A new Year is upon us. With a new year, I will start new goals.
The one important goal that I am going to keep from last year is weight loss. I was able to drop fifty pounds but I know that I'm still a long way from what is my ideal weight. Too that end, I will once again set a goal of thirty pounds. It is lower than what I've lost to date, but I know that the farther along I get the harder it will be. I've learned over the last year what inhibits progress for me and I am going to avoid them as much as possible. Setting a goal too high will seem insurmountable and I will give up before I get started; whereas, I can set a difficult but achievable goal and strive for it. I'm going with the latter. I am going to alter the plan for achieving this a little though. I am going to try to get to the gym four times a week for forty-five minutes each. This should help make progress a bit more fluid. I would also like to take up a more physical hobby. Working out at the gym is fine, but something a bit more entertaining would be nice. I have had two suggestions for activities to date. Some friends have suggested that I take up 5K run/walks and another friend has suggested hiking. For me, hiking has a bit more appeal. I just do not know anything of local trails. I just do not think I could handle coming in last in a 5K or not being able to finish. It would be this fear that would keep me from both enjoying it and participating as much as I am hoping. Any suggestions in this vein would be appreciated.
My second goal is to improve my outlook on life. I've grown more cynical and pessimistic with age. Work, both past and present, only add to a deepening of these conditions. The problem with setting this goal is that it is rather vague. How do you become more optimistic and less cynical? I think a reduction in cursing may be a good start though. I'm a big fan of the f-bomb and all it's relatives. They come from a negative place for me and by lessening their usage I may be able to weaken this deep-seated cynicism I have developed. I will also work on letting go. I'm pretty good at holding a grudge but it requires energy to do this. If I can let go of these things, it will free up resources to allow me try and be more optimistic. I will be doing more research on this topic as the year progresses and trying to incorporate any useful strategies I come across. This will be a difficult task.
I am going to keep a goal for writing as well. Last year I set a goal of twenty-four blog posts by the end of the year, and I achieved it. The problem is that I accomplished it by putting in a large amount of work at the end of the year. I had wanted to get two blog posts done per month, but It didn't work out and it was my fault. So, I am going to set the same goal for 2012. I am going to get twenty-four blog posts done and achieve this by doing two a month.
I have several other minor goals that I want to achieve throughout the year, but I do not think they are big enough to deserve mention here. I want these to be my main focus as they will be the hardest for me to achieve. So, up with goals and down with resolutions!
A simple way to start "hiking" is hitting the walking trails at Central Park. They're paved so you're less likely to turn an ankle starting out. They're long so you can get a good workout and they're varied enough that you don't get bored. Several of the Boone County Parks have trails, but I think Central has the longest.
ReplyDeleteNot to preach the joys of pooches because I respect not everyone is a fan, but having a dog to walk makes you accountable to someone and gives you company on your walk. Just something to think about. Alternately, you could train Misty to walk on a lead ^_^
As someone who's also working on my cynicism, I have started keeping a Thankfulness journal. I know that sounds hokey, but it works. At night, before bed when it's quiet, I used to mull over the things in my day I had to grouse about. Now, I come up with at least 5 things I'm thankful for and write them down. I limit the amount of duplication unless it's been a really awful week. Sometimes, when it has been awful, it's really helpful to look back over my list and remember what made me glad before. It makes a perceivable difference and changes how you view the world if you take it seriously...or so they say ^_^ I'm a work in process.
Good luck in 2012!
Pris
Thanks for the comment! I will give the journal some thought.
ReplyDeleteThe way I do the Thankful Journal, is just to say Thanks (in my case to God, but to the universe, yourself, whatever) whenever something good happens in the course of your day. I found that I was way more Thankful than I could have imagined. I also try to think of the good things in life when I get scared or stressed. It helps bring a smile to my face & keep remove or reduce whatever I'm facing. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOne of my goals is to not get so far behind on the blogs I like to read.....so I can annoy you until you post two a month....that will be soooo helpful.
ReplyDeleteRick, Maddie and I have been hiking several of the nature trails in the area. We've been using the AllTrails app. I plan to add new trails and information to improve what they have for NKy this year. I also have Hiking Kentucky (mainly wooded hikes) and Walking Cincinnati (parks and urban walks) which are both great books.
ReplyDeleteThere's also biking. I mainly use the Little Miami trail and Miami Whitewater trail - both are paved and have bike rentals. Little Miami is a rails-to-trails projects and relatively flat. I generally start in Milford, ride until I'm beginning to tire, and then ride back to Milford. Miami Whitewater is hillier but even first time bicyclists I took there were able to do the longer loop.
Before I ran my first 5K (San Diego), I was worried about the same things. The way the course was laid out, there was an out and back through seaport village to start the race followed by running past the convention center around the park and back through seaport village. I was finishing the out and back when I heard footsteps behind me. The winner of the race was finishing the race as I was finishing the out and back. It stung my pride, but I lived to race other races.
However, with a 13 minute mile for 45 minutes, you wouldn't be last in a typical 5K. Most of the fundraising 5K runs I have completed have at least one person finishing at an hour plus. Even in the race where I was lapped, there were other runners behind me. Besides even if you were last, you would finish before every person who never had the courage to participate.
Fear is a powerful deterrent for me. It is why I set up a goal to take up an active hobby. Winter is making it easier to avoid it currently but spring will change all that. The funny thing is that I have set a reward up for the goal weight of 220. If I can reach that weight I want to take fencing lessons. Luckily I keep dory's wisdom in mind, "Just keep Swimming."
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