Tag: 2012

Month one in 2012 is just about to come to a close. I thought this might be a good time to reflect and evaluate how I am doing, so far, on things I wanted to change this year. You know do a quick spot check on any resolutions I had set for myself.

I’ve always been a late bloomer in all sorts of areas. So setting goals and resolutions in January is no different. I took a while in January to figure out what it is I wanted to really get done this year. I should have done this in December I suppose but oh well. I didn’t actually write down my goals until last week, when we were well into the first month of the New Year.

Last month, to wrap up 2011, I wrote this blog post to Dear 2012. In it I wrote about what kind of person I wanted to strive to become. I want to become a more agreeable person with a positive attitude who is satisfied with the current state-of-affairs of her life. That is a big chunk of cake isn’t it? For me, that is a lot of effort. Sad, yes, I know.

So how am I doing? It is time for a little self-assessment here, a spot check so to speak.

Am I agreeable and satisfied? Yes, I am satisfied with where I am in life today. Do I want to aspire for more? Yes, of course, but it is more of a realistic nature these days (I wrote them down). Am I agreeable? Well, you’d have to ask The Gent and other people that know me face-to-face for the answer to that one. But inside my head, do I think I am being more agreeable? Yes. I truly believe it.

Have I tamed my complaining and bellyaching? On the social media sites, yes. I have had some slips but they were more civilized than they had been in the past. Or not as long and drawn out. Or not as dark and depressing. Or bitter. In real life? I’ve let myself slip from time to time but I would catch myself, become aware of what I was doing/saying, and I was able to reel it in. This area still needs vast improvement but it’s only January.

Have I shown gratitude? Yes. Gratitude is an action not a feeling or emotion. I still get up every day, shower, go to work, clean the house, support my family, and I try to help others. Can I do more to show my gratitude? Probably. This needs more pondering on my part; what else can I do to demonstrate my gratitude?

Have I written down everything, read more books, and listened? Wow. I am writing more. I have read 4 books in January (but I am slipping already). Have I listened? Hmmmm. I don’t know the answer to this question.

Have I reacted? LOL!!! I don’t know if I will ever be able to overcome this one. I try. I try so hard. I think perhaps I have gotten better but I want to become perfect at this one. But as they say, “Progress not perfection.” Ugh.

The shopping rule of waiting 3 days? Um, yeah, I’ll pass over this question. I still have 11 months left in the year to get a handle on this one. Thank you. What was I just saying about progress not perfection? 😉

So yeah, I think this was all that needed addressing from that previous post, so far. As I stated earlier, I have finally written down my goals, dreams, and aspirations for 2012. I even made vision boards to help me stay on course. Is it working? I think so. I am more aware. I have a reasonable plan too.

Mapping a plan and visualizing it is helpful to me. I need to plan and schedule, stick to a routine. Be diligent. Persevere. Maintain.

I bought a simple Office Depot brand 2012 calendar notebook that helps me stay on course. I even created a writing schedule. So far I’ve done well with it. I’ve managed to at least go back to my desk during the scheduled time to write and sit down at the laptop (instead of watching TV on the couch). I may not have written anything worthwhile yet but I am going through the motions, getting acclimated. Yeah, that’s it. The photo in this blog post is of my new calendar – color coated and all. Yeah, I’m a dork like that but I learned this trick when I was a Mary Kay consultant and I found this to be one of the most brilliant things I’ve ever taken a suggestion on. It works. This is a shot of February. I don’t have it finished yet but I do have my writing time carved out first and foremost. That and the weekend my son will be home. 🙂

As stated earlier, I took some time to think about what I wanted to accomplish in 2012 and I wrote them down. I’ll share some of them with you:

• Write personal essay/fiction/creative nonfiction and actually submit them
• Attend a blogging conference
• Be able to take family on vacation
• Travel
• Lose 20 lbs, be fit, do the Warrior Dash

These are just SOME of my goals I wrote down and was willing to share with the Internet.

My vision boards: Health, Career, Family, and Motivation

Okay, your turn, how are your New Year goals and resolutions coming along? Have you fallen behind? Well, just get right back up and start again!

Here is to a great February ya’ll.