Happy New Year! Have a Resolution Pie

My youngest sister has a blog about pies. Baking pies, specifically. She bakes them for family, but gives a lot of them away to people that deserve a thank you, or a reminder that they’re somebody special. She wrote a post today that is about pies, of course, but it’s also about the New Year, and those resolutions that we make and (mostly) break every year.

I did get some new tools for Christmas, thanks to sweet family members. A new apron, a cool crust cutter, a y-peeler, and a pretty red pie plate all helped me with my apple pie today. All of them seemed to work great. I need to practice a bit on that peeler, but it definitely allows for more fruit in the pie–the paring knife method I used before really cut too deep and wasted apples. But the filling’s the same: apples, cinnamon, sugar, salt, corn starch. Works every time.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’m not saying there is never room for change or improvement, but if you’re doing something right, keep doing it. And you are doing something right. Everybody gets down sometimes. We’ve all had days when we feel like everything goes poorly–like everything we touch turns to…well…something we didn’t want it to turn to.

But many, many days are very good. And many, many people are very good. Including you. Don’t forget it.

New Year’s Day is traditionally a time of beating ourselves up disguised as “resolutions.” Again, if you’re a good goal-maker, keep at it. Some people really get things done that way. I’ve met a few goals and I’ve fallen short of a few okay, more than a few. But don’t spend today thinking of all the things you didn’t do last year. Here’s your challenge: Before you make any goals or resolutions for 2012, first make a list of what you did RIGHT in 2011. I know, I know….we’re to be humble and never toot our own horns, right? NO. Sure, bragging’s not fun to listen to, but I think it’s healthy from time to time to say to yourself, “Hey! I’m alright. Look at what I’ve done so far–this definitely means I can accomplish stuff. What next?”

So start blowin’ that hornand make the list. 10 things you did right. This year, do those 10 things again and add 10 more.‘Cause you’re alright. Don’t forget it.