Whew, got through January!

Well, yes, there's another day left.  But it's as good as done.  I don't do January well these days (years).  I blame mostly the horrible polluted inversion air we have every January.  It really drags my mood down and some days I don't function very well. 

I made the usual New Year's resolutions this year but did not post them here.  I am spending more time posting to my private journal and that's where I track the resolutions and progress.  Well, January was almost a bust with that regard.  But in the last week, I seem to have snapped out of it.  I saw progress on every item.  Naturally, one of my resolutions is to work on specific house and yard projects every month.  I wasted most of the month, but am making up for lost time now. I could possibly have my January project finished next week.

I don't feel bad about that.  I realized this month that I need to give myself a break sometimes.  Setting goals and then failing right away was making me feel guilty and unhappy with myself.  But then I looked around at everything I've accomplished in recent years.  Sometimes progress happens in spurts, and sometimes I just have to be lazy.  Even my idea of lazy is not really--I'm so busy with commitments to help other people.  My goals are arbitrary.  But they sure aren't worth sacrificing my feelings of happiness, contentment, and self-worth.  I will cut myself some slack.  I'm not wonder woman, but I am good at getting stuff done -- eventually.  And I will.

So far, so good with 2015.  Bring on February.

P.S.  I've actually been able to get out birding several times this month.  But my favorite bird of the month was a visitor to my suet feeders.  A little Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  I've never seen one before, let alone in my own yard.  It's a blurry picture taken from inside the house as the guy was quick and elusive.