2013 Resolutions

Last January I posted 12 goals for the year and as I wrapped up 2012 I was amazed to see how well I did with them. Accountability has a lot to do with it.  Posting them in such a public place put pressure on me to follow through.  So I've decided to do the same for 2013, adding one more goal to the year.

My list and this year, my reasons.

1.  REDUCE EXCESS

This means no shopping.  No purchasing of unnecessary clothing, housewares, etc.  We live in a very disposable society.  Everywhere you turn there is a new product lurking with a message trying to convince you why you need it or need to replace what you already have.  My world has become quantity over quality.   

My closet is full of clothes I hardly wear.  My cupboards are stuffed with items I haven't used in a year.  So, unless there is an item I truly need (i.e. running shoes because I will not damage my body with bad shoes) I will not purchase anything I do not need.  In addition, I will be sorting through every inch of my home and donating the excess.

2. CREATE A DAILY RITUAL

A daily practice, particularly in the morning, is creative and inspiring, and all around healthy.  My goal is start each day with sun salutations, meditative walks with Annie, and loads of affirmations.  I want to start the day with the right frame of mind. 

3.  UNPLUG

When cell phones became the newest technology I was not convinced it would make my life better.  It took me a long time to finally get one, and then when I did, I rarely carried it around or used it.  My friend BR can attest to this.  Now I use it all the time.  Also, when I'm cooking or cleaning around the house, I sometimes turn on the t.v. to news or trashy shows just to have background noise.   

Well, if we are what we eat, we are what we watch and listen to as well.  I will focus on listening to music more and no longer tune into the t.v. for noise.  And, I will no longer have my cell phone within reach when I'm out and about.  I would rather engage with the checkout gal then filter through my twitter feed.  

4.  FIND A NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR

I'm really over conventional medicine.  Last year I had some crazy allergy thing that knocked me out.  cc didn't want to get sick so I went to the doctor to figure out what was going on.  In less than five minutes, without getting all the information on my symptoms, I was prescribed a z-pack.   

I want a doctor that gets to the heart of the problem and doesn't just treat the symptoms.  Also, I am interested in determining whether there is a path I can take to eliminate my thyroid medication.  A naturopath doctor has a med degree but will try natural remedies before turning to conventional medicine.

5.  FIND A MENTOR

This one is big because I rarely ask for help.  Between feeling insecure in my abilities and not wanting to air those or knowing I can do it myself, I just don't ask.  This is obviously horrible thinking so I will be searching for guidance this year.

6.  BUILD FRIENDSHIPS

I struggle with relationships because I don't put myself out there very well.  It is easier to do in this space because I can't see your face, but real time is a different story.  My goal is to work on that this year.

7.  START A SIDE BUSINESS

I have really wanted to do this for a while.  I love to teach and I love being creative.  I have many ideas in mind and I am looking forward to this goal the most. 

8.  MOVE EVERYDAY

Yoga, run, walk with Annie, hike.  Whatever it looks like, for 30 minutes a day I need to move. 

9.  BE PRESENT

I am searching for a quiet spirit.  I'm always thinking ahead, planning my next move and I want to focus on just sitting in the moment and not worry about yesterday or tomorrow.  

10.  INTENTIONAL COMMUNICATION

Another biggie this year.  I curse.  I use poor grammar, and I can be a debbie downer.  I have gotten comfortable, maybe even a little lazy in how I speak and I realized I don't want that to be a piece of my legacy.  Silence is golden. 

11.  BE CONFIDENT

I believe there is wisdom in carrying an air of confidence.  Not egotistically, but rather, comfortable in my own skin.  

12.  HONE A NEW SKILL

I am a life long learner and I am happiest when I am learning something new.  This year I would like to focus on skill set that I can add to my tool box. 

13.  DO ONE THING THAT SCARES ME

This was #12 on last year's list.  To be honest, I put it on the list because I didn't have anything else, but it is the one goal that stuck with me the most.  I enjoyed it immensely, and so I am adding it again for 2013.   

Cheers to a new year and a fresh start.  Any resolutions for you this year?

Mid Year Review

January always brings excitement.  There is a fresh year in front of me and the slate is clean.  I am a planner, list maker, and big time dreamer so at the beginning of every year I sit and make a list of all the things I want to do in the 365 days ahead of me.  Some of my goals are lofty, others ridiculous, and several uninteresting, but I do it without fail.

This year I posted a 12 in 2012 list and chose ACTION as my word of the year.  I intentionally chose a verb because I needed a push move beyond musing.  With that said, I'm forcing myself to return to the list with 6 months of the year  left to go in order to gage my progress.

1| Attend brand camp with Hey, Sweet Pea - When I created this goal this class was more in theory than practice and it turns out, I'm not ready for this jump yet.  However, I've found really valuable classes here and I've registered for a few of them, and have plans to take more in the fall when my schedule frees up.
2| Squam in the Fall - registered!
3| Take a homesteading class - completed in April
4| Take a trip to Lincoln for a non-agenda weekend with my sister  - completed in May
5| Return to yoga - I could cross this off the list because for the first 4 months of the year I attended yoga weekly.  As usual, I realized how much my body needs the flexibility, but life got busy and I stopped.  I think this will be a goal I am constantly working on.
6| Write 5 lines of gratitude daily - Same as #5, I got off the bandwagon and need to get back on.  I've got a project in mind you'll probably see show up soon that I hope will give me motivation.
7| Get my garden going at the new house - It's not perfect, but it's there, and I'm working towards rebuilding the nutrients in the soil for a great fall garden.
8| Make a date with the specialist I've been putting off - completed in January
9| Run the Tour de Fleurs 10K in the Fall - Sadly, this race is the same weekend I will be at Squam so I am searching for another run.  I have neglected my running routine and this will be a physically challenging goal to reach, but I'm determined to get one race in this year.
10| Go on vacation - looking at October
11| Work on my personal style - Talk about a work in progress!  I'm trying to step into my own and finding out what that looks like is similar to walking through a maze.
12| Do one thing this year that scares me - News coming soon...

12 in 2012

This year I'm hoping to be in a state of flux.  Not necessarily the indifferent, anxiety provoking flux, but rather the continuous change or movement associated my word of the year kind.  Without going into detail, this is a list of my heavy hitters for 2012. 

  1|  Attend brand camp with Hey, Sweet Pea
  2|  Squam in the Fall
  3|  Take a homesteading class
  4|  Take a trip to Lincoln for a non-agenda weekend with my sister 
  5|  Return to yoga
  6|  Write 5 lines of gratitude daily
  7|  Get my garden going at the new house
  8|  Make a date with the specialist I've been putting off
  9|  Run the Tour de Fleurs 10K in the Fall
10|  Go on vacation
11|  Work on my personal style
12|  Do one thing this year that scares me

See how I did