009.

(Photo credit: from here.)