Lofty Goals

I'm not a NYR. New Year's Resolutioner. I made that up myself. Brilliant, I know. So here's the thing. I've never done it before and I'm not where I want to be, so what the heck can it hurt. Also, to further be self destructive, I will point out that when I make a goal* it generally has the opposite effect. Yeah, another thing I need to change.

Think. Positive. Thoughts. Maybe that should be my mantra this year. Ok, yeah, we're going with that. (Bear with me, this is going to be a somewhat rambling post, I'm thinking out loud here.)

*As opposed to "resolutions", I'm going to work towards "goals". I want to accomplish things, not necessarily change things. Those things that NEED changing will hopefully work themselves out while I am making the effort to learn, grow, and build a better foundation.

Here we go:

1. A PHOTO a DAY.
I've got this nice new camera. I want to branch out and use it for more than just for fun. I'm not 100% ready to do that, so I need more practice. I am going to try to post a photo a day to my flickr account (and here if I can). I've joined a 365 Group on flickr and am going to try their scavenger hunt (which will help with daily subjects). I'm pretty excited about this goal. It's a fun goal and it will be motivating to work towards completing something that I really enjoy.

2. MOVE
No, I'm not jumping again. Though you could say that this whole post is one big emotional/spiritual jump. I don't do "working out". I'm not a gym person, I don't have the discipline to say "I will work out 4 days a week!!!!" I do have the discipline to say, I'm going to take more walks, visit more trails, get up off the couch more. I think Goal #1 dovetails in to this one pretty well.

{Sidebar}

I went to Eno River State Park, yesterday, and found myself a little surprised at how happy it made me to be on a bit of adventure. Climbing these trails, enjoying the weather, the outdoors. I mean, it had me thinking of going camping.....there must have been something in the air. The photos were fun to take, while I was having fun moving. See the pattern?



{/Sidebar}


3. SAVE, Already!
This is a tough one. I did not inherit the saving gene from my parents. I am the definition of "burning a hole in your pocket". But, again, I'm not where I want to be and the only thing that will change that is doing something. So, I am going to save. We're not talking beans and rice here, we're talking baby steps. I'm going to do what I can. If I overextend myself, I am defeating the goal before I even start.

4. Visit, YOU.
I miss my family. All of them. It hurts my OWN feelings that I've never met Maggie and BW. I've never seen where JJ&C live. I want to visit C&C's home. I want to spend time with my Granny, without her having to endure the trip across the country. I want to go back to Portland and enjoy it without a 104 degree fever, and visit Allegra's beautiful home on the coast. I want to make more effort to spend time with the people I love. Here's the thing: this one doesn't dovetail so well with #3. But, I want to make an effort. I want to do WHAT I CAN. You know the saying, "Do Unto Others...".

5. STOP settling.
I am settler. No, I'm wasn't a pioneer or a wagon puller. I settle for the way things are. As much as it hurt to hear, as the truth usually does, I have a bad habit for "taking the easy way." Say it with me "I'm not where I want to be, so...". This one may sound a bit on the general side but if I use it as Mantra B, those baby steps will turn in to grown up steps.

Again, I don't want to over extend myself. I know my limits. Five is a good number. These are strong goals, something I can be proud of, a year from now. And you know what? It is ok to fail, because I am not perfect. It is ok to fail, as long as you get back up and keep trying.