Have you ever sarcastically answered someone’s question about how your life is going with “LIVIN’ THE DREAM!” Well… I have. I don’t always do resolutions because it usually ends with me binge eating Starbursts and some stale chips I found in the kitchen drawer because “I’ll start over tomorrow.”

I have decided that 2012 will be a year in which I give myself (and you SUCKERS!!) a new challenge each week. Each Monday I’m going to post a “Livin’ the Dream” challenge. I am going to complete it during the week and then fill you in. I’d love it if you’d join me… mainly so I don’t feel like a complete loser. Feel free to leave how you fulfilled your challenge in the comments OR if you have a blog, link up baby!!! That’s right folks, marthametzler.com has officially started a link party. (Is it sad I just made my own techno noises?)

So without further ado, here is Week One Challenge of 2012:

Write out 5 things that you DON’T want to change about yourself. You heard me. New Year’s Day ends up being a day when we make a list of things we’d like to change about ourselves… and swear you’ll never drink again or eat peppermint bark by the fistful. But I know for a fact that you are awesome and if I’m honest, I could spend a bit more time thinking about the things that are valuable about myself instead of just the negativo stuff. We ARE fearfully and wonderfully made after all. Kinda sucks for the Creator if we don’t even acknowlege his good work.

So here are the 5 things I don’t hate about myself:

1. I can make some people laugh.  I am never afraid to make myself look like an idiot if the atmosphere needs a little lightening up.  

2. I care for my son and hubby well.

3. I keep a clean house (for those that lived with me in college know this is a HUGE milestone).

4. I do empathy well.

5. I am pretty dang organized these days. 

And while we’re on a self-encouragement kick, post a picture that you don’t analyze and critique of yourself!