Resolute

      Happy New Year!!!  I can already guarantee that 2009 is going to be a fantastic year.  2008 was great and life always seems to get better and better.  I realized today that I haven't spent very much time pondering what my new year resolutions would be as I've done in the past.  Blame it on grad school applications, or a wicked cold, in which battle I am currently losing, but still, I haven't really thought about my resolutions.  As I've been thinking about it tonight though, I have realized that it really isn't that hard to figure out what my resolutions are for the next twelve months.  Studying for the GRE initiated a healthy habit of looking up every single word in the dictionary, and I did that tonight with the word "resolute."  It means "having a decided purpose; determined; resolved; bold; firm; steady."  So, all I have to decide is what I am determined or resolved to do this year, and the things that I will be steady in.  One of the greatest people that I met on my mission is Katrina Young.  She inspired me in so many ways and continues to do so today even though she now lives halfway around the world in Japan.  I remember her telling me of her resolutions for 2007 and I loved the way she broke them down - simple and effective goals in each aspect of life.  She made one specific goal regarding her physical, mental, spiritual and emotional self, which I loved.  As I've thought about it, that makes perfect sense to me.  So here they are for 2009:

       Physical - Dancing will become a part of my life once again - specifically - Scottish and Irish dancing.  My dear friend Rachel and I will dust off our Irish hard shoes and take lessons together, which I'm really excited about.  And after my First Night shindig last night with my fellow Scottish sibling, I realized that Scottish dance is a part of me.  I love that I'm Scottish!  Even though I never knew my Grandpa Bob (my dad's father), I think he'd be proud that I'm embracing my heritage through dance.  So, after a ten year absence, I'm coming back.  And since I have a swanky new kilt to prance around in, there's nothing to hold me back.  =) 

       Mental - Ich habe Deutsch lernen und sprechen!!!!  Graduate school is quickly approaching and I have to brush up on some languages that I've learned - first and foremost, German, followed shortly thereafter by Spanish.  If you call me on the phone and I greet you in German - don't be alarmed - it's actually a very friendly language despite what everyone thinks.  And if you're riding in the car with me and you hear some insanely fast Spanish coming from the speakers, you do not have permission to change the radio station.  Period.  =)

       Spiritual - This is probably the hardest category to narrow down to one goal, but for now, I really want to get into family history.  I've never done any (I know - shame on me!), but I would really like to dig into my past and do some good.  A girl in my ward in Provo always had family names that she asked us to do for her on our ward temple trips, and I really admired that she was involved in her family history and always provided names for us.  

       Emotional - Leave every relationship better than I found it.  Every relationship has room for improvement, and I think it takes a concerted effort to realize how to pull this off - especially if you see people on a daily basis.  I truly believe this applies to every relationship - those with parents, siblings, friends, significant others, coworkers, even strangers...who can later become friends.  I think this whole idea started on my mission when I was serving with Sister Soderborg.  Every night we told each other "I love you because ________," and it was a different reason every night.  That companionship was amazing!  So, I genuinely hope to leave a relationship with you better today than it was yesterday (even if it is already awesome). 

       And there you have it - these are the things that I am resolute to accomplish and carry out this year.  A favorite actress of the Irvine household is Bebe Nuiworth, who was on to something when she said, "People are at their happiest if they are true to themselves.  I think that applies to their chosen profession, friends and relationships.  It goes for your health too.  If you are true to yourself, it seems to me everything should work out pretty well."  Well said Bebe!  May that be the case for all of us in 2009.  Here's to a wonderful new year for each of you!