In the New Year

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Jolly Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year!  2008 hasn’t even started yet, and already I feel overwhelmed!

That’s mostly because of various activities that we are already committed to.  Oh boy.  Let’s see, we have NYC and Montana… and Michael has nearly talked me into a trip to London.  Plus I’d like to get up to Kansas City this year at least twice.  All of this is adding up to a lot of money… very quickly!

I guess right now I’m stuck between the realistic money crunch and the philosophical debate about money not mattering… life is about living and experiences.  What’s the balance?  If I were listening to the Dave Ramsey over my right shoulder, I’d say that I should do the minimum until all the debt we have is paid.  But on my other shoulder is Spendy McSpenderson who says F it… I should go, do, live, be!  I would have liked the credit card to be paid of THIS YEAR!  It’s been following us around since we got married.  We collected the majority of our debt baggage for various expenses related to that.  I’m just tired of it being a part of the monthly payments.  This is how banks stay in business!

In the new year… I have made several new wishes for myself and my life. 

In the new year… I will be committed.  If I say I’m going to do something, and then when the time comes to do it… and I feel like I don’t want to do it anymore… well, I’m just going to do it because I said I would.  Afterall, if it’s a volunteer effort or something like that, it won’t take that long and I’ll feel better for it!  I am a new BIG with BBBS, and I am committed to that relationship.  Of course, I am forever committed to my lovely wife!

In the new year… I will be more direct.  I want to tell people what I’m thinking!  Instead of holding it in like I always do… and end up exploding later… I just want to say what’s on my mind.  I’ve never been able to do that with people. 

In the new year… I will be better at keeping up with friends.  We are going to visit Todd and Rachel… we’re going to see Sarah’s family… I am going to visit Michael and not just be a phone friend for life.  I’ll say, though, that I keep up with friends just fine now.  I just don’t get the chance to SEE them a whole lot.  This is where I will improve.

In the new year… I am going to concentrate on paying down debt!!!  I am going to shake it if it kills me!!!

So there are a few things I wish to work on… to improve in… to make my life more focused and balanced.  It’s only the 27th now… I guess I have a few days until all of it kicks in.  For the time being… I’ll just continue to think about how I’m going to make it all happen