Here I am enjoying the last few hours of 2012, watching 2013 quickly approaching. Actually, tomorrow is not arriving any faster than any other day, so I shall say that it seems to be increasing its speed with each passing moment. I am trying not to panic. It seems that I have unfinished business with 2012 - lists left unchecked, chores that remain undone, goals unreached. What shall I do?
I'll tell you what I'll do. I will rip off the page of the calender and start fresh tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day just like today was another day that I looked forward to yesterday. I will not fret over what remains undone. I will start a new list and get to work.
My list begins with decisions - decisions of what my resolutions will be for 2013. When I make resolutions, I am serious. It is a good way for me to start new habits and break old ones. Last year I made a decision, a resolution, to capture the year in pictures. (I thought it would encourage me to journal and blog.) Every day I would take a picture. I failed. My first mistake was to try to blog with the picture, which meant more work than snapping a picture. I had to email it, upload it and blog about it. Too much. Big mistake. Overkill. A set up for failure. It's not that I didn't enjoy doing it, but rather, it did not fit well with my life. It was not a realistic goal for me.
I like the idea of a picture a day, so I'm going to try again. My revision to my goal will be that it will only be a picture. I will not blog about it. (OK, maybe on occasion I will explain in a blog, but not every day.) I will post my pictures on Instagram, so if you'd like to follow, you can find me on Instagram @runwithrobin. This is my first resolution. I shall do my best to keep it.
My running goal for the year is to train for and run the Chicago Marathon in October. I want to train well, not just get by. I want to do my best and I want to improve my running. I will be more intentional with my training. I will consistently engage in speed training and strength training. I will try my best not to over train.
My business goal for the year is to manage my time more wisely. This seems to be a recurring goal for me and I do continue to improve, but upon reflection, I think it is an area where I have slipped a little and I need a recharge.
I have a couple more, but will wait to share them on a later blog.
I'd like to know - do you have a resolution? What is it? I'd love to know! Please share.
With that, I'd like to wish you a Happy New Year! Enter the new year as if you are walking outside on a beautiful, crisp, clear day and can't help but take in a deep breath and enjoy being. The new year is certain to hold all kinds of things for each of us - good times and bad, happiness and sorrow, excitement, anger, laughter and tears, opportunity and disappointment, beginnings and endings. May we all have the strength, peace, wisdom, comfort and joy we will need to face the days ahead.
Hello 2013!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Winding down or gearing up?
Are you winding down after, or between, holiday celebrations or are you gearing up for the new year? Have you given any thought about what you want to accomplish in 2013? Are you feeling a need for change and/or improvement? If so, in what area are you most needing change? Health, relationships, career?
Every year during this week between Christmas and New Year's there are countless articles, tv shows, blog posts and various other social media messages about resolutions. All of these, including the one I am writing, can move us to think about our lives and question what we are doing and how we are doing it - or not doing it. We look back over the year - maybe as far back as our last resolution - and see how we are doing. Did we become better somehow? Are we happier, healthier or better off than we were a year ago?
Many times there seems to be more questions than answers. Why is that? I think it's because we are in a continual state of learning, changing and growing. Do we ever arrive where we want to be? Is anyone ever satisfied with exactly where they are and feel no need of improvement? I wonder.
During this week between Christmas and New Year's, I like to take some time to reflect on the past year. What worked and what didn't? What am glad that I did and what do I regret doing - or not doing? If I can, what/how will I improve? I don't focus solely on the negative, but include the positive as well. It is important to acknowledge the good along with the not so good. If we recognize what worked, we will be more likely to repeat it.
I look at the major areas in my life and decide on one change or improvement I will make. I consider my marriage, my family relationships, my relationships with friends, obligations with various groups such as Girl Scouts or church, my career, my health and my relationship with God. Improving in these areas requires intention. I take an honest look at these areas and decide how I will improve.
In the area of health, my goals are usually centered around running. I have been running now for 9 years. Each year my goals shift a bit. Each year I focus on a particular facet. For instance, a few years ago, my goal was to normalize a 10 mile run. In other words, I wanted to get to a point where I could do a 10 miler whenever I wanted. I committed to consistent training and I did it. I strengthened my base and by the end of the year, a 10 miler felt like a 5 miler did just the year before. That may not sound like a big difference, but for me at that time, it was a nice accomplishment.
Today, I find myself, once again looking at various areas of my life. I consider the resolutions of 2012 and review how they played out in my life. Some of them I handled well, and others I did not accomplish. (I will definitely expound on these in a later blog - no doubt all of us have failed at keeping a resolution here and there.) I will take some time and decide what to do (or not do!).
This exercise brings perspective to my life. It also guides me to become who I want to be. When I live with intention, making conscious decisions about how I will live, I am more likely to succeed in the important areas of my life.
Join me in looking back in order to move forward in 2013! Today is the 26th. We have 5 days to consider 2012 and make decisions about 2013. Invite perspective into your life by reflecting on the year. Live intentionally in 2013 to make the changes and accomplish the goals that are important to you!
Every year during this week between Christmas and New Year's there are countless articles, tv shows, blog posts and various other social media messages about resolutions. All of these, including the one I am writing, can move us to think about our lives and question what we are doing and how we are doing it - or not doing it. We look back over the year - maybe as far back as our last resolution - and see how we are doing. Did we become better somehow? Are we happier, healthier or better off than we were a year ago?
Many times there seems to be more questions than answers. Why is that? I think it's because we are in a continual state of learning, changing and growing. Do we ever arrive where we want to be? Is anyone ever satisfied with exactly where they are and feel no need of improvement? I wonder.
During this week between Christmas and New Year's, I like to take some time to reflect on the past year. What worked and what didn't? What am glad that I did and what do I regret doing - or not doing? If I can, what/how will I improve? I don't focus solely on the negative, but include the positive as well. It is important to acknowledge the good along with the not so good. If we recognize what worked, we will be more likely to repeat it.
I look at the major areas in my life and decide on one change or improvement I will make. I consider my marriage, my family relationships, my relationships with friends, obligations with various groups such as Girl Scouts or church, my career, my health and my relationship with God. Improving in these areas requires intention. I take an honest look at these areas and decide how I will improve.
In the area of health, my goals are usually centered around running. I have been running now for 9 years. Each year my goals shift a bit. Each year I focus on a particular facet. For instance, a few years ago, my goal was to normalize a 10 mile run. In other words, I wanted to get to a point where I could do a 10 miler whenever I wanted. I committed to consistent training and I did it. I strengthened my base and by the end of the year, a 10 miler felt like a 5 miler did just the year before. That may not sound like a big difference, but for me at that time, it was a nice accomplishment.
Today, I find myself, once again looking at various areas of my life. I consider the resolutions of 2012 and review how they played out in my life. Some of them I handled well, and others I did not accomplish. (I will definitely expound on these in a later blog - no doubt all of us have failed at keeping a resolution here and there.) I will take some time and decide what to do (or not do!).
This exercise brings perspective to my life. It also guides me to become who I want to be. When I live with intention, making conscious decisions about how I will live, I am more likely to succeed in the important areas of my life.
Join me in looking back in order to move forward in 2013! Today is the 26th. We have 5 days to consider 2012 and make decisions about 2013. Invite perspective into your life by reflecting on the year. Live intentionally in 2013 to make the changes and accomplish the goals that are important to you!
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