Last Flower Standing: 2014 Resolution!

I don’t, well, didn’t believe in New Year’s resolution. I used to think that starting a good habit, or anything good really, doesn’t need to wait for January 1. Well, I still do, actually. However, many things happened in the past couple of weeks which forced me to do a lot of thinking of rethinking in my ways and habits, and I decided to improve myself.  Also, Hubby does believes in NYR, so it’s just convenient to start over, sort of pushing a reset button, for 2014 with him.

Some time ago, I made a list of winter resolution, whichyou can read here. Now, some I have kept successfully, some I have not. Here’s the summary:

Eating more fiber, daily

I’m happy to report that I succeeded! Well, relatively speaking anyway. What I did is the lazy way. I prepared vegetable and fruit smoothies every night before bed time, and drink it first thing in the morning when my stomach is still empty. I make smoothies for my husband as well. Before starting this healthy habit, I usually catch a cold like four times a year. My husband usually has a problem with his throat about every other month. Now, the number of sick days have gone down to almost non existent.

Arriving at work a little bit earlier, everyday

Happily, this one works, too! I set my alarm one hour earlier everyday. It took me a while, but after about a month I got used to it. I guess my boss is happy with this one, too! Lol.

Keeping up with my daily dose of Bible reading

Failed. Since I had my baby, I very rarely open the Bible. That’s why I include it here again in my 2014 Resolution.

Anyhow, here’s my 2014 resolution and most importantly HOW I plan to stick to them.

Going to Church regularly

Hubby used to attend mass weekly before he married me. I didn’t go to Church unless I felt like I wanted to, which was very rare. Hubby tried to invite me to get into the habit of going to Church regularly, but I was too lazy. Sadly, finally Hubby succumb to my bad habit of skipping mass, since he didn’t like to go to mass without his wife.

Last year in September, we had our son baptized. Then my husband said: “Honey, since our son has been baptized now, don’t you think we should be a good example of living a good, proper Catholic life and attend mass every Sunday?” Hmmm… Yeah, what can I say? I know it’s the right thing to do and that’s my Father in Heaven speaking through Hubby, inviting His prodigal daughter back to His home.

So, I’m happy to say that I’ve been attending Church quite regularly eversince. We thithed regularly, too. It has become such a part of our life now, that the laziness has decreased by 90%. It’s still there, but with much less power of seduction, if you know what I mean. Even this morning, it was cold and rainy, and we still went for mass.

As soon as my son can walk on his own, we will bring him to Church on regular basis, as well.

Reading the Bible every day

Sadly, as my attendance to mass skyrocketed from almost non existent to 99%, vice versa for my Bible reading! I skipped Bible reading almost completely since I had my son. I started to read the Bible regularly since I learned a method called lectio divina, which is goes like this: before you open the Bible, you pray to God to brighten you heart, mind and soul, so that His words will make sense to you, and plant  a seed of faith in your heart. Trust me, it works.

So, I’m determined to get back to the habit of reading a little bit of verse everynight. Perhaps even writing my favorite verses in my journal, so I can reread it throughout the day. 

What I did was, I got gadget freakiness and installed NAB Apps to my iphone. Therefore, I have the New American Bible practically at my fingertips at all times I’m carrying my phone, which is a lot of hours during the day. It works. So far, so good.

Getting back to exercising

My husband goes to the gym regularly. I used to go to the gym regularly, twice a week, many years ago, for yoga or dancing classes. I took a break for about a month, and all hells break lose. I stopped going to the gym completely.

Now I want to start again. I plan to look for gym membership close to home, so I would be more motivated to stick to my resolution. Twice a week is what I’m aiming.

So, that’s my meager list of 2014 Resolution. I will keep you posted on how I make progress. Or how I don’t make any progress. Haha! What’s YOUR 2014 Resolution? Share with me, please!

"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul. 

Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation." 

(1 Peter 2:11-12)

This is how I worn this skirt with a scarf worn as a belt. (Read the post here.)

Actually, these are old pictures from my pregnancy days. I was 17 weeks pregnant in these pictures, hence the red flats.