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Update: Congratulations to kkimberly, the winner of this book!
Updated to add: A bunch of early entries seem to have misunderstood today’s question, so I’ve rephrased it. I want to know what you’re letting go of, okay?
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So, your entries in yesterday’s giveaway were really interesting. I was surprised at the number of people whose “what I want to do less of” wishes involved worries and stresses from 2009.
2009 was a pretty challenging year for me, too. It’s comforting in a way to know that many of you were going through challenges, too. Here’s wishing us all smoother roads in 2010, eh?
“Enough talk,” you’re saying. “Give something away!” Alrighty, then…
Today, we have up for grabs a copy of Meg McElwee’s Sew Liberated, which I reviewed a couple weeks back.
To enter this drawing, leave a comment here that answers this question:
What’s one thing you feel you “should” do in 2010 that you’re going to let go of?
Most of us have a few “shoulds” too many. I have so many, I have to store them in an offsite garage.
You have until Sunday, January 3 to enter. International friends are welcome. Good Luck and Happy New Year!
That looks like a GREAT BOOK! I'm going to try and lose the quilt about not helping do all my grown kids birthday celebrations and let their spouses take over!
I should be a better housekeeper. I'm hiring a cleaning team instead!
I should give up Red Bull, but since I despise coffee and still need a morning caffeine fix, I think I will let that resolution slide right on by.
I “should” lose 20 pounds. But..instead of looking at it that way, I'm going to start making better food choices and the pounds will come off by themselves. Gee, let's hope! I guess it's all about perspective. But…that's a whole other subject. And I'm not going there today. :-)
assuming I can fix it (umm, like the toliet). sometimes you should just pay someone and have it done with.
I really should organize and sell all my son's toys (he is now 16 1/2 and has no use for power rangers, dinosaurs, tonka toys) that are cluttering up the basement but instead I am going to let them go and give them away to those that are less fortunate and let them have a new life. My husband was killed suddenly when my son was 6 years old and I know I hold of to things like that in order to feel I have some control or that this is something (all the toys) that will stay the same. Well, now that I am remarried (will be 3 years in June 2011) and my life is moving forward, my son is growing older and turning into a wonderful young man, I have an opportunity and joy to enjoy the next phase of my life so in moving forward I need to let those cluttered, piled, unused for about 6 years, toys go and bless others!
I should probably try to be more organized, but the thought of it stresses me out so I'll probably let it go!
I am going to try to talk myself into letting go one of my volunteer jobs. I enjoy it sometimes, but it can be stressful and that isn't good for my health.
I'm letting go of other people's “shoulds”… when someone says to you “You know, you really should…” and pile *their* expectations all over me, I am under no obligation to accept those “shoulds”
I am going to let go of the idea that I have to be SUPERWOMAN. I am a single mother with two daughters. For years, I have worked, raised kids, been a school volunteer, led a brownie troop, joined scrapbooking groups, etc. Every holiday I made homemade sweets (never bought at the store!!!) and lots of homemade crafts and gift. Even when anyone volunteered to give me a hand, I felt the need to do things myself due to my idea that I can do things perfectly…why? Why do I have to do it all!
I am going to take more time for myself and let others do things, even if it isn't perfect!
I should lose these last 5 lbs. of baby weight so I can fit back into my old “nice” clothes. But I'll let go of that idea, and just love myself, my husband, and my baby.
What is this “letting go” of which you speak? :)
Excellent question. I honestly don't have an answer to it, but thank you for planting the “letting go” seed in my mind. Options! I have options!
Losing weight and stressing myself out over it. I'm going to try doing Yoga to improve my health.
I'm letting go of the idea that I will ever enjoy doing exercise. I tried it, many times. It's not my cup of tea.
I'm letting go of recycling juice pouches in classrooms this year, even though I should do it to help the environment. I did it for the last 3 years for up to 5 classrooms at a time. It is just to much for me to keep up with right now. Instead I'm showing people how they can recycle them in their own home.
I'm not planning on having a “job” this year and I am working on not feeling guilty about that!
I feel I should have a cleaner house…oh well that one I can let go, it's is still home to all of us and people are more important than things.
For 2010, I am giving up the idea that I will ever feel like my finances are completely organized. I have a master's degree in finance, so it shouldn't be that difficult, but I have to accept that I will never be perfect.
You know, I'm really not sure. I'm in a rather transitory period right now and don't know where I'll be in 2010, much less what I should and should not do or can and can not afford to let go of. Maybe I'll let go of worrying about what I should be doing. :)
I like the idea of letting go of other people's expectations.
I'm letting go of the idea that I will ever be perfectly tidy and organized, and embracing the idea of using up my craft stash instead of acquiring more.
I'm letting go of the idea that my etsy shop has to make a dozen sales a week for me to feel successful! I'm just going to do what makes me feel happy, no matter what the sales are!
