Etch-a-Sketch

January 9, 2013

By Bridget Grella

A New Year is like an Etch-a-Sketch.  After a shake or in my case a shaken martini…you have a clean slate to draw a new picture.   My picture is loaded with endless possibilities and many jagged lines.  I still have not figured out how to move both white circles at the same time.  I was really more of a Lite-Brite kid…

Isn’t it fantastic to dream of new opportunities and the power to let go of what didn’t work and do more of what did?   

What do you see in your 2013?  I see more “first” times…I see my oldest daughter moving on to High School…I see thinner thighs and I see less debt and more freedom.  I would also like to see the Boston Bruins play hockey…I really miss the Bruins!

How do we get the Etch-a-Sketch lines pointed in the right direction?

My answer is that it happens a little each day.  Have you ever heard the old adage: Change your thought changes your life?  Well for any of you who have family or friends that is negative about EVERYTHING then you know how powerful a negative mind can be.  The flip side to that is that how powerful a positive mind can be.  I choose the positive.

Ok what about the money part?  Well that goes back to making little changes each day.  Brown bag, bring your own coffee, opt to wear something one more time before having it dry cleaned. But then don’t sit as close to your co-workers… Buy smaller amounts when food shopping to waste less food.  My goal is to not buy anything that is not essential from January 9- June 9.  Wish me luck!

How did the Holiday’s go for you?  Did you end the holiday with zero cash and maxed out plastic?  Only to feel stressed the morning after as to how are you going to pay it and why did I do this again?  No different than drinking too much…overindulgence is common during the holidays but this common act rarely makes you feel better and certainly takes longer to recover from a financial overindulgence than a martini hangover.

This was the first year I waited until the last minute-got some good sales but went over budget by $225. I only used cash and didn’t feel guilty at all for not buying the Beats headphones for my daughters.  Ok so I may have felt a small twinge but $400??? That is insane! 

I have some tight resolutions for this year.  I am grateful for where I am today and thankful for my clean etch-a-sketch New Year and all of the wonderful possibilities 2013 will bring.  I wish you a happy New Year filled with positive thoughts and wonderful possibilities.

Shake your Etch-a-Sketch NOW!