2012 Goals - Update #3.

Whew, well the summer is flying by in a whirlwind of heat strokes (almost) and thankfully, fun wiht my friends.  But I wanted to make sure before the summer slips away from me that I take the time to revist my goals for the year, how I'm doing, and where I need to kick my hiney into gear.  So let's do this...

First off, here's my original post on my goals.

1. Read 50 books.  Whew, glad we started with one I'm doing well.  Actually this is done.  I finished book 50 at the beginning of last week, 51 midweek and expect to have a few more finished up this week as well.  I've changed my goal to 100 books, which kind of terrifies me but I'm excited to embrace the challenge.

2. Leave the US. Done and done.  Went to Haiti in April as planned and I've already started paying for my January trip to Togo (in West Africa) where I will use my passport fo rthe second time ever.  You know, unless one of you would like to take me to Europe for my birthday or something.

3. Take DC by Storm.  Success, again!  I had the BEST time in DC back in May and honestly have thought of little else but going back since!

4. Skydive, even if only indoors.  Oops, this is in the redzone because I didn't even remember I had put this on my list.  Ok, well, time to get on that.

5. Lose another 20 pounds.  Well, I'm halfway there and it's halfway through this year-ish.  So I guess I'm on target.

6. Finally see my cousin play college baseball.  Well, this is not done BUT I'm going to have to give myself cred as I did attend one of his games...but he had to have surgery and is out for the season, so by no fault of my own this goal is unattainable for 2012.

7. Shower my niece with love letters. Check.  Baby Noey likes her Aunt B's love notes - or so her mom tells me.

8. The Super Secret Goal.  This is in progress.  Still can't tell you about it and it's not done BUT I've put a good amount of time and effort into it so far. We'll say this one is pending.

9. Finish 100 pages of my book (writing). Crap. Red zone goal #2.  I've written less than 20 pages so far BUT I did restart work on this recently so you never know!

10. Visit one new state on the way to 50. Hmmm, this is still pending as well.

11. Get back into photography, for fun.  Eh...I'm not really doing much of that yet.

12. Write.  Honestly, often, and here. Check. I've been writing all over the place.  Here, my new blog, the church blog, a journal, and the world's lengthiest to do lists and a book full of goals and dreams!  I'm a writing machine.

Ok, this was good. This was healthy.  I have to stop writing now and get back to work on completing these!

Love,
B

2012 Goals - An Update.

A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.

- Ayn Rand

I set 12 goals for the year 2012. I achieved much in 2011, but my goals list was not one of them. And so, I hope to be more focused with this years goal list and to report back with more frequency. Accountability is key for me. What you have to realize about goals is the importance of achieve, not competing. I have a competitive spirit I frequently have to stuff down.

I have to remind myself that the purpose of setting reading goals is to expand my mind, avoid the TV, and keep illiteracy at bay. Not, however, to beat anyone else by reading a greater number books or deeper, longer, more classical books, for that matter. The point is to meet my own goals and standards and not to compare myself to others. This same principle applies to each of my goals. I admit, though, that I often struggle with this.

That disclaimer being said, let's talk about my goals and where I'm at as January draws near it's end...


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1. Well, I've read 7 books so far in 2012. Being just under 4 weeks into the year, I'd say this makes my goal of 50 look attainable. More than that, I find that my love of reading is growing in leaps and bounds. I'm thankful for the blog community where I have found so many other diligent readers to relate too. I don't really know how to use it well but if you're on Goodreads feel free to add me!

2. Leave the US for the first time. Well, you can expect another Haiti update soon - much is happening in my prep to meeting goal #2. But you can count on April being the month I tackle this one officially....

3. Take Washington DC by storm. I can happily report that my plane ticket has been book for my trip to DC in May...so this goal is also in the works.

4. Skydive, even if indoors. Hm, not progress on this yet. Although, I have been watching the groupons.

5. Lose another 20 pounds. I changed this goal to add 'by Haiti' in early January and after 2 weeks I'm over 6 pounds down. So I'm hopeful that I will lose 20 and possibly more before I depart on April 21st.

6. The dates are set for me to finally see my sweet cousin, Whitley, play ball this year. You can anxiously await pictures and a full report in March.

7. Shower my niece with love letters. This is going well. I've made her the most precious Valentines Day card I've been making myself wait to send...

8. Slow but steady progress towards my unspoken goal #8.

9. Crap. I haven't written anymore pages for my book. Boo.

10. Visit one new state. Maybe I should take suggestions on which state it should be?

11. Get back into photography, for pleasure. I'm hoping Haiti will give me some inspiration for this.

12. Write, I have! Here, often, honestly...and even for my own personal benefit to possibly be shared at a later date. I've also been writing letters and e-mails to several of you who have reached out for help or advice. I enjoy the chance to be thought out, as writing allows me.

Thanks for cheering me on...I'm so pleased with 2012 so far. I'm sad to see a month of it come to an end next week. I'm cherishing every moment.

Love,

B

Continuing a Year of Experiences.

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Note: If you're semi new to the blog go back and read this entry to see why this year has been themed the year to experience.

I said this year was about experiences and if you were worried I would let you down perhaps I can give you hope. This is the year to go for it. This is the year of no-holds-barred. I've laid the ground work, and I'm enjoying the benefits now.

