Goals for 2009...Resolutions in fact!

Resolutions, life goals, focusing on self, whatever you want to call them, 'tis the season to reassess where we have been and what we want to focus on for the new year. This year is no different. There are so many things I constantly think of that need to be accomplished, started, or finished. In order to keep things simpler for me, I'll list the major goals that I have for the coming year.

*PERSONAL*

1) Put emphasis on exercise, every day. I will be working this year to get back to a healthier lifestyle. I believe this has to include exercise. My biggest problem is changing my thinking about what "exercise" really is. To me it's time in the gym, working out in a specific setting. But really, a 30 minute walk with Morgan is exercise, and I need to see it as such. I usually think "well I didn't make it to the gym today, so what's the point?" and that hasn't gotten me anywhere. So this year there will be an emphasis on making exercise part of every day life, and mixing it up so the gym is not the only place I can exercise!

2) Take 20-30 minutes every day to do something for myself. As a mom, wife, and professional in the workforce, I hardly have any time that is not accounted for during the day. If there is spare time during the day, I almost always focus on doing things for others. While that is a great trait, I think my mental health will be better if I focus a little bit on centering myself and doing things that I enjoy...even simple things like taking a bath or reading. I always feel better if I get a few minutes of down time.

*SPIRITUAL*

1) Be diligent about going to church and deepening my faith. With all that has been going on in my life over the past year, I admit that I haven't been going to church as much as I need to. I know that I always feel better when I do attend church. I want to focus on my relationship with God so that I may show my daughter how wonderful it is to have a relationship with God.

2) Find a good devotional aid to have more meaningful daily time with God. I am struggling to find something to assist me that relates to me as a person. If you have any good suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

*FAMILY*

1) Give Morgan 20-30 minutes of child-directed play with Mama daily. When we get home from work/day care I normally focus on getting the housework done, starting dinner, etc. I realized over the past few months that I hardly spend any time interacting with Morgan, which is something I deeply desire and it makes me very sad that I have wasted so many weeks that I could have been interacting with her. Sure I include her in dinner making, we do her bath together, and I talk to her, but I never get on the floor and let her control all the activities for some time. Now that she is old enough to want me to play with her, I am going to give it to her! I think this will help my mental health as well.

2) Give date night a try. We may not be able to jump right in to once a week like my friends Alaina and Catherine, but I would like to focus some on our marriage and each other, rather than just existing as people living in a household. My friends say this is vital to their marriages, and I know it would do wonders for our relationship as husband and wife, rather than mom and dad, or professional worker and professional worker.

3) Continue to work on manners and citizenship as we prepare Morgan for pre-school in the fall. While I don't think pre-school is important for SCHOOL-BASED learning, I think Morgan will thrive in an environment with her peers. She rarely spends time with kids her age. As an only child she gets only adult interaction at home and while with Ms. Ellen she is with James, who is her best pal, and just over 1 year old. She loves to learn and play with kids in social settings, like at the park, and I think she will love pre-school.

Some tall orders to work on for this year, but with a plan in mind, hopefully this year will run smoothly and at the end of 2009 we can reflect on the things we accomplished this year. Happy New Year!