There is a reason why I don’t have pictures of my daughter swimming in the middle of the Border lakes on the Minnesota, Ontario border from last summer. My daughter was terrified of the unknown depths of the lake, and would not jump in where she could not see the bottom. She was perfectly content to stay on the beach while her cousins fearlessly leapt off the back of the houseboat, slid down the waterside, and went tubing down the watery highway. I could see it in her eyes though. The look that she wanted more, that she wanted to do those things too. I knew that she would have fun if she let go of her fear and just leapt, slid, and cruised.

I had seen her do it before many times at the park. Overcoming her fears only to be riled with glee and delight as she had that adrenaline rush of fun. But she wouldn’t budge on this.  I wish I could tell you that I just let my daughter sit on the sidelines of the boat or on shore, but instead I gently dropped her down into the waters to my sister who was there to catch her. (She did have a life jacket on), but she wasn’t having it. A few days earlier I put her on my brothers lap and off they went down the slide, but she wasn’t ready for the thrill of that either. She almost got the courage to do it again, but that was the only time she went down the slide the whole trip or swam out in the deep. In my heart I could not push her to do something she truly didn’t want to do anymore.

This reminds me of the time I wanted her to become a figure skater just like I was! My sweet cousin graciously lent me her daughters old skates so I wouldn’t be out the money for a good sturdy pair of Rydels. I packed my daughter up and drove nearly an hour south to the skating school that was run by my cousins mother, and grandmother. The same duo that I had learned from and skated with all of those years. Sure there was a skate school much much closer to my house, but my Aunt truly is the best of the best in the state of Minnesota when it comes to Figure Skating! But, my daughter was scared and disliked every minute of it. It was something that I had wanted her to do, not something she picked out. How could I expect her to face her fears if she didn’t even like the activity she was doing in the first place?

So, we followed what she would want to do and signed her up for gymnastics. Even if we would find out that it would cost us more money… After all, it is her activity not mine, and its her life, not mine. The point of a sport to me, aside from the obvious physical activity portion is to stretch them beyond where they think or can imagine they can go. To show them with hard work, dedication, and living fearless they can reach their goals. She doesn’t always get a certain skill, and sometimes has to really work for it. But I think that this teaches her patience, perseverance, and endurance. Its the reason we do gymnastics!

My daughters gymnastic coach told me not too long ago that my little miss’ favorite phrase was, “I can’t”, or “It’s too hard”. But our coach has been working with her to get a mind set of, “I know its hard, and I know its scary, but I’m going to try it anyways.” For my little miss who has been overly cautious since she was in diapers and is virtually scared to try all things that “look scary”, this is huge! I am so thrilled that she is trying her very best at gymnastics. Letting go of her fear. She is pushing herself and is even now learning how to do a handstand on the balance beam and walkovers.

On a side note – we have my daughter in swimming lessons now, and she is getting to be quite the little swimmer. Like gymnastics her favorite phrase in swimming used to be “I can’t” or “Its too hard” and would constantly swim for the instructor instead of the island, grabbing on to them with such intensity as if she was going to drown, but recently… she has had a major mindset change. Now she is striving to be the best in her class. Swim fiercely, and swim fearlessly. The island seems to be too close now, and you can tell that her little spirit just wants to soar. I can’t tell you as her mother how proud I am watching her shed her skin of fear.

As parents I think its part of our responsibility to stretch our kids past where they think they can go. As a mother, I am responsible for my daughter. How she grows up, what kind of woman she will become some day, and I can only hope to help shape her attitude. We can’t force our kids to do what they don’t want to do, but if you find that nook, that niche that allows them to leap into the unknown. Grab it, and let them live fearless.

Can you guess what topic I’m going to blog about today? Resolutions! ~ Having purposeful intent in 2014!

I’m not very good about declaring resolutions which is probably why I don’t stick to any of them, and I’m not exactly holding my breath for 2014, but its the Eve of the New Year so why not make a list?

Things I’d like to get more purposeful about this year:

1.) If I say I’m going to pray for someone – doing it right away. 

