As we enter the new year, I am thinking about goals. I am original that way. No one thinks about goals this time of year.
I’m not necessarily contemplating measurable goals like winning the Boston Marathon (because I could if I wanted to) or doing 180 strides per minute when I return to running , but self improvement goals. How can I be a better mom? Wife? Daughter? Friend? How can I be kinder to myself?
The common theme seems to be making sure I am present when I am with the people I love. Small things like giving the kids my undivided attention when they walk in the door after school. Making eye contact. Really listening before responding. Giving spontaneous hugs.
Being kinder to myself involves leaving self doubt and perfection behind. Prioritizing. Listening to my body when it says “I need a break.” Giving myself permission to take a nap, to respond to those emails tomorrow. Concentrating on and saying “yes” to the things I am passionate about, and letting some of the other obligations go. And, giving back. Taking myself out of the equation sometimes, because the world does not revolve around me. I think sometimes we are all a bit guilty of too much self focus.
In actuality, I have a LIST of stuff. But it’s kind of personal, so you’re just getting the generalities.
Maybe I’ll just visit GFTW and do whatever Anne Marie does because she seems to have it down!
Talking about goals, for some reason I found this list fascinating (from HERE). Go #20!!
I am shocked “start smoking” and “become constipated” are not contenders. And, what exactly is the difference between #25 & #45?
The world's most popular goals
- lose weight 39656 people
- write a book 29031 people
- stop procrastinating 29016 people
- Fall in love 26705 people
- be happy 23976 people
- Get a tattoo 22150 people
- get married 20618 people
- drink more water 20434 people
- go on a road trip with no predetermined destination 20427 people
- travel the world 20355 people
- see the northern lights 18596 people
- Learn Spanish 17059 people
- Save money 15895 people
- Kiss in the rain 15485 people
- Take more pictures 15121 people
- Make new friends 13851 people
- Learn to play the guitar 13761 people
- Buy a House 13662 people
- get a job 12081 people
- run a marathon 11964 people
- learn french 11925 people
- get out of debt 11853 people
- Read more books 11834 people
- To live instead of exist 11797 people
- Skydive 11272 people
- be more confident 11226 people
- exercise regularly 11153 people
- eat healthier 10918 people
- write a novel 10593 people
- Learn Japanese 10442 people
- get in shape 10046 people
- Quit Smoking 9312 people
- Start my own business 9240 people
- Learn to cook 9084 people
- Read more 8500 people
- travel 8374 people
- learn sign language 8362 people
- have better posture 8227 people
- Learn to play the piano 8161 people
- Swim with dolphins 8059 people
- identify 100 things that make me happy (besides money) 8014 people
- Learn to surf 7956 people
- visit all 50 states 7871 people
- wake up when my alarm clock goes off 7725 people
- Go skydiving 7520 people
- stop biting my nails 7466 people
- decide what the hell I would like to do with the rest of my life 7447 people
- make a difference 7152 people
- Lose 20 pounds 7117 people
- learn to dance 7028 people
- learn to drive 6776 people
- graduate from college 6523 people
- Get organized 6454 people
- Be a better friend 6306 people
- Lose 10 pounds 6301 people
- learn italian 6257 people
- Have a baby 6217 people
- Visit Japan 5921 people
- Become Financially Independent 5858 people
- create my own website 5826 people
- live passionately 5758 people
- Spend less time fooling around on the net and more time actually working 5644 people
- Lose 30 pounds 5520 people
- exercise more 5519 people
- make more friends 5482 people
- get my driver's license 5459 people
- be more social 5456 people
- Volunteer 5400 people
- backpack through Europe 5237 people
- learn german 5010 people
- travel around the world 5000 people
- love myself 4948 people
- write a song 4934 people
- design my own tattoo 4863 people
- Worry less. 4819 people
- learn to play guitar 4741 people
- learn how to drive stick-shift 4596 people
- go on a cruise 4594 people
- meet new people 4404 people
- go to college 4350 people
- Practice Yoga 4319 people
- meditate daily 4317 people
- Stop caring what other people think of me 4307 people
- Get more sleep 4298 people
- sleep under the stars 4168 people
- design my own clothes 4166 people
- create my own tattoo 4152 people
- Never stop learning 4113 people
- get a dog 4106 people
- Send a message in a bottle 4082 people
- Learn another language 4079 people
- Finish what I start 4066 people
- win the lottery 3986 people
- learn to sew 3965 people
- grow my hair long 3955 people
- figure out what i want to do with my life 3933 people
- be a better person 3870 people
- bungee jump 3833 people
- Learn to knit 3805 people
- Go on a road trip 3787 people
Are any of these things on your goal/bucket list?
Exhausted just thinking about it all and might have to go back to bed,
SUAR
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThere are some fantastic goals on there! The message in a bottle....I suppose it depends on the message and if its found.
ReplyDeleteAnneMarie certainly does have it down!
One of the keys to barefoot running is to get that 180 bpm :)
Happy New Year!!!
No doubt that I am on this list:
ReplyDelete#2 - Write a book....should be out January 15th
#4/#5 - Everyday with my wife
#6 - Get ANOTHER tattoo (honuwaytolive.com is my site and logo....the 26.2 and 70.3 in each fin with 140.6 and ???? for the other two once they are done) --- So April I will get it
#16 - make new friends.....always and daily
#20 - and qualify for Boston
#33 - the non-profit is happening this year
And in all honesty --- your {making sure I am present} is mine as well. No time like the present to show love.
I did it this morning when I got back from my run and just started dancing in my living room. Spontaneity is 2011!!!!!
