Change is best achieved in 'BabySteps'

I don't know about you, but I am ready for my routines to get back to normal. The holidays have a way of taking on a life of their own, and after a couple of weeks of not doing your regular routine, you are out of practice. It is time for us to relearn our dance steps that help us guide through our day. Are you with me? Let's start now.

Jan. 1 is the day people want to make changes in their lives. They make a long huge list of New Year's resolutions. Then the following week they look at the list and throw it in the trash, feeling bad because they have broken every item on the list. I want you to start this new year feeling good about yourself.

In 1999 I made my last New Year's resolution, which was to get organized. That was such a global resolution. What in the world did it mean anyway? As I started to plot my course that New Year's Day I realized that it was too big for me to put my head around. So I decided to be nice to myself and just pick one habit to practice. Did you hear me? Only one habit. That habit was to keep my sink clean and shiny. Imagine that. I realized I could be the meanest person to me, so I did an about face! I turned what could have been another reason to beat me up into a celebration, all because I refused to burden myself with a monster resolution.

Let's start a new tradition all over the world: The BabyStep Revolution! BabySteps to change. Let's turn something negative into positive BabySteps forward toward peace. Guilt is tossed out the door forever with this revolution.

So what are your first BabySteps?

1. Keep your sink clean and shiny.

2. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow.

3. Go to bed at a decent hour and get plenty of rest.

We have all heard that it take 21 days to develop a new habit. Well, I disagree with that. For us it takes another week. Here is why. We will skip a day, but because we have added an extra week in there we don't have to start over. We just jump in right where we are and not look back. We are not behind! Do you hear me? We are never behind! We have given ourselves permission to jump back in where we are.

Less has meant more for us in 2004. In our new year of 2005 let's strive for peace and joy as we thrive in a home with less clutter and chaos. New Year's Day is just a couple of days away! For some reason we have it in our heads that this is the time for us to start fresh. Guess what? We can start over any time.

We have lots of strange ideas that are cluttering our brains. So let's get rid of our brain clutter, so we can Super Fling Boogie our homes.