The Art & Poetry of Mary Coleman

So today I picked up my oil pastels and did a drawing for the first time in a long while. I no longer am trying to do so much in one day. As long as I get something creative in, be it writing or art, for around 30 to 45 minutes a day, I am happy. I was expecting too much of myself and getting overwhelmed and then doing nothing at all. So whatever I feel like doing in the morning at 6:15am is what I will do.

I go by a set routine. Time seems to pass quickly the older I get. It flies by now compared to when I was younger. Some days feel like they drag on, but they always end and another takes its place.

So I achieved my first New Year’s resolution which was to establish a healthier diet as habit. I did that. It took about a month of being consistent, but I am no longer getting cravings or hunger on the one meal a day plan. I just fast all day and have a big dinner. I eat dessert about once a week. I have takeout once a week, but try to cook home cooked meals the rest of the time. I am not getting cravings for junk food or sugar anymore. I eat it in moderation still and allow it in my diet, but I no longer feel like it constantly like I used to. I’m not comfort eating anymore. I don’t even get hungry during the day. My husband follows the same diet, only eating one meal a day, so it hasn’t been hard on either of us not having snack, lunch, or breakfast food in the house. We eat at the same time together each day and we eat the same food. I’m not trying to be super clean about my diet, just sensible. I get veggies and protein and complex carbs in for most meals.

As for my other resolutions, I am making progress. I am on my 12th day of exercising daily. It’s hard still to motivate myself to do it but I’m doing it every single day. 20 minutes of running 5 days a week and strength training twice a week. I also walk the dog for 15 minutes but that is really slow and mindful and not exactly difficult. It’s more for mindfulness and the dog than it is for fitness, but it is my goal to do it every day.

I have made significant progress on addressing my panic disorder, which the resolution was to have it in complete remission before May. I am not getting as many panic attacks. When I do, they are less intense and don’t last as long. My coping skills I learned in therapy are really helping and in combination with the improved diet and with daily exercise on board, I am slowly conquering this problem.

As for establishing a daily creative practice, I just started that today. I plan to get 30-45 minutes of creativity in (unless I finish earlier than that) 6 days a week.

There are other New Year’s resolutions I haven’t started working on yet, but what I covered here are the ones I’m actively working on right now. Last year I achieved all my New Year’s resolutions, so I am hopeful that this year I will do the same. My main focus this year is improving my mental and physical health, which really suffered last year while I was so engrossed in trying to finish my book. I still have to edit and publish that book, but that will come later in the year (it’s another New Year’s resolution).