Welcome to 2016! I have been taking a few days to reflect on 2015 and considering the things I want to see happen in the coming year. So, I thought I would share some of my list with you. These items are NOT resolutions; they are goals I want to work toward and hope to see accomplished. For me, resolutions are easier to break than goals.
1) I would like to become a more consistent writer.
For you the reader, this means I am going to try to publish a blog post weekly, preferably on the same day of the week. For me, writing consistently means I’m going to focus on getting words on a page, whether it is for the blog or writing assignments. This leads to my second goal.
2) I am facing my fear of deadlines.
There, I said it. I am a deadline worrier. Deadlines can be frightening.
In college, it was easier to push past the deadline angst because there was a grade attached. Real life deadlines don’t have a grade, but they can have a “you’re fired” or no paycheck attached to them.
In my case, I am not writing for an income, yet, and that makes it easier to procrastinate. Don’t misunderstand, I am not inconsiderate of other people’s time or simply a procrastinator; in fact, I really don’t put off most of my other responsibilities.
I just let life detour me from writing because it is easier to avoid failure when the words are still in my head. When the words are on paper, someone gets to give input – input that might expose a deep well of insecurity that says those words aren’t good enough. Can anyone else relate?
3) I am re-evaluating my friendships.
I want my relationships to make a difference, not just be a checked block on a to do list. God, my husband, and my kids are never checked blocks. I am intentional and mindful of their impact in my life and mine in theirs.
My friendships, however, could use a little tweaking. I have hundreds of friends on Facebook, but do not talk to most of them in person. I know we live in an age where social media is the prime communication tool, but typing into a phone or computer screen is not enough for the relationships I value.
So, I plan to engage some friendships more and see where it leads; other relationships, I may have to give more distance.
4) I am going to get healthier.
My first step is to focus on my eating habits. For several years, I have been adding more natural and organic foods to my diet, but haven’t eliminated many of the processed foods I eat. I want to find more natural alternatives for some of those foods.
In addition, I plan to lose some weight. I don’t feel comfortable in my skin, and I don’t have enough energy for my daily tasks. I am already working on my exercise schedule and hope to find a steady walking partner soon.
So, for those of you making your own list of resolutions or goals, let me encourage you in something. Make a list of what went well in 2015, to go along with your “what needs to change list”. My thankful list was pretty easy to make, but for those who are struggling to see the good in 2015, take a deep breath and know that there is something worth treasuring this year. If nothing else, you can be thankful that you made it through another year and have the ability to read this blog post.