It has been months since I have actually sat down with my girlfriends, had a nice meal, a glass of wine and a good ol’ chat.  There were 4 of us this time, the conversation never stopped, in fact there where probably 2 or 3 conversations going on at the same time.  We were having such a good time that we were one of the last few tables to leave.

We were discussing how… hmmm, multitasking is not a good word… how super efficient we were.  Over the first 49 minutes we discussed:  being picked up, war in the middle-east, prescribed medication, having rhinoplasty, not to TEXT while driving, meeting old friends, neurotic tendencies, how to get a seat in the front end of the plane, TEXT messages sent to the wrong folk, age spots, self-medicating, ungrateful university students, gas prices, sugar prices and flour prices, lack of food on national flights, how many peanuts are distributed on national flights depending on the morning or night the flight attendant had, family services and drug addiction.

In 49, minutes…it was definitely time for another glass of wine.  When I went home much later that night, I felt so much lighter, happier and definitely stronger to take on tomorrow’s challenges.

I have mentioned this before, going out with friends just for the sake of it, is terribly important to ones mental health.  To simple dinners, good times and most importantly…good friends.

Vana Shipton

Actual resolutions I am very excited about.  Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean it in a conceited way.  More like, I will try not to rush so much, or take 5 minutes longer to exercise or shower a little longer and breathe deeply while using that special body gel I bought over the holidays.  Exercise, that’s a whole other book, never mind chapter, okay I started walking today again, it actually felt good.  Basically to try and feel better about my work, socially, my family even financially.  To try and be simpler and make life easier and therefore a little more in control in every aspect.

PURGE paper, negative people, unnecessary shoes (NO MORE black shoes till others have been worn and destroyed), NO MORE food I don’t want to eat because I read in some book that it’s good for you, PURGE movies I don’t really want to watch, NO MORE bad service at restaurants (I’m going to take cooking lessons and drink red wine while cooking, I might as well tip myself right?).  I am going to slow down, zoom out, to try and savor and enjoy.  We owe that to ourselves.  As woman we find it so difficult to let ourselves enjoy something and then try to not apologize for it.  We read it almost everyday, but do we actually do it. Well I’m going to.  Now I’m going to try and get a massage out of my husband…sweet dreams, you deserve it.

 by Vana Shipton