Goals

It's a new year. Time for setting goals. Notice I did not say resolutions. There's a big difference between the two, in my mind. Resolutions infer immediate change. Goals imply growth over a period of time. Resolutions are hard to keep because I have to change now! I can get behind the idea of a goal for the year. Over the next 12 months I want to get closer to a target. I can do that. Slow and steady progress.

So my question is, what are your goals for the year? Secondly, what is your plan for achieving them? If you don't have a plan, you're more likely to fail.

Some of you might be thinking, "I've done this every year and I'm out by mid-January. Why even bother?" So my question to you is, what is keeping you from seeing it through? Are you feeling pressure from an outside source to do something you really don't want to do? Do you feel like you need to do something so you can measure up? Is there an emotional hang-up that's keeping you from following through? When it comes to eating healthy, are you an emotional eater? Do you deal with lack of motivation or depression because you have some unforgiveness or guilt in your life? Maybe this is the year to deal with those issues. Take some time to do some soul searching. Get with God and ask Him to reveal things to you that need to be dealt with. If necessary, get help to overcome the issues.

Living a healthy lifestyle requires good mental, emotional and physical habits. Developing those habits takes time. After all, it's taken you this long to get where you are. It's going to take some time to turn the boat around. It's not about making resolutions, it's about setting goals.

What are my goals? Get healthy, hence the new shoes. I've spent the last two years concentrating on getting emotionally and spiritually healthy. Now it's time to get serious about adding physical health. I had my first session with a personal trainer yesterday. I've done this before and given up. But this time feels different. I know I have to change my life. I'm ready. I know it will be hard. There will be times when I don't want to do it. That's why I need Mark, my trainer. I have specific benchmarks I'm working toward and someone who can guide me or kick me in the butt when I'm slacking. That's what I need.

What do you need?

365 Blog

 

I'm trying to come up with a cool 365 blog post for 2012. What interesting thing can I blog about every day for the whole year? I've seen some ideas like, meeting a new person every day and write about it (quite ambitious). One suggestion is take an interesting photograph every day and comment on it (maybe). I could go the Julie & Julia route and make a new recipe every day (not gonna happen ;D) and possibly have a book deal and major motion picture at the end of it (yeah, right!).

The thing is, I could easily sit here at my Mac and talk about me every day, a kind of journal for the world to see. After all, that's what a blog is, a chance for people to say what they want to say. But who really wants to read about me? I'm not being self-deprecating, but human nature dictates that people want to read about themselves. Why do the games like Heads Up/Seven Up and the Quiet Game still work? Because kids get to be picked! They are noticed. Good writers know that they have to create characters that people can relate to. They have to be able to put themselves into the story.

So how can I get YOU into this story? How can I make this blog into something that can connect people in a positive way? How can I make this a place to sidle up to in a comfy chair and with a cup of coffee? Or a place where ideas can be shared and tossed around?

First of all, if you read my blog through a link on Facebook or Twitter, it's time to commit. Click the "Follow" button on this blog so that you can comment. If you are new, welcome! I'll still post a link on Twitter and Facebook.

Secondly, I'll start slowly by posting something each Monday.....a picture, a question or a comment. I have friends who blog, so I might post something they have put up. 

Finally, I want this to be positive. This is not a place to gripe or complain about the government or your mother-in-law. There's enough of that online. I want to be a force for change.

This experiment may be a major flop, or it may help someone along the way. Like someone famous said once, "Let's throw it against the wall and see if it sticks."

So tomorrow, I'll post again and tell you the reason for the picture of my shoes........