I don't like to be told what to do. Never have. Whether it was my mother telling me to clean my room as a child, or my husband telling me to pulleaze balance the checkbook...doesn't matter. Almost automatically, my lips would press together, I'd get that defiant look in my eye, and though I may have never said it out loud (or did I?), I was thinking it: "Make me."

My mother no longer worries about my messy room (which is still messy on occasion...am I still rebelling?), and I'm not such a clod with the checkbook anymore. Yet that streak of rebellion is right there, firmly ensconced in my heart. Probably has something to do with being a human being who needs Jesus just a tad more each day, and may have something to do with me still needing to grow up in certain areas of my life (which, frankly, I refuse to do). Like my room...do I let it stay messy just to placate my inner child? Or am I just a tired, slightly undisciplined mother who has too much to do? Dr. Phil, are you reading this?

It's because I don't like being told what to do that I don't make New Year's resolutions. I rebel against myself, too. 

Me: "You must resolve to finish those piles of filing this year."

Me: "Make me."

I like to make the betterment of myself just happen naturally. As if it tiptoes softly into my life through the side door so as not to disturb my inner brat. Like this Christmas, I got rid of a bunch of needless junk without having to tell myself to. As I took down certain things (vases, pictures, knick knacks) to make room for my snowmen and other cheerful holiday dust collectors, many of those extra things went into boxes to be given away. And when the Christmas things came down, some of those went bye-bye, too.

(You'll be happy to know that several of these things -- vases, mainly -- will no longer be clutter in anyone's house, because when I opened the hatch on my SUV at the thrift store, they fell out onto the pavement and broke into quite a few unrecognizable pieces. Obviously, it was for the best. No one else needed them, either.)

Another way some of that New Year betterment happens is by one of my favorite downtime activities: Visiting web sites that deal with how to organize, how to be a better parent (wife, friend, etc.), and how to get closer to God. These sites are full of tips that come in like a gentle teacher through the side door of my life, and after while even my inner brat is behaving -- never having known what hit her. Here are a few of my faves:

Martha Stewart: It's my opinion that most of the people who put her down for her uber-domesticity have never really perused her web site at length. There's a ton of fun stuff on here. Don't get stressed out thinking you have to do everything she says, or exactly as she says to. The point of the site is to make life easier for you. Look at it that way.

Get Organized Now: Maria Gracia is a professional organizer with a load of great ideas. It's not a huge site (which is a good thing for the easily overwhelmed), but you're sure to find some tips to help you with your time, money, and general organization.

Christian Women Online: This site is pretty new to me, but already a favorite. If you need encouragement, this is the place to be.

I may add a few sites later. Right now my inner brat needs a cookie. ;-)