I'm seriously pondering 2011.  Usually, I don't........think, that is.  Correction.  I mean plan.  I am not a great planner.  That is, unless there is some particularly exciting event that I'm keyed into.  Then, I'm like the finest gold-star appointment book for sale at Barnes & Noble.  Otherwise, my motto has pretty much been "Que sera, sera"  or "Cast your fate to the wind."  Up until now, Doris Day and Vince Guaraldi had always worked just fine for me.

Generally speaking, I live by the seat-of-my-corduroys, spontaneous and eager to implement some great new plan or idea.  (That is not meant to sound erotic either :) ---  Now that I'm fifty-one (Yikes!), it makes great sense for me to paddle in the direction I would like my life to float during the next decade.  Since I'm not in a great rush to change, why not think about who, what and where I want to be when I hit, say, sixty?  Yes!  That nullifies the sting of resolutions and the stigma associated with not keeping them.

In retrospect, the plans I made as a little girl to live happily-ever-after are a bit vague at this stage of marriage and menopause.  At twelve, like any self-respecting boy-crazy adolescent, the only future I was concerned with involved romance and security, like with David Cassidy.  Now, I think in terms of my health and my whereabouts.  Focus of this nature requires me to have specific goals in mind, like I want to stay in shape.  Sometimes, I need to think in terms of what I don't want in order to determine the goal, i.e., I don't want to get fat.  With this type of imagery, I'm able to arrive at some behavior modifications to consider (let's not get too hasty here!) about diet and exercise like "don't pig out on Sarah Lee pound cake" or "force yourself to walk the dog EVERY day, not just when you feel like it".

It's a little more tricky when the goal is being happy.  Happiness is an elusive generality which seems to be at the top of everyone's list.  Today, practically anyone can tell you that happiness is found in the journey NOT the destination, although I have no objection to that either.  What is it that brings happiness to me?  Learning, traveling, and feeling good about myself are three things that immediately come to mind. Taking a class this winter might be fun.  I'd like to learn, but I don't want to study.  Maybe I could audit a course in Humanities.  I know!  I could take a class in writing!  Novel idea!  (Please, pardon the pun.  I  just couldn't resist.)    

Extensive travel to places I've never been or possibly even living abroad someday, have been long-term goals of mine for some time now.  Conjuring up visions of cafe au lait on a sidewalk outside a Paris bistro, or a luau on a Fiji beach, or meandering through a Scotland Castle delights me to no end.  I'm convinced that with visualization, this concept could someday result in a grand-slam-world-tour or a romantic interlude on the Orient Express!  Maybe even a grand villa on the coast of Monte Carlo or a sea-faring yacht in Athens.  For the time being, I amuse myself finding places to visit in our motorhome, like Mt. Rushmore or Graceland or (remember?) the Alamo.  Perhaps, not as scintillating as a Roman holiday, but definitely doable in the immediate future.  Just need to convince my hubby that it's his idea!

Feeling good about myself is aka taking care of myself, and I need a makeover!  Since moving to Sedona, I've become a local-yokel and have let myself go (NOT my toenails, though!)  I don't find this particularly attractive in others, so you can imagine how hard I must be on myself.  I keep hearing Billy Joel singing, "She takes care of herself", and I'm thinking, "No.  She really doesn't."  --- I need a new "do" and makeup that truly conceals my wrinkles!  HaHa!  What about my sagging neck or this irregular hair growth?  As much as I believe in aging naturally and dressing comfortably, it isn't particularly mirror friendly.  I want to age gracefully.  Like Christie Brinkley.  Yes.  That would make me very happy...minus the cheating husbands, of course.

What about de-cluttering the closet or deep-cleaning the house, you ponder?  Maybe even cleaning the oven or dusting the baseboards?  Whoa doggie!  You're headed in the WRONG direction.  Figuratively speaking is one thing during Christmas week.  Actually making plans which could possibly be implemented immediately.  Well...I don't want to set myself up for failure or anything.  As Scarlett O'Hara said, "I'll think about that tomorrow."  Why ruin a perfectly good Nutcracker fantasy life with reality, especially this of all weeks?!?

Happy New Year and Brightest Blessings from Sedona, Arizona.