YIKES. Time has certainly gotten away from me. As much as I wish I could say that time flies when you’re having fun (which it does), that hasn’t quite been the case for me. More like, time flies when you work full time, rotating 12 hour shifts. Phew. But it’s a New Year and a happy one for sure. 2012 threw me some sticks and stones, needless to say, I am thrilled for a fresh start.

As we all know, with a New Year comes many a resolution. Let me rephrase that: MANY  a resolution. Now I don’t know about you but as of right now, I have about 20. My plan is to begin with the big ones and then introduce the rest of them slowly, one at a time, over the course of 2013.

Number one: Take Care of ME.

Sounds easy doesn’t it? It has been everything but. Happily, I can announce that I am learning. My eating habits have gotten off to a great start. Thank you Santa for my new Vitamix; I’m obsessed for sure. Sleeping? Well that is another story. Due to my rotating schedule, it seems my body requires more downtime and that is the tough part. Me being me, I feel like I always need to be doing something. If I look out the window and see the sun shining then I need to be in it. Sitting home and relaxing or staying in bed for a couple more hours makes me feel guilty. But let me tell you what also brings about guilt and feelings of unhappiness: listening to my body.

Recently I read an article about how there is medication for just about everything out there and that is immediately what people go to. Well guess what? I hate, hate, HATE taking medicine. So part of my ‘Taking Care of ME’ resolution involves listening to my body more. My legs hurt? Stop and take a break. Sit down. I have a headache? Drink more water. All of the sudden I have an overwhelming need to scream or cry? Just let it happen and feel better. You get the picture.

Number two: Finish my book.

This one didn’t start off on a very happy note either. Little legs. Big Heart. The Book. has been in the works for years. After many computer crashes and having to start fresh several times, I am finally seeing the book materialize. Someone has beat me to it. For years, I have been checking Amazon to see if there were any other memoirs or stories about the limb lengthening journey. All of my searches came back ‘0’ until a month ago. The book “Dwarf” has now hit the shelves. Talk about a rainstorm on my parade. Along with the book being published, the author was also featured on many news programs on primetime television. Even though I haven’t read the book yet, I have seen the broadcastings. Even though I was discouraged at first, watching the limb lengthening controversy back in the limelight got me fired back up. My voice still deserves to be heard. That is where I stand with that.

Right now, I am taking care of me and working on my book. Gratitude has worked its way into my everyday life. And I am beginning to focus more on the positives rather than the negatives. (That is my sophisticated way of telling myself to STOP COMPLAINING.)

As I always say, “Practice is Progress.”

Love.