2010...out with the old...

By the end of every year I'm ready for a new year. I'm ready for a clean slate; fresh start; new beginning. Don't get me wrong - I had a great year. My family stayed healthy, my husband came back from working/living in Denver, my son learned the lyrics to Madonna's Open Your Heart to Me...it was a fabulous year! The only downer news of the year was finding out the dog has lymphoma. But if that's the only downer event of the year I can think of, then is was a damn good year!

I love the idea that anything is possible when I greet a new year. Why I save this thinking for a new year, and don't think this every morning when I open my eyes to a new day is what I'm wondering at this moment.
Why not greet every day like a new year.
Celebrate! Jump for joy!
Hug and kiss loved ones.

I have many resolutions for 2011 - but perhaps I'll start with greeting each day like a NEW YEAR.... That's perhaps the best idea I've had all year.

what kids hear - what kids say

OK, so I neglected to mention that my son now says, Just a minute, to me.

Me: Come brush your teeth.
Son: Just a minute.

Me: Let's get shoes on so we can go.
Son: Just a minute.

Kids most certainly learn by example.

what's in a name?

So, you may be wondering about the name of this blog, Just a minute. I was trying to come up with a creative name and nothing came to mind. My mind kept wandering back to the phrase I say at least 100 times a day, "Just a minute..."
If my son or husband had a penny for every time I said, "Just a minute..." they'd both be rich by now.

Husband: Can you come here?
Me: Just a minute...

Son: Mommy, I need more orange juice.
Me: Just a minute...

(I even say it to the dog...sigh...)
Dog: whining at the back door
Me: Just a minute...

It bothers me that I say this phrase so often in a day. And lately I've been thinking of ways to re-frame the phrase -

Just a minute...

*to take a breath...
*to enjoy the moment...
*to hug my child...
*to cool-off when angry...(yes, I get angry)
*to relax at the end of the day...
*to really stop and listen to my son, my husband, my family, my friends...
*to listen to my inner self...

Maybe my over-use of the this phrase is my inner self reminding me to stop, and take just a minute to think about what I'm doing or saying or thinking or feeling.

welcome

Everyone has a story to tell. Lots of stories to tell, really. I've decided to share some of my stories with you. Just bits and pieces that I'd like to get out of my head and down on some virtual paper.
We can learn a lot from each other if we take just a minute to listen.