Normal

Stargazer and her family are going through a learning experience at present.  Events at her place have been stressful, and she and her daughters have come to the conclusion that if you can't get things back to the way they've always been, it's time to realize there's a new "normal".  
I've often heard people say "Normal is just a setting on the dryer."  
Because all of us live our lives so differently, normal has a different meaning for each person.  My sister spends winters in Texas; that's normal for her.  It wouldn't be normal for me at all, at this point.  I'd get homesick.  It's normal for my sister not to have a shedding animal in her house; she's never had the desire for a pet.  Obviously, I'm the opposite.  
With New Year's approaching, I'm thinking I need to change some bad habits and find myself a new normal.  
Most of the evil (delicious) holiday foods have been consumed.  New Year's Eve carries no temptation in this house to overindulge in food or drink; we won't be celebrating.  I'm sure I'll be in bed by ten o'clock.  
So, New Year's day is a good time to change.  I know you're probably yawning, thinking, "Oh sure, more New Year's resolutions that won't last a week."
We've all seen it hundreds of times; and indeed, it could happen again.  Since I live my life so openly on this blog, you'll know whether I succeed or fail.


I do like beginnings, always have.  My SAD starts waning with the new year, even though the worst of winter is still to come.  Cliff and I have found our greatest success at getting in shape with diet-and-exercise programs started on New Year's Day, although not in recent years, I'm sorry to say.  Normal around here has become "life is short, we may as well enjoy it."   
That's why our doctor yelled at us and let us know life is going to be even shorter if we don't straighten up.  
When I was a kid, I thought I wanted to live to be a hundred.  I'm wiser now.  I realize very few people who live that long are happy in their old age.  Most have dementia; many are blind and deaf.  Some have lost limbs to diabetes.  It's really quality of life I desire, not length of years.  It's been a good run already, and if I checked out today, life would owe me nothing.  
Quality of life will be greater if we get control of our appetites around here.  
Wish us luck.