2013: A New Year with Some New Goals

Happy New Year Everyone,

For years, decades actually, I have been the consummate list and goal maker.  I love maintaining my never-ending "Things to Do" list and have always taken great delight in highlighting each task once it's complete.  (In fact, I get such a thrill out of this that I often add tasks to the list I've already completed, just so I can "cross" them off--and feel good about myself. :-))  Similarly, I have always enjoyed coming up with an extensive list of New Year's goals and resolutions.  Truth be told, my resolutions ultimately evolved to the point where I had 20 - 25 resolutions, broken down into five categories:  Personal, Professional, Family, Financial and Athletic.  The bottom line was although this was a noble goal, it was ridiculous--after all, it was darn near impossible to keep 20+ resolutions straight, no less try to accomplish them.

So this year I am taking a new approach--I am simplifying my resolutions and narrowing them down to ONLY three.  Here they are:

1.)  Create a new blog and begin blogging again.  (Check--although the blog needs lots of work, it's at least up and running.) 

2.)  On Mondays through Fridays, I will not turn on my computer until I have exercised for at least 30 minutes.  Here's a quick explanation as to why: I usually get up around 6:30 a.m. every morning and do not wake the kids up until just before 8:00.  That's 90 minutes of "me" time that invariably I blow by turning on the computer, sitting down on my ever-widening arse, reading my favorite blogs, checking in on Facebook, clearing out my e-mails and doing a little surfing.  It's fun and it's very enjoyable, but the truth of the matter is that by the end of the week, I have spent at least 7.5 hours doing absolutely nothing productive.  If I work out for 45 minutes, I'd still have plenty of time to surf the web--and I'd be in a lot better shape.  I started doing this new routine this past week and I am absolutely AMAZED at how much more I got accomplished and how much better I felt by not getting sucked into the ultimate time drain.

AND finally,

2nd Annual Girls Adventure Weekend (AGAW) at Nelson Rocks, WV

3.) 12 Months = 12 Adventures.  This is the resolution I am most excited about!  I've decided to schedule a new/exciting adventure every month.  I kicked January off by registering the kids for the Learn to Ski program at a local ski resort and got the slope package for me.  Connor and Mikaela's package includes 4 weeks of lessons and 7 lift passes, whereas I'll just get the 7 lift passes.  I'm excited to introduce them to an activity I love, but haven't done in years.  In February, I am organizing a cross country ski weekend at Whitegrass in West Virginia.  I'm in the process of finalizing the adventures for the remainder of the year, but so far they include a mountain bikepacking trip along the Continental Divide (from Banff, Canada to Whitefish, MT) with Bob, a trip to Paris with Mikaela, the third Annual Girls Adventure Weekend, a camping trip in West Virginia with my entire family--parents and siblings included, a Canaan Valley, WV adventure sports weekend with a group of friends, a family backpacking trip and at least another half dozen micro-adventures.   This may be a rather selfish goal, but honestly, I love the thought of having something fun to look forward to each and every month.

FWIW, I've got to say that I'm somewhat relieved that none of my resolutions this year involve losing weight -- my never ending quest!  Although if all goes well, resolutions #2 and #3 might just might have that unintended benefit.

How about you--what are your resolutions this year?