A Fresh Start

It's a whole new year. A year of promise and hope. A clean slate.

I resolve this year to be a better me. I want to be a better mom, a better wife, a better teacher, a better version of myself.

I want to shine , not because of me, but because of Him.

I have never been good at breaking or making habits. I tend to slack, it's true. Back in July, I'd had a little get together at my house. I cleaned spectacularly for this event. Everything glistened. Everything shone.

That night, when the little party dispersed, I got out my trusty Dyson and vacuumed the first floor again. It wasn't hard. The rooms were tidy, all toys were in place, and I finished within 5 minutes time.

The next night, the children and I watched a movie on the living room floor. Popcorn was popped. Popcorn was eaten. Popcorn was spilled on the floor.

After the final credits, we moved the furniture back in place and I, once again, took out the Dyson and vacuumed the floor.

Three nights in a row, I'd done this. I decided to do it the next night, and the next, and the next.

A week later, my house was still as pristine as the night of the party. It was a turning point.

I decided to try to keep this up for 21 days. And I did. It was a habit.

Each night, as my husband and I readied the kids for bed, my thoughts would automatically turn to vacuuming. I admit, sometimes I felt weighed down by the impending job, but then I'd remember that it didn't take any more than 10 minutes out of my time.

When the kids were tucked in, I'd head back downstairs to make sure every toy, every shoe, every remote control was in place. Then out would come Sir Dyson and within minutes my job would be done.

I kept this habit for four months. Then came our trip to Disney World. The morning after we returned, my oldest greeted me at breakfast with, "Mom! You forgot to vacuum last night!" And so I had. It hadn't even entered my mind. We were gone for a little over a week. In that week, I broke my routine.

My life was enriched by this little experiment. I saw what I am capable of, if I just set a goal for myself.

We arrived home from my parents' house well after midnight last night. We tucked the kids in bed. I loaded the dishwasher, wiped down the counter, walked around making sure every toy, every shoe, every remote control was in place. Then I pulled out my Dyson and vacuumed. It didn't take me long. It was a fresh start. And so I begin again.