Molly
http://mollylee.etsy.com/
http://mollyleecards.blogspot.com/
I still feel like I should be the mom who has the super clean tv house that I love cleaning. I'm letting go of that guilt this year. I'm going to enjoy life and have a semi clean house and move on with it. ;)
(What a great book to give away, by the way. It's tops on my list of books to buy. :) )
I am going to let go of the idea that I should give up Diet Coke! People nag me about it all of the time-I don't drink alcohol or coffee. What's the big deal? :)
Sometimes a B is just as good as an A. Right? Arrgg maybe I should have finished college when I was 20 and not 40! I want to let go of perfectionism!
What am I letting of of? Three stone in weight! I joined Slimming World three months ago & I've lost a stone so far – I'm aiming to be down to at least 12 stone by the end of 2010. I'm totally committed and I know I can do it. I've already let go of years of guilt about food and my weight and unusually, losing weight feels like a hugely healthy and positive thing to be doing. It doesn't even feel like a diet, it just feels like eating better.
I am going to let go of my guilt about whether I go to the gym or not. I don't feel guilty about having arthritis in my hip, so if that's the reason I don't go to the gym, I don't have to feel guilty about not going.
I am letting go of my mother and her issues. I will still be in her life, but I will no longer let her control mine.
I’m going to try and let go of the future, stop feeing that I’ve got to plan for everything and enjoy my life as it happens
I'm going to (try to!) let go of the idea that I have to whip my house and yard into shape as quickly as possible…b/c it takes over my life. Particularly the yard. Things just GROW so fast in Oregon, I have a hard time keeping up. And then I get stressed. And don't do things I should, like running and hiking and swimming in a lake and spending time with friends and family…and I want to do those things instead, so I will let go of the idea that I have to perfect my house and yard, and just let it happen in the flow of my life!
I'm going to let go of the idea that 2010 will be the year that I squeeze back into my old size 6's. I should burn them and do a pow-wow dance around them in celebration.
I'm going to let go of the idea that I have to do everything.
Trying to be completely “ready” for everything. Organizationally (is that a word?), but mostly emotionally. It took me a while to figure this out but I recently realized that “ready” really just means “more ready than not”. You're never really ready for anything…
This is a really difficult question, because every time I think about it I get a 'But you *should* really have a go at that / start that / be doing that' thought… I'm pretty unrealistic about how much stuff I can cram into my life without comprimising on sleep / relationships / sanity!! I think I'll let go of learning to crochet. I bought a load of hooks about a month ago with the intention of mastering the art, but if I think about it properly I really don't have enough time for a new skill, and I should focus on developing my sewing and knitting.
Thanks for that bit of therapy! Oooh, and I am loving all these giveaways :)
I'm letting go of the guilt I feel when I try to be Superwoman, and can't manage it.This is most of the time, so ther's a lot of guilt to be letting go!!!
I'm going to let go of excuses and just do what I need to do.
holy cow – love your banner. i have been away too long! i am letting go of using the word 'should' altogether. that and perhaps my credit rating. you know, perfection. : P or at least i will try. our 2010 mantra = prosperity, creativity, levity. keep up the inspirational work, diane!
I want to let go of past issues that have held me back.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm thinking about letting go of the guilty feeling I get when eating too much. I already go to the gym so that should be enough to let me enjoy a meal. I'll be sweating it off the next day anyway.
Oh, and drinking Coke. I've tried to give it up permanently and that just doesn't work, so I'll have some once in a while.
I'd like to let go of the guilt I feel when I think that I should be crafting. How about crafting out of creativity and inspiration, rather than obligation?
After this baby, I'm going to try and let go of this weight again this year. I lost a chunk of it this year and then gained some more back then I planned. Thanks for the giveaway! God Bless, and Happy New Year. :)
I'm going to let go of always being so image conscious. I like to think that I'm happy with myself, but have my own moments of doubt where I think I should be someone I'm not. I'd like to let go of that, be myself and have a lot of fun in the process.
I should probably do the resolutions everyone does of “lose weight/get in shape/get organized' but…I'm not going to do any resolutions because I feel it's setting myself up for failure.
I'm letting go of the things others think I should do, and only do the things I know to be best for myself and my family. Other people's “shoulds” shouldn't burden me, and I've really got to let that go!
OK, I am letting go of getting impatient with my children over the little things that do not matter in light of eternity (like spilled milk). God bless you. Thanks for the giveaway!
I am letting go of the need to be perfect… in everything…my work, my relationships, my creativity. I am letting go of this false idea of what things should be and like and dare to BE MYSELF.
I'm trying to let go of the idea that I have to do everything perfectly.
I am no longer being the person other people perceive me to be. I am now going to be true to myself. I am no longer keeping contact with people that I “should”, particularly on facebook. From now on, I am being me.
Hello!
I want to let go of worrying about what other people think of me and being so sensitive to criticism and conflict.
Happy New Year!
Katie
I'm going to give up the idea that I am super mom. I can't do everything right, end of story! Tough question! Oh & I had to comment on the diet coke reply. Love it! I get the same thing w/ drinking coke & sweat tea. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. I'm going to enjoy my pop & sugary tea, lol.