2015!

Dear Elli,

Happy New Year!  It's 2015!  Can you believe it?!? 

We just arrived home from Florida.  We went to visit Grandpa Gordon for a few days, and of course we hit the beach and ate seafood like total gluttons for four days straight.  I'm pretty sure I gained at least five pounds, and I'm still bloated. 

So I was thinking tonight about just how lucky we are.  How we can travel.  And sit on the beach in December.  And eat like pigs.  We're pretty damn lucky.  Most people aren't so fortunate. 

I read an article the other day about the characteristics of happy people.  Apparently, it is scientific fact that happy people are both kind, and grateful.  It makes sense to me.  It's pretty impossible to be unhappy when you're feeling grateful, and everyone knows how great it feels to be kind to others. 

So I guess that's my goal for 2015.  To focus on being kind and grateful as much as possible.  Not that I'm normally unkind and ungrateful, like some snotty little shit from a movie about Beverly Hills or something.  That's not accurate, but I certainly have room for improvement.  I can definitely do better.

So that's my plan.  To do better.  To reflect upon how fortunate I am.  To be kind.  And to do both of those things more often than I did in 2014.

Please be advised, that does not mean I won't make you clean your room.  And it does not mean I will stop bitching at your father for leaving his shoes in the middle of the floor.  I will absolutely continue to do those things.  But I will do them with kindness and gratefulness in my heart.

I love you.

Mom