I know this just sounds terrible, and “I pray” (pun intended) I’m not the only one,…but have you ever told someone that you would pray for them only to forget? Its not that I’m just saying “I’ll pray for you” to make the person feel better. I honestly WANT to pray, but as I often joke that I have early Alzheimer’s I’m just a forgetful person sometimes. One thing I started doing at the end of this year, that I’d like to stick to – is praying for someone immediately when I tell them I will. Sometimes this will be literally praying WITH them over the phone, an e-mail, text message, or on Facebook, or stopping what i’m doing, finding a quiet place, and praying right away.

2.) Get more organized

This has been a slow, yet steady process. I started with throwing or giving things away that we haven’t used in sometime, have outlived their purpose, or is just excess, but there is always more to be done.  Getting organized makes you feel better because you can focus on what’s important rather than the lingering feeling that you need to be organizing. Another thing I started doing was becoming “E-Organized”. I had literally turned into an “E-Hoarder” [call A&E]. I had around 4 or 5 separate blogs, and lets not talk about the amount of e-mails I keep in my inbox! (its downright ridiculous).

So to get more E-organized I started with combining my christian, “food” and personal blog all in one! What do you guys think so far?

Now, on to those e-mails!

3.) Keep fit/eat healthy

Isn’t this 313.9 Million other peoples “New Year Resolution” in America too? But really. Unfortunately due to the bombardment of confusing messages on food labels, and so called “facts” among experts its no wonder we are a confused nation. Simply put. I would like to be more focused on keeping fit, and eating healthier.  Some of my favorite people to follow is Dietitian Cassie, and Jimmy Moore.  Some of their suggestions may seem unconventional like FAT won’t make you FAT! but its been proven over an over again to work, and is based on scientific evidence. This year I might even follow more of her/their advice! I saw a t-shirt on a girl at the gym recently and it says this so succinctly, “Stop wishing for it, and start working for it!”. I love this! I think this quote can be applied to all areas of life.

“Stop wishing for it, and start working for it!”

4.) Sleep Better

I feel like this goal is kind of ridiculous. For as long as I can remember I’ve been a night owl. My parents have even told me that putting me to bed at night was a nightmare. Usually on every night of the week (including work nights) I am not in bed/asleep before midnight. I know this isn’t healthy for me, so this year I will focus on a more restful night.

5.) Make more memories

Our daughter has now started Kindergarten, and while this is “just the beginning” I know there is going to come a time very soon when this will all be no more. One thing we’ve started is Family Game Nigh which is especially fun now that our daughter doesn’t try to cheat as much. But even further, letting my daughter do some of the baking without worrying so much about the outcome or the mess, letting her decide what do do on a Friday night taking more family trips, and even taking a random road trip to see where we end up is what I’d like to do!

6.) Slow down

I used to be go-go-go every night of the week, but in 2013 I radically changed this. I learned to be a “no” person, instead of the “yes” person I always used to be. Not to say that I said No to every opportunity, but this meant sometimes saying no to friends, or myself when I already had 3 or 4 other things going on that week.  The payout was amazing.  Just spending a night at home vegging out, or allowing myself the opportunity to just sit on the deck in the summer and share a glass of wine with the neighbors was so needed! Finally I felt like I could breathe, and recharge. I can’t wait to see this in action for ALL of 2014.

7.) Don’t be afraid to try new things

Could 2014 be the year I try sushi, or volunteer for something I’m being called to do, yet don’t think I have the talents, or desire for? As this blog post states,” God doesn’t call the qualified, but qualifies the called!” #truth

8.) Kayak Rice Creek

This isn’t just a pie in the sky goal. This goal is very real and I’m going to do it! Since 2011 I have desperately wanted to kayak down Rice Creek. It begins in Hugo, MN and traverses 22 miles until the confluence with the Mississippi River in Fridley. This year I am going to be VERY intent on actually doing it!

So I think that’s a pretty good list to start with.We’ll be popping champagne with good friends tonight, so Cheers to friends, good health & may God bless the New Year!