I am over and done with resolutions--I chose to leave them alone a few years back.  I think they encourage elation and burnout and I choose instead to try more often than not to take the middle road (ha-ha to that says the newest member of our family).  But.  BUT, I do really like the idea of having a general theme or idea to accompany the year.  A word can be attached to so many ideas and liken itself to different approaches.  After tossing around several ideas ("transpired" was rejected because it seemed to say that something was wrong with the present.  while there are some changes I welcome I think I'm generally living a pretty great life.  similarly with "reinvent".  "Empowered" sounded good at first, but I already feel that way so it didn't excite me.)  I wanted a word that celebrates who I already am but brings in a bit more life.  I'm thinking "inspired" has the right connotation.  Some synonyms are: energized, motivated, take responsibility for, moved by supernatural powers (? well okay).  So inspired it is.

To start off I chopped off about four years worth of hair.  I had gotten in cut like maybe six times in the last four years and it was the longest it has ever been in my life.  I had loved simplicity of wearing it up in a bun and  it felt like the right fit for my self-identity (granola-ish momma).  Well, all good things must come to an end.  I used to change my hairstyle all the time.  Like allllllll the time.  So, settling into one hairstyle was a nice change.  But then, it started to feel like I was being suffocated by it--by the identity I had attached to it.  I still am a granola-ish momma--but I'm a lot more too.  After it all started to fall out in massive clumps (thanks hormones!) I knew it needed to come off asap--and definitely before the new year.  I made the appointment for 12/31 and bam!  done.  Right now every time I look in the mirror I'm reminded that I'm reclaiming other aspects of my life this year.  Inspired.  I'm liking it.