{ Fresh Start Series: Say Yes! ^[3] ~ Preparing ^[4] for Pregnancy ^[4] ~  Better Late Than Never ^[5] ~ Pick Five ^[6] ~ Make Time for Family Fun ^[7] ~ Breathe ^[8] ~ The Most Important Meal ^[9] ~  Make a (Menu) Plan ^[10] ~ Get Moving ^[11] ~ The Family Dinner ^[12] ~ Lighten Up ^[13] ~ Go to Bed With a Clean Slate ^[14] ~ Just Say No ^[15] ~ Use It Up ^[16] ~ Unplug ^[17] ~ Do Over ^[18] ~  Hydrate ^[19]~ Smile ^[20] ~  Snack Smart ^[21] ~ First, Gratitude ^[22] }

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” ~ Albert Einstein

He’s right, you know.  Hanging a fresh calendar brings to mind change.  Improvement.  Dreams.  But if we keep doing the same things the same way, change will be hard to come by!

I struggle with this one, because I feel like the daily dishes and diapers (and floors and laundry…) get in the way of changes I want and need to make. Truth?  Those are just excuses.  (Good ones! but still.)

There is absolutely no reason why you and I couldn’t try something new this year!  Whether it be diving headlong into dream that you’ve held in your heart for years or simply trying a new recipe for your dinner rotation, let’s do this!

Last fall I attended a Zumba toning class for the first time.  That was a stretch for me because I am the poster child for “white girls can’t dance.”  I figured that since the class was at 5:30 in the morning, everyone would be concerned about waking up and not paying attention to my clutziness anyway, right?  I had a blast.  The class gave me confidence, energy, and toned my pregnancy-weary muscles quickly.

What new thing would make a difference in your life right now?

Perhaps you’ve always thought writing down goals, or a schedule, or even a to-do list is a waste of time.  Give it a try!  Not a budgeter?  See what happens when you tell your money where to go for a month.  Prefer to pay with a credit card?  See if switching to cash for a while might save you some green.

Maybe you’re not feeling as healthy and energetic as you’d like.  Try a new exercise, or new exercise routine.  Switch out your carb-loaded bagel for a high protein breakfast and see if that helps.  Drink more water!  A few weeks ago I was browsing marked-down produce and came across a “kale salad with toasted (something) vinaigrette.”  Feeling adventurous, I tossed it in my cart.  After one bowl I didn’t even offer it to the rest of the family.  Mine!  It’s all mine!  So yummy!  (You just never know!)

If you’re feeling the need for a change in your life, quit doing everything the same!  Try something new, and maybe I’ll ride along with you.    So, what should we do?!