My New Year's Resolution this year was to blog once a week. Now that breaking that resolution is over and done with, I can carry on with the year.

In all seriousness though, I really don't believe much in New Year's resolutions. I seem to be a person that no matter how many times I try to put a pattern of eating, living, budgeting, exercising into place, I can't stick with it. I'd like to say I'm original in that and say something like it being genetics, but I would say I'm unoriginal and like 90% of the population out there.

I do believe in resolutions by themselves though. I come across them when I get fed up with something and actually decide that not just something needs to change, but that it will. I no longer "try" to keep up with the plan or schedule; I just "do".

However, that all being said, a friend of mine who lives further away from me than I'd like, sent me an email with her resolution for the new year. It was:

"One piece at a time".

Beg this phrase on the days that have your hair turning grey, your tasks piling high and your nerves running stray. I thought this phrase, while not new, was a brilliant goal for 2014.

She has spoken this to me many times over Skype when I am afraid that the papers on my desk are going to surround me and silence me. Or when the dishes are overflowing and I'm not sure where I left my kitchen. She has been wise to speak this to me when I need it. Because I, for one, am someone who wants to accomplish everything now. Right now. And I look at my day and my task and I slam them together and say "I can do all things" when it's physically impossible to finish half of my list. And then I crash and burn and cry "why??" up to the heaven's.

Alas. I am as bad at budgeting my time as I am dramatic.

So this year, while I don't believe in resolutions per se, I will lean heavily towards this mindset change. One piece at a time. One dish at a time. One bill at a time.

It coincides nicely with what I was feeling over the holidays and that was the peace and joy of living was missing from my day to day life. I was overwhelmed with so many things that I felt sad that I was missing it all. Too many of this, too much of that. Schedules, lists, bills...it was all consuming! I was missing out on important things. My beautiful daughter is 11 only once. She is halfway done being 11 and I'm missing it. My one dog has about 4 more years of life in him. And I'm so busy that I'm more annoyed with him under my feet, than I am appreciating his loyalty of laying at them.

So. One piece at a time. There will always be dishes. I can do some of them. And then I can put them aside and spend time doing nails with my daughter. I can write out and pay the bills. Then I can take the dogs for a run in the yard.

We are still running around with our heads cut off with the building of the house. My days look like insanity wrapped up in a bird nest. It's not a pretty sight is what I'm trying to say. But the moments that I can find (or force) to stop and enjoy rough-housing with the dogs, or cooking supper with my girl are precious. One piece at a time. One moment at a time. It's all tied together. Love it.