The List this month has me doing some major self-evaluation. I’ll explain more later…

*Write. For fun.

*Evaluate food choices.

*Find time to exercise.

Short month, short list. But they are all important and necessary.

I love to read. Love LOVE love it. I don’t remember learning how to read, but I know I could read even before I entered Kindergarten. My mother really helped nurture that love for reading by enrolling me in a book club when I first learned how. Every month, a new book would arrive, and I could spend my time meeting new characters and enjoying new settings, immersing myself in their pictures and savoring each word.

A few months ago, I came across a box full of books someone was giving away. I rummaged through it and found Petunia. Finding that book took me back. Way back (almost 30 years back) to that book club.

(photo courtesy of amazon.com)

And I remembered the excitement I felt when my new book would arrive in the mail. Needless to say, Petunia left the confines of the donation box and joined my library. I even read it to my students.

If you haven’t read Petunia before, it’s a gem of a story. In it, Petunia the goose finds a book and decides that simply owning a book is enough to make her wise. Because of her newfound wisdom, she sets out to give the other farm animals awesomely bad advice that eventually blows up (literally) in everyone’s faces. At the end she realizes that to truly become wise, she needs to open the book and read it.

Great advice from a silly goose. Advice I still follow today. Thanks Mami, for enrolling me in that book club. Thanks Petunia for helping develop my love of reading.

Do you remember your first reading love?

If only average Janes like me had an excuse like the Golden Globes or the Oscars to dress up and be beautiful for the sake of being beautiful. I’d love to rock some of those Golden Globes gowns.

Are you a New Year’s Resolution maker?

Until last year, I never was. I mean, what was the p0int? It’s a commitment, right? If you’re strong (really strong) you might make it to March before the resolutions made are thrown out the window or forgotten completely.

I’m one of those people that doesn’t like to commit to something without following through. It’s one of my pet peeves. If you say you’re going to do something…DO IT! I also know that I tend to get lazy about long-term commitments, and New Year’s Resolutions certainly classify as long-term commitments, which is why I’ve never made them.

Last year, that sort of changed. Rather than make a New Year’s Resolution, I started a blog about lists. Monthly lists. Not a New Year’s Resolution—rather, new month resolutions.

I plan to continue my monthly Lists in 2012, mainly because it’s good for me and holds me accountable and makes me feel accomplished.

And now I’m adding to my Lists. I’m making a new one—a List that covers the whole year. I’m not calling it  a New Year’s Resolution, because I refuse to feel guilty if I don’t accomplish the goals I’ve set for myself. So without further ado, here’s my new 2012 List.

My 2012 “I’d Like to Do” List

*Eat less sugar

*Purposely look for reasons to be thankful

*Entertain more—aim for six times this year

*Get crafty with my kids

I’d say it’s a pretty good list. No guilt involved.

What’s on your List for 2012?