The art of the {short} list.

Last year I chose three words for my new years resolution. I chose words that I wanted to guide me and  serve as reminders of what I wanted to accomplish. At the beginning of 2013, I did what I usually do and really thought about what goals I had for this year and what resolutions I might want to make. But rather than three words coming to mind, as it happened in 2012, a very strong thought came to mind. This year, there aren't three words or a list of resolutions I want to keep. I have one resolution:

Keep a short list.

My list making capabilities are stellar (if I do say so myself) and I've got our life pretty dang organized on paper. But. Life is crazy and unpredictable with a newborn, and as far as keeping up with the list these days, well...I have a long list. It doesn't get done as quickly as it used to.

But I've realized that there's no award that I get for checking off all my to-do's at the end of the day. I can accomplish everything on that list, but when I wake up the next morning, a new list will be back. And if my focus each day is on getting through the list, I'm going to miss out. Miss out on crying happy tears when Vera is laughing and smiling at my silly faces. Miss out on sitting around at the dinner table just talking to Chris and daydreaming about the future. And miss out on soaking in the routine moments of our days that I know will be a distant memory in just a few short years.

My list of "should's" and "to-do's" is not why I was put on this earth. And my list will most certainly not be what I'll remember when I look back a year  (or 10 years) from now.

Lists are important. We've got to get things done. But this year I want to focus on the important list. Love my little girl and my husband. Learn from her joy. Show her beauty. Marvel at this life.

Pretty simple. It's a short list.