.jpg)
A Year of Reevaluation
By Tami Brothers
|
Noun |
. |
reevaluation – the evaluation of something a second time (or more) |
There comes a point in a person’s life when they take a step back and look at the path they’ve taken. That person may also take a moment to figure out where their current path actually leads.
As we age, we tend to stop and evaluate our progress more often. This year happens to be one of those turning points for me.
Although some of this was beyond our control, most of it was done with a purpose in mind. Of course, we’ve strayed a few times over the years but we usually got right back onto the correct path.
As 2011 approached, my family sat down and took a long hard look at where we were heading and realized that some of our priorities had changed since we’d originally started our journey together.
Yes, we still want to retire with enough energy to travel, but are we really able to do that with what we are currently saving?
Yes, we like owning our own home, but do we really need the huge house we are living in for a family of three?
Yes, we’ve been taking better care of ourselves (you know, after a few wake-up calls with the surgeries), but are we really doing everything that we can?
These are just a few of the questions we asked ourselves and then weighed the pros and cons of everything we are currently doing. The cons side was quite a bit longer than the pros and this was a wakeup call to us. We realized just how much waste filled our lives and quickly came to a decision to make some drastic changes.
The first of these changes were put into motion just weeks ago. We listed the gigantic house with too many rooms (two of them are used mostly for storage) for sale and started searching for something that would “fit” us. As luck would have it, we actually found “the place” and promptly bought it.
This was our first step in altering our path.
We don’t know yet what the ramifications of this first step will be. We hope it was the right decision, but until the other changes have been implemented, we can’t be completely certain. It feels right to us and “that” is why we made this decision.
Interested in seeing what other changes we’ve made? Follow my path of reevaluation throughout 2011 with my monthly blog posts here at Petit Fours and Hot.jpg "warm_coffee-wide")
Tamales. Stop back by March 1st to hear my son’s thoughts on the multi-page spreadsheet I created for our family budget.
Anyone else making drastic life changes this year? Leave a comment for a chance to win a cup of coffee on me.
.png)
.jpg)
by Tami Brothers
I’m doing my best to unclutter my life this year. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment and I have too much stuff, so I’m getting rid of a lot of stuff. I’m also trying to eat better and generally take better care of myself. I hope by the end of the year to have a less cluttered looking residence and have a lot more energy and feel a lot better.
Good morning Tami,
When we retired in 2005 and moved east, we downsized & I got rid of a lot of what I figured would be useless furniture. (we downsized half) Then after 2 years we realized we’d downsized ourselves right out of any storage.
We bought a bigger house…and started buying furniture to fill it. Ugh!
In late 2010, my Dr told me I’m pre-diabetic. Okay, now it’s time to sit up and take notice. I’ve lost 19.2 pounds since then and have started exercising regularly. Yes, I’m changing things this year, but all in a good way. (g}
Great post to start us all thinking about pausing a moment to consider our priorities.
Sandy
Lots of good stuff to think about, Tami – and good for you for recognizing the need for change and then taking steps to do something about it! I’m not making any major changes this year, just renewing my commitment to the path I was already on. Chugga, chugga, choo, choo…
Wow, lots of change at your house! Figuring out our priorities is the first step, and it sounds like you’re well beyond that!
Tami,
I l ove the way you make changes. Full Forse. I like change and each year I do something different. This year I’m paring stuff down to just the stuff I really love.
Tami,
Great post. I do admire you! You target the problem and immediately set out to solve it. Great! Moving is 2nd nature to you. Me? I have a spazmatic spell thinking about it. I did a happy dance when I cleaned out a closet! You keep taking the bull by the horns and get your life exactly where you want it! And don’t worry about the kid – the hormones will be fine in about 40 years!
I need to lose weight but continue to make the wrong food choices. I’m at the airport in Boston with my sisters hoping we’ll get out in this snowstorm. In my purse is a bag of pastries from Mike’s. Almost every meal we ate was Italian. So when I get home I really need to get serious about my diet. My daughter, who met me in Boston from New York, was talking about the poem, The Road not Taken, and selecting the right path. I think it’s a good idea to reevaluate.
