I usually do not make any New Year’s Resolutions at all. At most I’ll say something general like, “I want to get in shape” or “I want to journal more this year”. But I don’t ever make an intentional list and try to actually do what is on the list. This year is different. I’m not entirely sure why, but I just feel particularly motivated to obtain some goals during this new year and so I wanted to start out by publishing them. This should give me something to look at and keep me somewhat accountable to try and meet my expectations. So without further ado… the list.
1. Running / Training
This goal is somewhat general in that I want to continue/increase my running training throughout this year. But there is more to it than that. I have a few sub-points or milestones that I want to achieve this year, which will require some consistency in my training.
- Run the 15k portion of the Pensacola Double Bridge Run
- Run in a half-marathon
(perhaps just personally record it on my Nike+ if I cannot find an actual half-marathon race) - Train to run in a marathon in 2010
I want to run in the Pensacola Marathon in 2010 so I’ll need to be training towards this throughout 2009.
2. Scripture Memorization
I want to memorize the first 14 chapters of the Gospel of John. I’ve got most of the 14th chapter memorized, so this will leave about 13 chapters throughout the year. I figure I can do a chapter per month and perhaps pick up the pace a little as I go along to squeeze in that extra chapter. We’ll see.
3. Obtain my 2nd degree black belt in TaeKwonDo
I’m currently a (rusty) 1st degree black belt in TaeKwonDo and I’d like to get back into it and test for my 2nd degree.
4. Try to write a book
Yeah, this one is kind of off-the-wall. I’ve always wanted to write a book; not real sure why. Perhaps this will be the year that I give a try.
5. Pay Off Debts
This is a big one and one that I’m serious about. I’m sick and tired of being a slave to creditors and ready to get out from under them. To be a bit more specific I am targeting to pay off any of our high-interest credit card and loan debts. This would not include our automobile loan or student loans (we don’t own a house).
6. Improve Church Website
I currently maintain my church’s website (Grace Community Church). I have several enhancements that I’ve been wanting to get to. They include:
- Praise and Worship Management Feature
- Improved Look and Feel
- Custom User Features (for posting News, Events, etc)
7. Learn entire 48 Tai Chi form
Don’t ask me which Tai Chi it is, I’m not sure right off hand. I bought a DVD called Simplified Tai chi Chuan with Applications (YMAA). I want to go through the whole video and learn the entire 48 Forms so that I can start encorporating them into my health routine (or maybe I’ll decide I don’t like it).
8. Increase Quality/Quantify of Blogging
I don’t have any real goals and/or metrics for this one yet, but it is something that I want to work on. I’ll be ironing out the details (goals) in an upcoming post.
9. Journal
I have a nice online WordPress installation specifically for private journaling. I just have to use it. Of course I say this every year, so we’ll see how it goes.
10. Build Something!
I have about a dozen different software projects that I’ve written down that I’d like to do. This year I hope to pick one and actually see it through to completion. Look out Google! I’m coming for you. lol
11. * Resolutions/Goal Tracking
One resolution to rule them all, one resolution to find them, one resolution to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. This is my extra-credit/bonus resolution that’s sole purpose is to ensure that I stay on track and meet (at least some of) my resolutions and goals for this year.
So there you have it. Quite a list considering I never do this. In the next couple of weeks I’ll be posting more detail on each (or some) of the above resolutions. In these posts I’ll be refining the definition of what I am trying to accomplish, the milestones that I’ll be looking to meet and the steps that I’ll need to take to make the mark.
So have any of you made your New Year’s Resolutions for 2009? How do you plan on meeting your expectations for them?