Eeeek, and like that we’re more than a week into 2018. And today every treadmill, elliptical, bike and stairclimber were occupied in the gym at 5.30pm; the new year’s resolution game is evidently strong. But y’all know this girl doesn’t make resolutions. Goals. This girl sets goals. This girl kicks goals. Well most times.
If we’ve spoken of late, you’ll know it’s gonna be a big year. But big or small, I keep moving forward.
Fitness goal/s
After last year’s half marathon (and subsequent injuries) we’re keeping it short and sharp this year… and aiming for speed. Let’s go sub-25min 5km. PB is sitting at 26:22mins at the moment, so it looks like carving off 10-12secs per km. Seems achievable if I can get these little legs moving again…prefs without the dull aches or sharp shooting pains.
But as I learnt last year, focus solely on the bottom half and your top half becomes useless. I finally lost out to commercialised fitness and joined a gym last year, and slowly the upper body strength is increasing. You can only go up when zero pushups was the baseline. This year, I’m aiming for 5 unassisted pull ups. I’m still only lifting about half my weight at the moment, so a few more kgs to go…
Intellectual goal
If you caught my 17 in 2017, you’ll know that I epically failed reading 17 books last year so the goal remains. Categories remain: 4 x novels, 4 x non-fiction, 4x theology, 4 x professional + 1 bonus read. And because I set the rules in which I play, audiobooks are in.
Good thing my Netflix parasitising has come to an end. Sigh.
Socially responsible living goal
I dug every ep of The Chaser’s War on Everything and so when I hear any of the crew have new projects, I’m 100% in. Craig Reucassel’s War on Waste on ABC was fab. I’ve had so many conversations where the program has genuinely prompted them to start consciously caring about their waste and environmental impact. And I’m there. Throw in a few more docos and after some judgemental digs on everything from eggs to plastic straws, I had my mother ask if I’d become a hippy at Christmastime.
Remember reduce, reuse, recycle? This year I’m committing to buying no more new plastic products for food storage, reusing packaging where possible and recycling as much as possible. I have three bins: paper/cardboard/glass, soft plastics and finally landfill. A slow shift in behaviour last year, it’s not been convenient to wash and reuse snaplock bags, nor easy to remember to grab the soft plastic waste when ducking to Coles. But in time, I’m hoping separating waste becomes second nature, as does carrying canvas bags with me.
I’m also committing to exploring environmentally-friendly cleaning products and even reducing my meat + dairy consumption. But bacon is staying in 2018. Maple bacon particularly.
Professional goal
Another goal I didn’t achieve last year, but learnt from the journey. Adventure awaits.
Character goal
We’re all on our own journeys. And in the words of my manager, we all have not “weaknesses” but “areas for development”. And my goodness I hope God sustains me for a long time, ’cause I’m going to need it. Irony is, because of grace and mercy, we’ll can all be made brand new in a perfect new heavens and earth. Alas. I’ll leave this one for an offline chat.
Faith goals
“But you’re leaving soon enough, why do you even care?” was probably the most hurtful thing said to me last year. Life takes us to different places and for different seasons. But however long and wherever we are, whoever we’re surrounded by, we laugh with, grieve with, celebrate with…do life together with. The grass always seems greener somewhere else, but it rarely is.
So I’m committing to the people around me. Money. Time. Energy. Loving people. Serving people. Listening to people. Praying for people. Whether it’s a dinner to provide company, cleaning the floor, bringing in washing, providing rest, throwing in extra $$, i’ll take the cost. Less cash flow, head lice, bruised toes or a messy home. Whatever the personal cost, I’m committing. But then again, I’m not perfect and I’ll fail, and i’ll inevitable offend or overstep the mark, and for that I’m thankful for forgiveness + grace.
And there’s my direction set for 2018. I expect they’ll be a challenge but keen to give them all a red hot go. I love talking goals and pushing beyond a seemingly comfortable life.What are your goals? Let’s chat.
Finally, if you bothered to read my dreary thoughts on this largely abandoned blog and made it all the way down here – a reward. Thank you.