I’ve done a lot in the last couple weeks, but there’s always more I want to do. Last December, my dad was in the hospital thanks to diabetes complications, and with a mother with diabetes, too, it was time to get my health on track. I’ve joined a gym and started eating healthier.
I swore I’d have more time when I finished my doctorate, but it feels like I have less time to do things like housekeeping, so that’s on my list to get to. One day. Maybe.
This is great to think about, so thanks for the morning kick in the …!
Hi Linda! Thanks a ton for stopping by here so early. Good for you. Uncluttering is a big step (not for everyone, though). Best of luck on the eating healthy. That, too, is one of my reevaluation projects that I’ll be blogging about later in the year. Definitely stop by again. I’d love to cheer on your progress!
Tami
LOL, Sandy! I can totally hear ya on buying furniture to fit the house. We bought the house we are currently selling because it was a foreclosed building project, meaning it was partially finished. A lot of the hard stuff was done. Hubby and I just had to finish the inside. We bought big because it was cheap and we knew we could make money on it. Unfortunately, it was way too easy to try to fill every room. The Kid currently has three rooms on his wing of the house. Sure, one of them is the spare bedroom but he still has one of his game systems in there, so we call it his. At his age, I really think that is way too many rooms. {g}
Best of luck with the exercising. I will definitely be cheering you on!!!
Tami
Chugga, chugga is right Pam and you are doing a terrific job. I follow your personal blog so I know you have a ton going on. Keep at your current commitments and you will do great.
Tami
Thanks Debbie! Having friends to cheer you on is the key.
Tami
LOL Susan! I never thought about the full force thing, but you are definitely right. Best of luck on the paring down. I’m not having that big of a problem with it (other than my books!!!), but hubby and The Kid really think they love EVERYTHING!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Tami
Hey Brenda!!! Moving is definitely second nature. My mom once said that my husband’s love for building and my love for moving was a deadly combination. It has certainly exposed us to a lot of different environments. We are currently looking to downsize from 2,400 square feet (I know, some people are thinking that is not as big as I made it out to sound, but for the three of us who are barely home, it is a LOT of room), to around 1,200 square feet. Of course, I should mention that the new place is another temporary place because we are definitely building again…grin… (My mom thought we were nuts!)
Thanks for the vote of confidence on the 40 years!!! Not sure I can last that long… Thanks for stopping by!
Tami
Hey Marilyn! You are definitely an inspiration to me. You have been to a lot of different places and you have some wonderful children. I admire everything you are able to do and that is one of the things we are focusing on with the reevaluation project. Before (ohhhh 19 years ago), hubby and I had a vision of where we wanted to be and what we wanted to be doing. That has altered a bit over the years as we have matured (I hope…). Where once we wanted to huge house and fancy cars, right now we are thinking we both would like to travel more and definitely do some traveling before The Kid heads off to college.
Thanks for taking time to stop by. Have a safe flight and I will be cheering you on with the diet thing.
Tami
Yay Noelle! Glad to hear you are working towards a healthier life style. I am sorry about your family’s health. My dad and his battle with Alzheimer’s has really been my motivation.
I hear ya on thinking you would have more time after finishing school. I am still recovering a year after finishing my Bachelor’s degree. I can’t even begin to imagine doing your doctorate. Way to go on that! So very cool. Dr. Noelle…grin…
Keep up the great work. I’ll definitely be cheering you on!
Tami
I, too, made a spreadsheet for 2011 because I felt I had strayed from the path. My goal for 2011 is balance. Yes, I need to eat better and exercise more. I need to write and submit more. I need to clean up the house and pare down the non essentials. And–here’s the biggie–I need to spend more quality time with my kids and hubby. Here’s to an improved 2011!
