One of my favorite phrases is "I'm running around like a chicken with its head cut off." Which essentially means I'm too busy to think, only react. Of course, if you follow that simile through to the end, it means eventually the chicken stops running and falls over dead.

So in the interest of NOT coming to the chicken's end, I want to make some resolutions. Yes, it's not New Year's - or my birthday - or any other day of special significance. But when I find myself nodding off to sleep over my computer every night and waking up in the morning only to open up my computer first thing... when I find my to-do list is longer than my arm and that I never even get to half the items... when I can't remember the last time I didn't rush eating lunch while standing next to my chair (or just skipped the meal because I didn't have time to eat)... well, I don't know anyone who would say that's a healthy or balanced lifestyle.

Okay, I digress. Resolution time.

Since my Canada move is around the corner, I resolve to spend more time having fun - which means hanging out with my friends here. To really enjoy their company and max out the potential time I can spend with them. Even though we'll stay in touch via Zoom chats and the like, I'm going to make the most of however long I'm still in Connecticut.

Also, I resolve to be useless for several moments each day. What I mean by this is to take some time for myself. Not time spent working at my job or hanging out with the kids, not time spent scrolling or talking on my phone, not time spent washing dishes or picking up toys or anything else that could be considered USEFUL. Nope, I will take a few moments - maybe 5 minutes, maybe a quarter of an hour - doing something that I want to do, rather than something I need to do. Such as read a chapter of a book that's not for work. Crochet an afghan square. Fold an origami dragon. Whatever it is, it will be something completely unrelated to work or family or home or anything like that.

Last, I resolve to be comfortable losing my head. Sometimes you just need to fall over (hopefully NOT dead) and get some rest. Let all that frenetic energy die down and go to sleep at a reasonable hour (for me, that would be before midnight). If you don't let yourself recharge, then you'll burn out your battery permanently.

Those three things seem doable, don't they? Friends, fun, and forty winks (sorry, had to get the alliteration in).

What are YOUR mid-year resolutions?

So... Canada's looking good this time of year.

As some of you might know, I'm in the process of figuring out how to move up north. It's been a good run on the East Coast - I've lived here since my mid-twenties, and that was more years ago than I'd like to admit. However, I'm hanging up the towel... or throwing in my hat... or something like that.

More news coming soon!