9 Goals for 2009

Every year we make the same resolutions - to lose weight, get finances in order, stop smoking. And every year, by February, the resolutions have been broken. I've decided that I'm not making any resolutions for the new year. Instead, I'm going to have goals that I want to achieve in 2009. I hope to accomplish all of them and become a better person because of it. Listed below are my 9 Goals for 2009 - in no particular order.

1. Run a 5k race. Anyone who knows me well, know that I am not a runner. I hate running and scoff at anyone who tries to get me to run. Earlier this month, I decided that I was going to participate in the 2009 Race for the Cure. As I was perusing their website for race info, something clicked in my head. I could try to run the 5k instead of walk. It's 3.1 miles which I walk anyway on the treadmill at the gym. It's doable. So I GOOGLED how to train for a 5k race and found the information I needed. The training - if I stick with it - takes 10 weeks. Plenty of time to get ready for the race. I can' t wait to sign up for The Race for the Cure so that I cross the finish line as a runner for the first time in my life.
2. Read a great American Novel. I am an avid reader. Books are my joy. But there are lots of great books that I have yet to read. Every summer I tell myself that I'm going to read a great novel by a great author - something that I would have had to read in English class when I was in high school; you know, a "smart" book, a "serious" book. And every summer, I never do it. This time it's different. I know I am missing out on some of the best literature that this country has to offer. So to help me decide what great novel I will be reading, I GOOGLED (gotta love Google) "great American novels." I clicked on a list of what people consider the 100 greatest novels. As I'm looking at the list, I see that there are some books on there that I've actually read. Cool. I have two books that I'm leaning towards: "The Great Gatsby" and "The Grapes of Wrath". I may buy both and hopefully will have read both in 2009.
3. Be a better citizen of the world. I want to become more active in making this world better. I know - sounds corny - but that's how I feel. After the election and witnessing the historic win by Barack Obama, I started thinking that I needed to do more. I need to participate more. A cause that I am interested in and have done extension research on is the Genocide in Darfur. The atrocities that are going on are astounding. And yet it's a blurb in the media. My plan is to join a group in Alexandria and do what I can to help bring attention and resolution attention to that area. I feel like I can no longer sit back and be a spectator. I need to be an active participant. I also want to be an example to Darrius and show that just because something happens on the other side of the world doesn't mean that it doesn't affect you. Any slight against humankind is a slight against you.
4. Stop sweating the small stuff. Like most people, I let little, stupid things get to me. I let it ruin my day, ruin my mood, ruin my outlook. I need to stop it. There's no point in getting worked up on things you can not control i.e. bad drivers on the road (see: road rage rant). It accomplishes nothing. I am going to start letting that stuff go. I don't want my good day ruined because I let an insignificant thing ruin it for me. Easier said than done, I know. But it's worth a try. And I intend to be successful.
5. Stop using negative phrases. I am a pessimist. The glass is half empty, not half full. I think the bad so that I don't get disappointed. It's a crappy outlook to have on life and I want to change that. Alfred asks me all the time why do I have to be so negative. And I just say, "it's easier to think the worse so then you won't be set up for disappointment." Well that outlook sucks. Doesn't that make me a Debbie Downer? I am going to change that. I will stop using phrases like, I'm going to try. Instead I'm going to say, I'm going to do it and succeed. I don't like being negative in my thoughts because it doesn't fit with my personality. I am a funny person. I like to laugh. I like to make jokes. So why be a pessimist? It doesn't fit. I'm going to change that. YES I CAN.
6. Take a writing class. When I was in high school, my favorite class was Creative Writing. I used to write short stories all the time. Once I went to college and was out in the real world, working 9-5, I stopped. I miss that creative outlet. I've been thinking about writing again and possibly write short stories for publication. Since I'm rusty, I'm going to take a writing class to improve my writing skills. I'm looking forward to it and can't wait to get my creative juices flowing again. Even if I don't publish one short story, it's okay. I just want to get back to something that I loved doing when I was younger.
7. Decide what I want to do with my career. I've been going through what I think is an early mid-life crisis. I've been questioning whether or not I'm headed in the right direction. It's more than not liking my job or tired of going to work. It's more about do I want to stay in the Finance/Accounting field until retirement? And the answer I keep getting is NO. In college, I knew I wanted to work with numbers. I loved taking business and math classes. After college, I slowly made my way into the Financial world. Nothing big and fancy. I started off as an office manager of a gym and then moved to billing at USA Today. Then Cost Accounting at my current company and now I am a Financial Analyst. And I am not happy. Somewhere along the way, it stopped being fun and interesting. Now it's tedious and boring. So where does that leave me? I'm reading "What Color is your Parachute?" hoping that it will help me find the way. The two things I love are books and writing. Let's hope in 2009 I can find a career where I can incorporate both.
8. Finish swim lessons. My resolution for 2008 was to learn how to swim. I didn't like that I was in my 30s and didn't know how to swim. Also we would go on these vacations to the Caribbean and I watched from the sideline as Alfred and Darrius played in the pool or the ocean. I wanted to be out there with them. So I started swim lessons at the local rec center. I got over my fear of being underwater and I learned the basics: holding your breath, breathing bubbles, floating. After the 8 classes, I received my certificate of completion and went on vacation a month later. I have not signed up to continue on to the next level. I need to do that. I am not a swimmer yet but I know how to float!
9. Continue to improve. I will not be complacent. I will continue to step outside by boundaries and comfort zone. Try new things. Become a better ME.

New Year's Day is two days away. I was going to start my on my 9 goals before New Year's, to break the typical "resolution" trend. But I decided January 1 will be the day. I don't know which goal I'm going to tackle first. Some are on going without a real ending. The more tangible ones may be easier to start. I'll update my progress as I tackle and achieve these goals in the new year.

Happy New Year!