Hi Tami,
what a great post! This one really got me thinking because we have had so many changes in our life and been forced to reevaluate the choices we made e.g. moving to the US 2 weeks after 9/11 – the odds were against us but we left Singapore for the USA. Being stuck on a visa that wouldn’t permit me to work… so I started writing my fiction novels. Then 9 years later I have to give up my full-time job, though I have the work permit now, because my son is really sick and so I go back to writing the fiction novels full-time. I’ve come to the conclusion there’s a reason (?) behind everything that happens and some of them might turn out to be blessings in disguise.
Anju
I’m still on the runway in Boston three hours later. We are being de-iced for the second time. My goal is to make it back to Atlanta.
Kindred spirits! That is what we are, Sally. Of course, you are the funny one.
Great goals. I’ve got similar ones myself. AND my biggest one is to spend more quality time with hubby and The Kid. This was the reason for our big decisions this year.
I can’t wait to see how this year goes for you.
Tami
Hi Anju! We welcome you to the US and I’m happy that things are working out for you. I completely agree that things happen for a reason, both good and bad. I believe that a lot of time those bad things will lead to the good. We just have to get through them…
Thanks a ton for stopping by. I wish you all the best with your fiction and can’t wait to read them one day! I hope your son is doing much better.
Tami
Hey Marilyn! Got my fingers crossed for you. :!:
Great post, Tami. Last year was my year of evualation. With my oldest son off to join the Marines and my youngest entering high school, it was tine to start looking at Sia the woman – instead of Sia the mom or Sia the wife. I’m working hard to become the person I want to be. I’d love to move – downsize- as we don’t need this large house anymore. But with the ecomony, we’ve choosen to stay put and declutter (a job in itself). So we are preparing, setting the stage for when the time is right. I admire your guts and gusto, with going for it. Good luck with the move and may you be very happy in your new home.
Hi Tami: Your family reevaluation reminds me of many “veranda” talks. My husband and I are always wondering what to do about the years ahead: less house, more house, move, where to move to, in state, move out of state and back to DC, move to FL, stay and wait to see what Darling Teen does when she “grows up.”
Hard decisions. Good for you for taking the first steps!! Great post!
Great post, Tami. Sometimes you have to stop ruminating and analyzing and just go with what “feels” right. Our instincts are usually better than we think.
For us, we’re trying to declutter our lives (our house) and just be happier with life as it is. Oh, and health improvement is also a priority. Sounds like most of us are on the same track (hopefully that will be a pun!)
I look forward to your future posts.
Thanks Sia!!! I am really glad to hear about your self-evaluation. That does sound really cool. I think I’m going to add that to my list for this year. I understand about the economy. We had to think long and hard about the move and even plan to take a lot less than we originally planned for the house so that we could get into a better position for everything else we want to do. I wish you all the best for when you decide to make the move.
Happy writing!
Tami
Hi Christine! Your “veranda” talks sound a lot like what we did. It’s good to hear that we aren’t the only ones taking long hard looks into the future!
Thanks for stopping by.
Tami
Thanks Linsey! I agree that most of us are definitely on the right track. Let’s hope that we can encourage others to take this journey with us.
Thanks for stopping by tonight!
Tami
Well, it was fun blogging yesterday (even if I do have a terrible cold {g} ).
Anyway, I did promise someone a nice cup of coffee. So, using the wonderful randomizer program (The Kid is still getting ready for school), after drawing numbers 26 and 14 (wow, even randomizer thinks I need a nice cup of coffee…), the lucky winner is…….
#1 Linda Henderson!!! Yay. It does pay to comment way early in the morning.
Shoot us an e-mail at pfhtbloggers@yahoo.com with your name, address and that you won this on the Reevaluation post and I’ll send you a $10 Starbucks gift card.
Thanks again everyone!!!
Tami
Well, being in the midst of a major move, I’m decluttering like mad, getting rid of a lot of things. Once I get settled, I’m hoping that having a pool will encourage more exercise and help me on the path I started a year ago to lose weight and get in better shape.
Good luck with your plans!
Good luck, Tami. I’m trying to prioritize my writing more this year. I’m finding the changes are taking care of themselves this year…one kid moving out, one seriously busy w/ school and a new job…I’m doing some part-time photography now. The key for me will be to roll with the changes, but keep the focus on writing.