Happy New Year!

2011 has come to a close and I've had a few days to reflect on my thoughts and feelings and I find a peace has settled in that I've never had before.  The peace stems from  not setting unrealistic resolutions or putting pressure on myself.  I'm actually spending time thinking of the things I'm grateful for from 2011 and the goals that I WILL reach in 2012.

2011 brought me courage to follow through with a surgery that I knew would cause pain and difficulties for months.  It showed me the family and friends that love and support me unconditionally. It brought changes in my self confidence and self worth (as described in my last post). Those changes are probably even more important to me than the surgery that precipitated them.  I'm thankful for these things, they're what is setting 2012 up to be my best year yet (even though I turn the dirty 30--AHHH!).

I was playing on Facebook yesterday and a friend I've known for a long time had this posted "I hope your troubles last as long as your resolutions".  And I thought, huh, that's pretty accurate.  Most people set a resolution and by March they've forgotten it.  So, this year I've decided no resolutions.  If not for the reason in the quote stated above, certainly for my own lack of dedication and self control in the past. I will set goals instead.  I've written down goals for 2012 and unlike years prior--plan to keep them.  It's no one else's responsibility to ensure this happens but mine.

I wrote SMART goals- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely; so each goal has a few sentences.  They run the gamete from eating a whole food no preservatives or white flour diet to run or run/walk a 5K by the end of the summer. I will meet these goals.  I will make myself into the best version that I have been in a long time.  No excuses.  I'll just do it (thanks Nike).

2012 will be a year of change and growth for me -- physically, emotionally and mentally .  The way we're supposed to grow as people, as a whole.  I can't wait to see where I am this time next year.  I've got 364 days to make a difference...and I'm off...