New Year's Resolutions

 

New Year’s Resolutions are always difficult for me.  Over the last few years, my resolutions have always been to increase my outside activities.  I’m not an outside person, but I do need the Vit. D from the sun so I am often resolving to walk at least once a week outside or to go on hikes, or hunt rocks.   This year is no different.   My resolutions will continue with promises to get out side more. 

So, here are my resolutions:

1.   1.  Drink more water…I’ve got to bump up my water

2.   2.  Increase my Yoga to twice daily…I do Yoga every morning, but when I do it in the evenings, I sleep so much more soundly, so I have found some Yoga poses that are meant to inspire meditation, and that is going to be my PM activity prior to bedtime.

3.   3.  Increase running…I have lost my running ability due to that stupid injury, so I am going to walk, walk fast, walk faster, and then run…yes I am.

4.   4.  Do one weekly physical activity outside.  I live right by the walking trail, so hubby and I are either going to walk or ride bikes on the trail, once a week as my outside activity.  No sunscreen.

5.  5.  Dance…I have a new dance partner and he is fabulous, so we are going to move up from intermediate to advanced dancing…he is a twirler too.  I love it.

6.  6.  One day a week, I am going to do liquids only.   I just think my body does better when I deprive it.   Sick sort of.

7.  7.  Implement Yoga in my writing center.   Toward the end of last semester, I began having my tutors do some deep breathing exercises when we had some time between students.  We were seeing large amounts of over stressed students and my tutors were showing signs of stress, so I had them doing deep breathing de-stressing exercises.  My Yoga teacher is going to come to our center and teach us some moves that we can do in our chairs or by our desks.   It will be beneficial not only to us but our students.  

8.   8.  I am going to volunteer at the animal shelter.  I already do literacy projects for kids in our town and that really isn’t stepping outside of what is comfortable for me so it isn’t really volunteering because I love it.   But, working with the animals at the shelter will be me giving back.  

9.   9.  Finally, I am not an overachiever, really…but finally, I made this beautiful hooded cape (crocheted) and I wore it to the fabric store and everyone there loved it…a few days later, I got a call from the manager asking me if I would consider working for them and teaching a crochet class or two.  I said, how much money, and surprisingly it was a nice amount, and I get a huge discount on supplies from the store.  Also, they said any discontinued products, I would get first pick.  So, I am going to be teaching crocheting to other yarn enthusiasts.  

10. 10.  I am defending my dissertation.   I had this huge fellowship that ends May 2014, so I have to defend my dissertation…it is done, I could have defended two years ago, but that fellowship is 40,000 a year was too good to give up, and it also comes with two fully paid international travel grants.  

11. 11.  Finally, I am getting ready to move to the Middle East.   My contract with the business college ends in July and I am not renewing.   I have been offered a deal by Carnegie Melon to run its writing program at its university in the Middle East and I cannot pass the amount of money up…So, we are preparing to move over there and live.   It is offering me an assistant professorship with first round of tenure reviews given to me, which is unheard of in my profession.  I am signing a year's contract but will probably stay on after the year ends.  Plus, at any time, I can come state side and teach at Carnegie Melon.  

There you have it; my plans for 2014.  

Hello and Happy New Year Jeannie!!!

WOW.....when you make a resolution you mean it!!! You are amazing!! When do you leave for the Middle East??? Still this summer???

I hope to get my exercise plan back to where I can lose some of this nasty regain!! I am meeting with a good friend and she will be helping me!! I plan to eat healthier too.

I need to try to get out of the house and around friends again. Every time I start getting ready to go I change my mind. I was always so busy. I gave it all up. Some for health reasons for sure!! I MUST do better! I do need my friends. I miss them. They have been so patient with me. 

Much love as always to you....HUGS.....connie d

 

Connie,

I am leaving for the ME the 21 of this month and will be there for three weeks.  I come back here and stay for another month and go back around the second week in March.  At that time, I will be there for about two weeks and then I will come back and stay in the states until July.   I am on their payroll now as a consultant, but in March, I go on their payroll full time and will spend my evenings and nights. doing curriculum design for its writing program.   I will design ten classes that range from basic writing courses to advanced literature courses.   

My resolutions are not really that ambitious when you factor in that I am just recommitting to what I have been doing all along.   You know how it is with exercising, if you are already doing it but want to increase the timing or such, it can become a resolution...not so ambitious, just adding. LOL  

Jeannie....please don't leave without contact info. I would miss you so much!!! Your are just so amazing!!! Love you so much!!!

Jeannie, you are such an amazing person!  

 

My my theory regarding resolutions is that if I don't make them, then I don't beak them.  Too much pressure on myself and if I don't  follow through I beat myself up over it.  So, I prefer to set goals

My first goal is to be a better business person. To stop buying supplies because I want them, but because I need them. 

My weight is stable at 140, five pounds less would make me very happy, but attaining my second goal of making time to be more active will help that.  I won't say exercise since that's a swear word to me, but since the majority of my day is spent at my manicure table, I just need to move.  The last few days I've started talking out younger dog for walks in the neighborhood.  She loves it, and her manners are improving along the way.

 

i think that's what I'll concentrate on for now.  Hope you all have a wonderful new year!

Susan,

For the last few years, I have avoided setting resolutions because I knew that it would either put increased pressure on me or I would be setting myself up for failure.  However, I have secretly been making deals with myself such as walking more, dancing more, etc.   This year, I decided to write my deals down and write down those things I have been doing but want to do more or better.   If there is one thing I know about my self is that if I don't think it and plan it, I won't do it.   I have got to get back to running because when I ran, I would get these huge doses of endorphins that lasted for hours after the run.   They are addictive.   Plus, my skin was so much better when I ran...something about the sweat making oils that my skin needed.   We need to meet for lunch again.    

My New Years resolution is to join the YMCA near me, and go swimming four times a week.  I'm also going to walk Utley no matter what the weather, except when there is ice on the street.  I am terrified of falling. 

I also plan to wean myself off caffeine entirely.

Finally, I'm going to totally declutter my house.  I'm a nut about cleaning dirt and grime, but I accumulate stuff and need to organize it better.

Everyone has great goals and resolutions. Great idea, Jeannie.  Thanks for starting this thread.

Hugs,

Trish

My goal is to get off the 10 pound regain from the 3 week cruise and Christmas.  

To accomplish this I need to stop the wine.  I hadn't drank more than a couple oz a few times this year.  On the last cruise I was drinking 3/4 drinks a day and have continued at home.

Next I have to get back outside helping the DH.  I was doing all the outside work while he healed from his knee replacement.  I hate the cold and just can't make myself go out even though I know I need to for him and me.

Wishing you all a Great New year!

Recognizing what needs to be done is the first step.  I applaud you for taking the first step.  You will lose those pounds in no time.   I am lucky that I cannot eat sugary treats nor can I drink wine.    If I could consume either, I'd have already gained all my weight back.    

That is the big problem that I am disgusted with myself about.  Sugar and wine made me very, very, sick.  But, I would have already eaten or drank it.  Than I the cruise I consumed it more and more and it took more and more to get sick.  Now it isn't making me sick.  I did it to myself and worked up a tolerance.  What is wrong with me that I will do this to myself even though I knew I would suffer.  My shrink sent me off saying I was OK and knew and would do what needed doing.  Boy was she wrong.