While I agree that we should always be looking forward and should always be setting resolutions and pursuing goals with fervor, it is natural to spend some time this year reflecting -- and then looking forward to what comes next.
I made a few decisions this year that propelled me back onto the right track after what feels like a long time away. First, I made the decision #1, to return to South Carolina to make a way for myself. The cost of living is lower, the mountains are beautiful, and there are some really wonderful things here. Like decision #2, to return to my job -- I enjoy the people, I enjoy the feeling that I make a difference, and I enjoy working in a place where it feels like what I do is noticed and appreciated. My loyalty and dedication is rewarded. And a lot of the time, we have a lot of fun. In any time, but especially in this economy, that is a true blessing. To bolster this decision, I made decision #3, to begin a program working towards a vet tech degree. While I have been moving through this program at about the speed of molasses, I do think it was a smart choice.
And that's where I am. For much of the year, I felt like I was in the right place, but it wasn't the right time. I wasn't quite sure what was next. I'm starting to think that 2012 will be the right time -- or, at least, will provide a rock solid foundation for what is next. I'm starting to feel like everything that I do from here on out will make a significant impact on the future. It's a really nice feeling, so I'm glad that I'm here, but part of me is so curious about what is next that I think maybe I'm missing out on a lot of things here in the moment. Perhaps I should be more mindful.
Perhaps I should be a lot of things.
To that end, I suppose I should make some New Year's resolutions. Hopefully not the kind that I will immediately forget about. It feels like yesterday that I decided I would follow the Paleo diet 100% in 2011...I made it about one full day. Unless Diet Coke isn't Paleo, then I made it maybe six hours. So I want to be sure that the things I talk about doing in 2012 are things that I will actually do. What's the point of setting myself up to fail? I want to feel like I'm succeeding and thriving all year long!
I already mentioned here that I have three major areas I'm interested in working on: health, finances, and overall organization. Since then, I added a few more things I think need to be a focus in 2012: my relationship, my mental health, and my education. To that end, I've created six resolutions:
- I will work out at least six days a week, and meal plan weekly for food to support weight loss.
- I will work within a strict budget and focus on improving my credit score and bottom line.
- I will create a home management binder, mail station, and maintain an organized household.
- I will honor and appreciate my guy daily; I will strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman for him.
- I will practice meditation for at least two minutes daily, and build slowly from there.
- I will create and maintain a schedule for school work to ensure that I stay on track.
I will do a weight circuit first thing when I get up daily. On days that I'm off or have a half shift, I will also do a Zumba DVD. By meal planning weekly, I will be able to support fat loss and also stay within my budget easily. I'll keep track of everything going on by utilizing all my new organization ideas -- the filer on the refrigerator, the binder, the mail station for all the random paperwork, etc. I'll make sure to find a way every day to let my guy know how much I appreciate him and everything he is to me. I will take a minute in the car, before and after work, to focus on my breathing and get myself into the right frame of mind for the day. And I will use my new organizational skills to organize my stuff for school with a study schedule, self-imposed exam dates, and a steady, solid plan for getting through this so that I can move on to what's next.
If I do 2012 right, 2013 is going to be amazing, and each year after that will only be even better.
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