Stars, Structure and ... Sardines???

Minor confession: I'm one of those people who LOVE New Year's Resolutions and strive to keep them. Anyone who knows me well knows I love my Resolutions but I get kind of afraid to announce them because of the stigma. In fact, when I started working out at CrosSport, I waited until February because I didn't want to be one of THOSE people...

And I admit, I don't always stick to my goals. Sometimes it works like when I set the goal to get published and I did, or the year I determined to run my first half-marathon, and I did, or the year I wanted to get debt free and did (don't ask me why I now have a car payment, I'm not happy about it and, LORD willing, I WILL be debt free again THIS year).

Other years, other goals, I didn't make, like the guitar playing goal. Didn't learn to play any of the four songs I wanted to learn. BUT... I did learn chords, how guitars make their sound, what the fingers are doing to make the sounds I hear when someone plays, and I could play that intro to Falling Slowly like a true beginner!!! Yeah! And my fingers! Oh my fingers will tell you I put in time… about to spring, maybe late spring, maybe.

My point is, even when I didn't make it, I learned! I am a learner. I LOVE to learn. Not because I have to, not because there's a reward at the end, simply because there's so much to know, why not learn it if I can?!

This year, I did what I do and made my SMART goals in the 7 areas most important to the 4 dimensions of my being.
They are SMART:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

They address 7 areas:
Spiritual
Family
Social
Career
Physical
Intellectual
Financial
And… the 4 dimensions of my being are, of course, my: Body, Mind, Soul and Spirit
I share them to keep myself accountable. I'm goal oriented, but also people pleasing. For all the years I've been making goals I had someone checking my progress. I didn't need to answer to him, but I wanted to and I liked it. I liked sharing the triumph and struggle. It was fun. They are my goals but maybe in sharing I'll find some more accountability partners, it's always fun to share life with others, unless I want to write, then leave me alone haha!

Since there are 7 areas and I try to keep my posts under 800 words I'll just share two this week. With no further ado, here are my goals:
Physical:
*20 pull-ups (I have a pr of 11 right now, don't laugh)
*Log 504 miles as part of a 4-person team striving for 2016 miles in 2016 (I currently have 6 but I'm about two weeks out from being able to run again, I hope)
*Run a marathon before Thanksgiving (this is the goal that keeps alluding me)
*Do one local or Snohomish/Skagit County hike a month (snowshoed at Mission Ridge last weekend)
*No alcohol Monday-Thursday (100% on this so far :D)

Intellectual:
*Read/Review 2 books/Month (using the Must Read list from m'lady)
Read: He-Motions, reading: The Rescue & Fear the Sky
*Learn the 88 modern constellations & positioning in sky (~2/week) (I know Cassiopea, Big Dipper and Little Dipper)
*Read 1 article/ week on building bone density/nutrition/female athletes (I have to eat sardines, yuck! & Milk doesn't always do your bones the best good)
*Learn 1 meal/ month to promote bone health/density
*Memorize Psalm 119 (~2 stanzas/ month) (I'm on Aleph and I'm almost @ 100%)
*Memorize Declaration of Independence by July 4th (~60 words/ week) (I haven't posted my poster yet, I'm hanging it this weekend and then I'll be on it!)

I feel like these are all SMART goals but this year I questioned my energy level so I really tried to “dumb them down” to things that serve a purpose in other areas, like the marathon and the miles kind of bunch together. And memorizing the Psalm and my regular devotions partner well. And building my bone density directly affects my physical abilities & addresses nutritional needs. I don't think it's cheating I think it was SMART to use this year as a way to build on my strengths as opposed to really stretching and doing too much new. I need safety and structure this year. It'll be a goal fulfilling year I'm sure!