That's really funny. I thought I was the only one that used "win the lottery" on a resolution list! And this year I added "run a marathon", and a couple of others. I suddenly feel connected with strangers, that there are so many freaks with the same goals. 2011 is going to be awesome.
ReplyDeleteMine is definitely to run a marathon. I've commited to it, but I'm still not at the point where I believe its actually going to happen! If that makes any sense?
ReplyDeleteAnd I was surprised that quitting smoking was so far down the list. Then I thought, maybe its because most people have quit smoking already? That made me happy. :)
Happy New Year, everybody!!
There is nothing on there about hookers or beer so I am out.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I'd like to do some of the things on that list and have already done a few. One of mine that is not on that list... improve my sex life. TMI?
ReplyDeleteAnd Anne Marie sure does have it down. I'm glad she sort of gives lessons... or at least sets a good example for us :)
I'm with Jamoosh - there's no wine on this list. Therefore, it is dead to me... hehehe. Just kidding! No, seriously, there are several things on this list I'd like to do someday. Isn't it interesting to read about other people's goals?
ReplyDeleteWell, I certainly have a bunch of those on my list!! Especially #20!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Already done many of those things, and have no interest in doing some of them. What's left is actually a pretty small list. I'd write it out, but #62 is one of them, so you'll just have to guess. As for the tattoo, I have been told that if I was going to get an IMC related tattoo, I'd have done it by now. So I guess I'm not.
ReplyDeleteinteresting stuff....
ReplyDeleteI dont make lists like that...
but 20 is one I like for sure
I will start with half of 20..!!
happy new Year to you!
I love the "be happy" goal. hmm, can you get less specific than that?
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Beth! Just keep doing what you are doing, no need for changes... Lets hope for an injury free 2o11 for you. Your 2010 sounds a lot like my 2008...but things turned around after that (no injuries since).
A pretty good list. I've been using 43Things for a while now and my personality fits the satisfaction of checking things off that list :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.43things.com/person/katie_marie
I share some of those goals. Mine are of varying magnitude and I tend to prefer measurable goals (over fairly general "be happy"). Some are simple like "try hookah" and others are more difficult "become an SLP". Here goes.
I'm wondering who DOESN'T want to win the lottery?
ReplyDeletelol i love it! all those goals are so typical!
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck! 25 and 45?? And seriously, as many people want to kiss in the rain as save money? Don't wait for it to rain, kiss in the shower for crying out loud!
ReplyDeleteI love the being kinder to yourself-boy do I get that! You deserve it! Also, love the being present....
I'm pulling for you to win Boston!! Kara is running though and being as she just had a baby and you likely sympathize with her time off, I can see you putting your pride aside and letting her have this one!!
Have a great New Year! Plenty in store for you in 2011!!!!
Getting a tattoo was on my list for 2010.
ReplyDeletecheck.
I'm not on that list for 2011 so I made up #101 ....
ReplyDelete2011: #101 - Run a Half Marathon
2012: #20 - Run a Marathon
Happy New Year! Love your blog!
Lose weight is #1...but eat healthier and exercise more? #28ish. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI think more people need to resolve to read entire lists....this seems a little light on participation toward the bottom.
ReplyDeleteI think I will refrain from getting another tattoo or piercing.
I have so many on that list, but I definitely won't be getting a tattoo. I can never decide on a design.
ReplyDeleteThat list was awesome! Like others, I have a lot from that list too, but getting a tattoo is definitely not one of them!
ReplyDeletelol, getting a tattoo actually IS on my list! I always said I want to get one to commemorate my first marathon, and that's happening in one week!
ReplyDeleteRun a marathon :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to your and your wonderful family Beth!
great list! happy new year!!
ReplyDeleteNope, BQ is not on there. And, I already accomplished my #1 Bucket List item earlier this month by meeting Mr & Mrs SUAR in person. What else is there?
ReplyDeleteThe GFTW link doesn't work... I thought it was "Go For The Win" instead of "Goals For the Week" anyway.
ReplyDelete"Grow my hair long and bungee jump with it" would cover numbers 95 and 98. Sounds like a goal to me.
Get a tattoo? What a random thing to be that high on the list. See the northern lights is similarly just as random.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest / hardest goal will be that I will take a stab at a 3.10 marathon at some point this year. I WILL!!
I wouldn't mind some of those goals. Thank goodness, I don't need to quite smoking and my baby making years are behind me, and I can drive stick shift - the rest seem good to aim for.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
I've added 'become a personal trainer' (a good one) to my list...it's top priority for me. I may run a marathon too, it's still a little up in the air. I definitely will not be getting a tattoo in 2011, the one I got in 2010 took 11 1/2 hours to complete...that's enough for me for a while. Happy New Year to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I laughed out loud at "Learn German".
ReplyDeleteYep, some of those are on my list!
Have a great year!!!
i love your idea of goals. i don't really think of running X miles in the year as a goal. i like the goals that make an impact to others, ourselves and the earth. happy new year.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think it's funny #18 comes before #19. And 6 before 7. Wonder who the target polling pool was for this? :) I'm with you on the "being present" goal. Making sure to focus on the people I'm with, the people that matter most.
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your blog and so I'm a bit late on this comment, but how can "win the lottery" be a "goal"?! That's messed up.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, BTW!
People have some great resolutions. All mine are on there of course. Although I think I might just keep them for next year lol.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Brazil, Beth! :)
ReplyDeleteAt least 20 of them are in my list - I'd just add "break my own record in a 10k and in a half-marathon" and for that I'll keep reading your blog and getting inspired! :)
Happy New Year to you!