35 by 35

So I was incredibly inspired by my friend Sylvia's goal list, and I decided to go ahead and create my own. My hope is that people will keep me accountable and encouraged by asking me how my list is coming and to keep it in front of me so I know what I want out of life and will hopefully stop hiding from what I want in my life...thus ending the patterns of self-destruction.

I'm okay with this list changing as I want different things in my life; however, they shouldn't change too drastically. This little exercise has really shown me what's important to me to start changing/working on/keeping in my life and what I just need to let go of. Hopefully I will either have these things completely done and still living in them in 3 years OR have them well on their way to being a life pattern.

First Year Goals

1. Cut eating out to special occasions ONLY. Those of you who know me best, please help me with this one...it's VERY important to my health in many aspects.
   
2. Work out every day in one way or another...whether it's 20 minutes or 1 hour. I do want to exercise 3 to 4 days a week at 45 minutes to 1 hour in cardio. I have noticed tremendous results doing this. I read the other day that someone who hasn't exercised a whole lot can do the same workout for about 12 weeks before their body REALLY gets used to the routine and they need to change it up. Since consistency is very important to creating a habit, I'm going to do the same routine 2 to 3 times and throw in some Zumba :)
   
3. Go for walks with my hubby and/or puppy as often as possible. I'm tired of the excuses as to why I don't do this...I just need to go for it...even if I have to start out slow.
   
4. Maintain a clean house. Non-clutter assists me in being healthy, productive, and creative. GOODBYE LAZINESS!!!
   
5. Surround myself with healthy goals, encouragement, good music, and people.
   
6. Educated reading...read 1 or 2 books a month so I can expand my knowledge and possibly my life experiences. List: Yoga for Christians, The Pathfinder, Finding Your North Star, The First 30 Days, You Can Heal Your Life, Blessing Your Spirit, Creative Call, Let it Go, Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be, Feeling Good, Grow Vegetables, Shortcut to Gardening and Lawn Work, Medicinal Herbs of the Prairie...these are all good books, they are all on my shelf. I can do it, and it's a great start.
   
7. Go through everything in my house and throw away/sell anything that isn't going to Indiana with us when we move. It's a long way off, but I don't want to be dealing with all that AND trying to move at the same time.
   
8. Set up a budget and stick to it--a budget that leaves us with money to move, start over, and go on vacation.
   
   
9. Take care of myself DAILY/WEEKLY because I AM WORTH IT!
   Vitamins Fruits & Veggies Omega 3's Medication Washing/Moisturizing
   Full Dental Care Shaving Legs
   
10. Learn to make a meal plan and grocery shop accordingly...this TERRIFIES me, so it will be a HUGE step if I actually do it and enjoy it.
    
11. Work to grow a successful garden and not be discouraged by last year's results
    a. save carpet from living room floor to use on walkways to deter weed growth
    b. compost & roto-till this year
    c. purchase plants from a greenhouse & NOT a retail store
    d. start in May so have good growth by June
    
    
12. Learn how to grill food...must first learn how to start the grill first.
    
13. Give more time to my spiritual growth and stop avoiding what I know I need.
    
14. Water my garden & lawn frequently.
    
15. Go camping and/or hiking whether it's by myself, with Kelly, or with friends.
    
16. Sing worship again
    
17. Embrace the greatest teacher in life = PAIN
    
18. Do my best to show Kelly how much I love him by being a more passionate lover, perform more acts of service (especially when he's in school), an communicating better with him about my needs and what I'm doing
    
19. Make yoga a part of my life again....with my back issues, it's a GREAT healer and can strengthen my body in the way I want. I just felt a lot better and exercise was easier when this was a part of my life.
    
20. Daily bless those in my life....friend and foe
    
21. Remove myself from all abusive relationships and/or put myself in a place where those abusive relationships don't affect me negatively
    
22. Maintain the good relationships have built with those that have blessed my life in so many ways no matter how far away I move
    
23. Journal or blog daily about my weight loss journey, what I'm going through emotionally, new things I discover...anything.
    
24. Finish my wedding scrapbook (OMG...it'll be 10 years on the 5th!!! What!? and still not done?)
    
25. Learn to set boundaries and maintain them...not taking on too much and not taking on burdens that aren't mine to take on.
    
    First 2 Years
26. Help establish a successful Young Professionals Group in Hot Springs
27. Decide what I want to go to school for and work in that direction
28. Be debt free...no school loans from Kelly, no credit card debt, no medical debt
29. Run a 5K or 10K
30. Find a place to live that accepts pets when we move so I don't have to leave my puppy behind. I just can't do that, and I don't want anyone else to raise her. She's the only "child" I have and it's nice to come home to someone that's happy to see you, cuddles, and loves you with no questions asked and no judgement.
    
    First 3 Years
31. Find employment that is satisfying, higher paying, and works with both our schedules
32. Write a book: either a novel or biography about my journey to health
33. Become a health/fitness guru and coach others on their journey as I have been helped
34. Find a cure for my pituitary tumor and/or have it completely under control
35. Determine if I really want to open a bed-n-breakfast/resort-style business and start working on a business plan

So that's it!! Wish me luck ;)