New Year's Resolutions

At this time of year it seems like everyone is making New Year's Resolutions. I have chosen not to do that, but this is a great time to set some goals. Why don't I want to make resolutions? I think they set a person up for failure. I resolution is a promise to yourself. I hate breaking promises to begin with, so I couldn't imagine breaking one I've made to myself. So, goals it is.

The first goals I made are about fitness. I want to get back on-track with the diet and exercise I started last spring. I've already said that I want to run at least three 5K races and run 10 miles per week. Exercise is only part of the equation.

I want to start eating "clean foods" again and overlooking the rest whenever possible. There is a lot of hype about clean foods right now, and it can mean something different for everyone. For me it means not eating processed foods and "junk." Natural foods that provide the most nutrition per calorie is what I am after. I can't tell you how good I felt when we made that change in April last year. We ate mostly that way until about October. Sugar and ease of preparation started creeping in about then. It's time to get back on the band-wagon. The good part about clean eating is that I don't wind up limiting myself. I have given myself free-reign on all fruits and vegetables. I can eat a lot and not feel guilty. Yes, I realize that I could wind up WAY overeating this way, but it works for me.

As far as fitness is concerned, I've decided not to set a weight goal. I've come to realize that I get frustrated when I don't see the scale moving. Fitness is about more than weight, and my goal is to be happy with me. If my clothes are making me feel good, then I'll be satisfied. If I can run farther than I could last year, I will be happy. We don't even own a scale anymore, and I'm pretty happy that way.

Outside of fitness goals, I don't have much else I want to focus on this year. One BIG goal, though, is getting a full-time teaching position. I REALLY want to work at Dobson Academy, so I am going to continue to work toward that through volunteering and subbing. I hope to sub at least once per week, but three times per week would be really great!

Finally, my goal for my family life is for everyone to be positive to each other. The girls are hitting some difficult years, and some of their interactions have been on the negative side. I want to focus my energies as a parent on teaching the girls to care about each other. If they can do that while sharing a bedroom, their interactions with others as they grow should come much easier.

I hope to look back at this post next year and see some big changes. I've done a lot since starting at the gym last April, and I hope those positive changes continue. I have been looking at the year 2011 with excitement. This year, it seems, can bring nothing but good things!