Today is the start of a Jewish holiday called Rosh Hashanah.  It is the holiday that celebrates the New Year.  On this holiday one is supposed to reflect on the past year and think about what went well and what didn’t, what we wanted to do that we didn’t have a chance, and things that we are regretful for doing.  Over the past year I have had many wonderful occasions.  The birth of my daughter Sloane, a move to a new apartment, a 5 day trip away with girlfriends and Lauren’s wedding.  I have also had periods of time that tested my outlook on life and my relationships with friends and family.  The stress a new baby puts on a marriage or the countless nights I was alone because Sean was working.  So often in the past I have found that I let the bad outweigh the good, and looked at the glass half empty.  I know it sounds cliche, but over the past year I have found that it is just a waste of my time and energy to look at mishaps and non-perfect situations with a pessimistic attitude.

And then there are the past 3 weeks.  In the past 3 weeks we have celebrated Sloane’s first birthday, finished out our summer at my parents house, moved all our things back to NYC, left Sloane with my mother to take a trip away with my friends, packed up our whole 1 bedroom apartment, and moved clear across the city to a larger apartment.  We have had issues with setting up cable, setting up our phone, the movers, unpacking the boxes, and putting together IKEA furniture.  I have been up well into the AM hours of the night cleaning, organizing, and setting up the apartment (BTW most of these nights Sean is working and comes home around 11pm).  I have dragged Sloane to Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wal-Mart, and the hardware store too many times to count.  As frustrated as I could have gotten with all this (compounded my extreme lack of sleep) I can’t help but feel that I am fortunate that these are the types of issues I have in my life.

I should feel blessed that my husband HAS a job, as so many Americans are struggling.  I should feel blessed that my daughter is developing  into an active and inquisitive toddler.  And I should feel blessed that I have an incredibly supportive group of friends and family around.  What in this situation could I really look at half empty?

Sometimes I feel like time just flies by and I don’t take a moment to sit back and look at what is really going on.  I am finally today sitting down at our newly put together desk taking a moment to look at the past year, but specifically the past 3 weeks and really wrap my head around what has gone on.  Lauren and I have both been in a whirlwind of work at home and at school and we have not made any time to do one of our favorite things:  SHARE OUR FAVORITE TIPS WITH YOU!

We feel blessed that you still read our tips, suggestions, and thoughts, and can’t wait to re-start our engines.

Have a great day and as we say on this holiday L’shana Tova…Have a sweet new year!

Love,

Arielle

Related posts:

1. Time to organize those digital pictures!
2. Strategies to help children develop good character
3. Making time every day
4. Product of the Week: Caddies from Really Good Stuff