2012 Goals

So now that we're already halfway through January I think it's time to get these goals up!  Basically I have one main goal and then a handful of little ones that I hope to accomplish this year.  I did pretty well last year so hopefully this year will be no different.  It may prove to be more challenging this year since the DH goes back to a submarine but I need to make do.

My main goal for this year and the one I will be focusing on the most is:

BE PRESENT

This is something that has been bugging me for some time.  There are so many days where I am just running on auto-pilot the whole day.  Moving from one task to the next without enjoying anything or even giving it much though.  All day long spent going through the motions, trying to survive the chaotic lifestyle (life on a sub) we live.  I feel like I don't give my kids, husband or friends nearly enough attention.  I may be physically there but not emotionally present.  Well this year that is all going to change!  I plan to stop surviving and start living.  I plan to be more than just a physical presence.  I plan to start spending more quality time with my children and enjoying it as much as humanely possible.  I plan to start saying ok to my kids requests to do x, y, or z instead of listing the endless tasks that need to be done.  I plan on keeping in touch with my friends through phone calls and letters, not Facebook.  Don't get me wrong, FB has it's place but it shouldn't be the sole form of contact to/from people who mean a lot to you.  I plan to spend more quality time with the DH and communicate more openly.  We both are just so used to "normal" everyday life that we have both gotten complacent.  I know this will not be easy and I won't be perfect but in the end it will be so worth the effort!

This year will be a big test to see how committed I am to this because we are moving to Hawaii very soon and be going back to boat life.  It will be a huge challenge to make many of these things happen but I'm ready for it!

Now here are some other small goals I have on the list for 2012.

1)  Read 2 books a month.  Since I exceeded my goal last year it's time to up the anty.

2)  Keep up with exercising 3 days a week and try to include a strength workout each week.  Basically my main goal is to be consist!

3)  Take better car of me.  This one is huge!  I make sure everyone else is well taken care of with dr's appointments always kept and on time but not for myself.  I realize that I need to make myself a priority too so that I can live a long, healthy life and be around for my family.  This includes all aspects like check-ups, exercising and "me time".

4)  Try to eat fruit and/or veggies with every meal.  This should be easy if I am able to stick with the goal below.

5)  Eat a mostly whole food, plant-based diet.  This does not mean vegetarian but the rest should be self explanatory.  I've read a handful of books in the last year, and one very compelling one this year, that have motivated me to take it to the next level.

6)  Run a 10K.  Since I did manage to run 2 5K's last year I kinda want to up the anty on this too.  The funny thing is that I've run once in 2012 so far but hopefully with improved weather that will change!

7)  Allow more time for creativity.  Whether this means sewing dresses for my daughter, doing some photography or creating an online scrapbook.  I care less about what I'm actually doing and more about giving myself some time to do it.  I get so bogged down with day-to-day tasks that I seldom get to do things I enjoy.  It's time to change that, after all a happy mom is a happy family, right!

I think that gives me plenty of things to keep me busy this year.  Maybe I'll actually do a few updates on my progress or perhaps, even better, I may gain some blogging material.  Here's to a great 2012!