Resolutions? Ideas for 2011?

Apart from the obvious one, selling my house and moving forward, I have a few thoughts regarding what 2011 could potentially have in store for me. Of course, I hold the reins and I alone can decide what goes on in 2011. Having said that, I do believe that fate has a place in all of this as well and I'm only as good as what comes my way.

Thoughts then...

Detoxing

Yes. I seriously think I could benefit greatly from a natural detox. Not one that comes with massive amounts of supplements and saltwater baths...blabla...but a real detox. Lots of water, no coffee, fresh foods, dark leafy greens, less diary...you get the idea. This one I've already semi started. Going on day 5 without coffee and it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Drinking and exploring the world of tea!

Education

I have been in a training position for a year and I love it. I always knew I liked being with people and educating and learning at the same time. I would like to further this with a better understanding of my current field, learning as much as I can to better myself and others. Who knows where this will lead.

Travel

I do need to travel this year. I am planning a trip to Sweden and if all goes well it will go ahead for April. I want to do a lot of camping this year. At the end of the season last year, I purchased a tent and I'm planning my summer vacation around camping and long weekends. For the fall, well, let's just say it would be nice to go south, but that all depends on the money situation, vacation time left over and home situation.

My two cents...

Today I saw a woman with her baby at the Gymboree store at the Rideau Centre. She was browsing the clothing racks while her baby eagerly slobbered over an unpurchased soft toy from the baby section. As my friend and I walked by, the toy fell and my girlfriend picked it up and handed it back to the baby. The mother rudely turned around and removed the toy from her child's hands, promising to return a "new" one to him as the one that fell on the floor was dirty. She went to the table with the soft toys and grabbed a new one for him.

I'm not only appalled by the fact that she'll let her child play with unpurchased items in such a manner, but more so that she's absolutely uneducated about germs. Does she honestly think that the floor is more dirty than the soft toys that have been handled by many many hands most of them unclean, including my own?

This post isn't about mothers behaving badly, because I would not stop writing. I see enough mothers being downtown Ottawa and on the bus every single day to write a novel about it. I am also not making a statement that I'm an incredible mother without fault. I do, however, consider my mothering style to be logical, common sensical and informed. This mother today, honestly believed that her child was better off chewing on bacteria than on dirt. There's a photo of me from when I was no more than two, sitting in the sandbox eating sand and whatever else is in there. I collected earthworms in the rain, ate raspberries off the bush in the nude (oh wait, that was my sister) and played with rabbits and chickens in the yard.

Being vigilant and diligent when it concerns your children is most important, if it's about the right thing and in the right way.