(re)Dedicated goals for a new year…

News Years is hands down my least favorite holiday. I’m not a big “party-er.” I prefer jeans (and/or sweats) to tights most days of the year. Don’t get me wrong…I love a good reason to celebrate, but this form and fashion of a New Year’s Eve party is simply not usually my style. However, I love a chance to start over. Sometimes…that’s all you really need. 

January One brings hope of many things and offers a fresh start. Not the I-just-dripped-the-cheese-from-my-soup-all-over-my-chin-on-the-first-date and need a re-do kinda fresh start. January One (and the proceeding 364 days of the upcoming year) offer a chance to revitalize, reorganize, completely modify, and improve you, your life, your style, your habits, your relationships, or anything else you deem improvement-worthy.

I’m not a fan of the “resolutions” though. I work at a gym. I know what putting “resolution” does to a goal. It turns it into a cliche, something fun and new to try for a couple of weeks…or (if you’re really serious) a month.

This year though, in light of my year of awareness and growth, I find my else aching for more. Despite the incredible things 2011 brought, I want more. More love. More rest. More laughs. More adventure. More dates planned. More dates made. 

In lieu of this…I compiled a little list of my goals for 2012. These are not concrete life changing resolutions simply because I hope for more from them than a measly two months thrill. These are goals that I set knowing…life happens, knowing that I might change my mind, knowing there is always next year, and, of course, I could always come up with something better. (Or you know…God could pull a wild card and leave me in the middle of Africa. So I say [most] of these things lightly, as a simple challenge, a “hooray” to make each day better, and to make “it” (that thing we call life) count a little more each moment…

1. Eat less sugar. 

Laugh all you want. I know-asking me to eat less sugar is like asking Detective Johnson not to have a candy drawer: seemingly impossible. I just want to be balanced. I can do this.

2. Live off a budget. 

I’ve attempted this before. I swear it can be done…even in graduate school (should that be especially in graduate school?)

3. Read 43 books this year. 

Considering I have a stack of 12 for this semester alone…shouldn’t be too difficult.

4. Read my bible, in it’s entirety, chronologically, in one year. 

(Two days down and I’m rocking it so far.)

5. Run. 

I would like to make this goal be “Run a half marathon,” but I’m questioning my dedication. (Goals people, baby steps.)

6. Love more deeply. 

This sounds like a cheesy, cheap shot at having a #6…but it’s not, it is something I truly struggle with.

This may be more of a wish than a goal. I could take it back at any moment (the moments where I’m feeling more fiscally responsible…but for now…)

(to be continued…)

I’m determined to make this happen.

(Yes, this does go in direct opposition to #1. Don’t state the obvious.)

…this I never regret.

Looks like 2012 is going to be a grrrreat year!