As I mentioned in my previous post, I've been doing some thinking and reflecting on what I would like my goals to be for this, my now 33rd year. 
The goals fall under personal, health, financial and spiritual.
Personal Goals:
* Find a balance between making more money and having a life.
--What this means:
-----Limit myself to 10 hrs a week doing anything related to ChaCha.
-----Accept only one extra gym shift per week.
* Build existing friendships
----Contact at least one friend each week via email or telephone.
----Invite a friend(s) to my place at least once a month.
* Build new friendships
----Attend at least one Vegetarian meet up per month
----Join and attend bookclub once a month
* Give Back to Others
-----Participate in at least one volunteer activity each month
* Have home be able to be company ready in 15 minutes (similar to flylady w/o the emails)
---Do an initial cleanup run - trash, dishes, etc.
---Divide apartment into cleaning and decluttering zones. Focus on each zone for one week.
Financial:
Car Fund: Finish funding to $4,000.00
House Downpayment: Save $5,000.00 towards it.
Cruise 2010: Save $500 towards it
Vacation(s): 2, possibly 3. I'm estimating needing roughly $1,000.00.
--If I move out to CA, I've promised my mom that I would come back to visit her at least twice a year. If I stay here, then I will want to go visit my dad/brother out in CA.
--The third possible vacation would be this June. The highschool I graduated from was closed several years ago. Many of us have found each other on Facebook the past few months, and are discussing the possibility of a school reunion.
Change my work situation:
--1. Find a way to make my current job feel as though I am contributing to the company's good on a consistent basis. Also, be able to show why I am worthy of a raise (due to being productive, etc.)
--2. Find a job in CA. It may just be a starter job (i.e. not more money) but may find a good lead in to something later.
--3. Do 1 or 2, but in the meantime take coursework to go into another field - perhaps medical - which would eventually lead to a better paying job.
Health:
Diet --
---Eliminate soda from diet
---Limit cheese and ice cream
---Limit soy products
---Avoid fast food
---Limit processed foods (i.e. frozen meals, etc.)
---Create a meal plan for the month, including treats -shop only from that list
---Create a set of cards with sayings or buzzwords I can laminate and keep on my keyring for when the 'Beat Laura Up Monster' (BLUM)appears and urges me to eat junk beyond the realms of normalcy (i.e. normal - 2 or 3 Hershey kisses -- me, a bag of kisses.)
*Note - I am not saying one word about wanting to lose weight. My diet focus is solely going to be on eating healthier and on learning to control the BLUM.
Fitness:
Cardio: Consistently do 30 minutes of cardio at least 4 x a week.
Strength: Consistently complete at least 2 35+ minute weight training sessions a week.
Stretching/Flexibility: Consistently do a 20 minute Pilates session at least 2x a week.
Participate in a 5k race at least once a month. Improve running time to 38 minutes or less.
Possibly participate in a 10k by November.
Spiritual:
Renew relationship with God
---set and keep prayer time appt daily (beyond blessing food at meals)
---set and keep daily bible study time
---attend church at least 3 x a month
---look into seeing if anyone would be interested in some kind of a bible-based book group study
---look into possibility of being a greeter at church
--- Resolve tithe issue (I give to the local church with no problem - its sending money to the 'head' church that I have not resolved with myself. In SDA denomination, tithes go to the local conference (i.e. leaders of all area churches, such as Texas.) and is then distributed for pastor salaries, missions, etc.)
The 33rd Year Goals, plus some musings :)
December 15th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
December 15th, 2008 at 10:09 pm 1229378968
December 15th, 2008 at 10:24 pm 1229379885
December 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm 1229380570
Wow! I am impressed with your comprehensive list of areas for on-going improvement! It looks like all areas have attainable steps! Check into middayconnection.org - its a daily Christian show broadcast on MBI which airs a monthly bookclub. I am sure you can pick up on podcast their book discussions of The Scarlet Letter, the Portrait of Dorian Gray, and Robinson Caruso - those are the ones that I've listened to. I love the idea of a book club at church - but of course lack the initiative to start one up. Good for you!
December 15th, 2008 at 10:41 pm 1229380868
December 15th, 2008 at 11:20 pm 1229383226
Thanks for the link. I'll have to check it out. I was thinking more along the lines of spiritual bible based books -- something like "Get Out of the Boat" (I think that's the title.)
TryingHard,
Thanks! Good luck to you as well!
December 16th, 2008 at 12:10 am 1229386252
December 16th, 2008 at 12:33 am 1229387615
December 16th, 2008 at 08:16 pm 1229458591
I heard a song at church once with the words, "If you want to walk on water, you gotta step out of the boat!" That has stuck in my mind. I sometimes have trouble just taking that first step. It is always the hardest.
December 17th, 2008 at 01:52 am 1229478726
I've heard that song before, and you're right, the first step really is the hardest.