Doing Things Differently

Normally this is the time of year that I make an exhaustive list of resolutions 

of things I want to completely change about myself.  

And then, 

around December 30th or so, 

I get all depressed when I review the list and realize 

I never managed to complete any of them. 

So this year, I don't have resolutions.  

This year, I have just one goal: 

Hike the Maryland section of the Appalachian Trail. 

By preparing to complete this goal,

I need to be healthier and get into backpacking shape,

 something that's typically on my resolution list. 

 But now they aren't the main goal, just part of the process. 

 The goal is a fun adventure that I'm really excited to do and I think 

that's the key.

So, now that the new year is here, I've begun seriously planning.  

I went on a small hike on January 1st 

(the very day after puking my guts out from a stomach virus- what can I say, I'm dedicated). 

 There are many other hikes planned and the whole family is involved.

This is going to be MY year

Resolve

re-solve

1. v. settle or find a solution to (a problem, dispute, or contentious matter).
2. v.  decide firmly on a course of action.
3. n. firm determination to do something.

 It's that time of year when people write out lists of things they want to change in the coming new year.  

I'd wager that most people start out with good intentions and 

plan on following through with all of their resolutions.  

Sadly, most give up and fail to accomplish anything on their list.  

Despite the fact that I fall into the never-accomplish-anything-on-my-resolution-list category, 

I figured I'd give it another go.  

So, thinking that sharing my list might make me more inclined to stick to it 

(the whole accountability thing), 

I'm posting it here.

Being Healthier:

1. Walk at least 2 miles 4 days a week (I'm hoping to make it 7 days a week, but I think 4 is more realistic).
2. Go back to a Low Carb/Good Carb diet (like South Beach).  I did this once and lost a lot of weight and just felt better over all.  But I'm a stress eater, I'm stressed and planning meals and grocery shopping is a pain.  No excuses though, time to get back to something healthier.
3. Lose 30 pounds. I'm pretty sure that if I manage #1 and #2 this one will be no problem.  
4. Drink more water. 
5. Cut back on the amount of soda I drink.  I like iced tea and green tea so I should work on drinking that.  Plus, making iced tea is cheaper than buying soda.  And it really bothers me that I drink something that is used to clean the corrosion on car batteries.  
6. Find time to meditate at least 3 times a week.  Ideally it should be every day, but I'm being realistic as meditation is not so easy with a 7 year old about. 

Finances:

1. Save some money using the 52 week challenge.
2. Put at least $25 per week in my savings account (hopefully more than that per week, but a minimum of $25).
3. Cook my own breakfast each morning- don't eat out (this is also a healthy thing).
4. Pack my lunch at least 4 out of 5 days.  I'd say all 5 days, but again, I'm trying to be realistic.  This could potentially save me about $200 a month.  That's a lot.  In fact it's a car payment. 
5. Eat dinner out only 2-3 times a month.  This is going to be a tough one.  When you've gotten into the habit of eating out on a regular basis, it's hard to break that habit.  Who wants to deal with planning meals or doing the dishes (the cooking I'm okay with).
6. Pay off the Credit Cards.  Tough, but I've already locked them away in the safe, and I have a plan. 

Organization:

1. Go through my 7 year old's toys to see what can be donated.  He wasn't too receptive to the idea, but he has more than enough to play with (and doesn't even play with it all).  I'm thinking of making this something that is done yearly  before Christmas- you know, making room for the new stuff.
2. Clean out my clothes.  I know there are things that are in my closet that haven't seen the light of day in 2 years or more.  I obviously have no need for them, but someone else might.
3. Plan out meals a month at a time.  I know I can do this because I have done it.  It makes live easier when you do- you save money on groceries, save time on shopping and on cooking (especially if you use a slow cooker on a regular basis).
4. Organize recipes.  I have a few, some written down, some saved on Pinterest, but I'd like them all in one place like a recipe box.  
5. Declutter in general. Find a better way to organize mail, school papers, product manuals, warranties, etc.
6. Cleaning the basement and the items you have in storage there.  This includes my whole family and a trip to the dump.  I'm hoping to get my items better stored and organized at a minimum and help my parents and siblings get rid of the junk as a bigger goal.

General:

1. Get to the point where I am blogging 4-5 days a week.  That's tough since I have several blogs, but something I have been continuously working towards.  
2. Learn to use my DSLR camera in something other than automatic mode.
3. Take some time to go take photos with the DSLR camera not in automatic mode at least every other week. Ideally I'd like to take a trip somewhere closeby to take photos at least once a month.
4. Start writing a book.  Doesn't matter what the genre is or the content or that there's an expectation to finish, just start.
5. Build 2 polytunnels for growing greens in the cold winter months.  
6. Plant a more efficient vegetable garden. 
7. Plan out time for canning to be faster and more productive.
8. Plan weekly family night. Either planning on playing a game or watching a movie or some type of outing like bowling or mini-golf- and sticking to it.
9. Plan weekly or bi-weekly date night. Because alone time with the one you love is important and sometimes life is so busy you forget.  So weekly is the main goal, but building to that is okay.  And date night doesn't mean that you have to spend money.  Could be dinner at home and a movie or going for a walk or a hike.

That for the most part is my list.  

My goals and resolutions for 2014.  

Throughout the year I'll check back regarding my list to see 

how I'm doing or 

if I'm doing.  

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

Be at War with your Vices, 

at Peace with your Neighbours, 

and let every New-Year find you a better Man.  

~Quoted in Benjamin Franklin's 1755 Poor Richard's Almanac, December

Resolutions

 It's that time again.  

That time where you look back over the past year 

and come up with things you want to improve on for the next year.  

Most of these things are forgotten by mid-February. 

Despite that bleak outlook on actually sticking with these resolutions,

here is my list of things.

1. Be a more frequent and consistent Blogger.  I currently write 5 blogs.  Sporadically. I think maybe I'm a blog hoarder, so I need to start giving each equal attention on a regular basis before the SPCB (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Blogs) takes them away. 
2. Take more and better photos.  Those who have ever been with me with a camera know this might seem a little crazy.  I take hundreds of photos.  But I think I need to take more thoughtful photos.  This also goes along with number 1.
3. Be healthier. That means better eating choices (so long McDonald's) and more exercise (time to use that YMCA membership).
4. Better stress management. Time to carve out some "me" time and break out those meditation ideas from back in the day when I was hip, cool and new age-ier than now. 
5. Make time for hobbies.  It's time to get back in the saddle- literally.  It's also time to break out those paranormal investigation tools. And of course, work on number 1.

I could continue, but I think anything else would be closely tied to the first 5.  

If I work on the first 5, everything else will work more smoothly 

(sounds good in theory).

So here's to the possibilities of 2013.

What are your resolutions?