I determined that even though I will be headed to see my best friend in 10 days (whoo hoo), to Haiti in April, and to DC in May...it was time to get some travel on the books to see my sister, my bro-in-law, and my beautiful baby niece, Noa. The great thing about budgeting for travel is that I get to do what I love...go. And since that budget is always growing, I don't have to wait 6 months to buy a ticket. I talked to my sister Sunday night about an Easter weekend trip, and Monday on my lunch break, I booked it!

Let me note here my absolute love of Southwest Airlines. I do all my travel with them and so I was able to buy one leg my flight in 'points', and the other leg on sale for $94. It was budget friendly, easy to book, and hey - I can even over pack! Nothing but love for the Southwest way of travel (hey Southwest, you should totally make a flight to Haiti!).

What I have grown to appreciate about being responsible with my money is seeing my hard work pay off. I have learned to live simple, save hard, and prepare for these exact moments. Because I want to be with my sister to celebrate my nieces first Easter. Because I value the chance to be a part of my brother-in-law's church congregation and see him in action. And most of all because I have learned the value of experiences over things.

When I think about my role as an Aunt and what I want Noa to admire about her Aunt B - I hope that she sees my unfailing love for her first and foremost and that she treasures the time I'm creating for us to be together. I hope she grows up knowing that being there for her every step of the way has always been a top priority. And hey, I wouldn't mind if she's telling her kinder garden classmates how cool her Aunt B's life has been with a shoebox full of postcards from the places I've been, either.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina - you're on my books.

Love,
B

#3.

Well lovies, my flight is booked. DC 2012 is happening. I was talking to a friend over Christmas who said, 'I really want to come visit you this year, but I just have to find the time'. Here's what I've learned about life - you don't find time, ever. You make it. Make time for what matters and what you value, because otherwise it slips by and the next year you'll say the same.

One of the great benefits to my job in events is that I travel for work. While traveling for work (on flights I book) I rack up points, usually with Southwest, my favorite airline. I get to use the points for pleasure. And so, after my trip to NYC last year where I used a freebie flight to make it an affordable, though not 'cheap', trip - I was inspired. Why not for this season of life where I get to travel for free one or twice a year to see major US cities? And so, the plan to visit Washington DC was born.

Truthfully, I'm already dreaming of where my 2013 destination will be! I know, ridiculous.

I did get that across body bag I wanted for my trip for Christmas so I can travel light at least while I'm perusing the city. I've started a list of all the places I want to go, see, and of course, eat (hello, DC Cupcakes).

Going to DC is #3 on my list of goals for 2012 - so here I am taking a big stride towards it, with a booked flight. May can't come soon enough. But it will have to wait it's turn, because Haiti is coming up first, in April. And before that I'm headed to Scottsburg to see my best friend and Tallahassee to see my cousin play baseball in March. Whew, 2012, I like you already!

12 Goals for 2012.

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1. Read 50 books. (I'm baaack)


2. Leave the US for the first time (hello, Haiti)


Photo Cred.

3. Take Washington DC by storm (May 2012)

4. Skydive - even if it's only indoors.



5. Lose another 20 pounds

6. Finally see my cousin play college (base)ball

7. Shower my niece with love letters


8. I'm sorry to do this - but #8 is going to have to be an unspoken. Due to...well, just take my word for it: I can't tell you yet but if I make this goal a reality I will blow up blog world with it.

9. Finish at least 100 pages of my book (writing).

10. Visit one new state (on my way to 50)



11. Get back into photography - for pleasure.

12. Write. Write often, write honestly, and write here.

Well 2012, lets do this with excellence.

Love,

B

2012: the Theme.

Welcome to 2012 friends, family, and blog followers!

In my life it seems there are themes for every year. 2010 was about discipline. Learning to eat healthy, workout, budget, and be healthy in all aspects of my life by making discipline a priority and reseting my habits. It was a hard, successful, and rewarding year that set the tone for what would come next...

2011 was a year about relationships. When I sat down at the end of 2010 I thought, I've worked on 'me', now it's time to build up my relationships to where they need to be. I purposed to spend more time relating to others in the ways I love: entertaining, cooking, random gifts, and hand written letters. I also spend time making an effort to love others in the ways that made sense to them, in their love language, if you will. This included stepping up my phone call game.

With purpose, I devoted my time to the friendships I value most and that I see being for the long haul. What few people know about me is that while thousands of people have read this blog, 1500+ people call me a 'friend' on facebook, and over 500 people follow me on twitter - there are really only a small handful of people that I 'let in'. I may be a social media over-sharer but what I share with others and how close I let them is calculated. I can count on one hand the people I let know my hopes, my dreams, my fears, and hardships. Those are the people I most sought to invest time in, in 2011, and I have seen that be a success.

So what about 2012? Two great years have come to an end and enter 2012 with more promise than any year before it. How will I spend it? What will be my focus? And what will the overwelming theme of 2012 be?

Well ladies and gentleman, I won't even leave you in suspense. 2012 is a year to experience. I'm taking on 2012 as the biggest adventure yet and the chance to take it all in. This is a year for experiences. I welcome it with great excitement and I hope even a bit of courage as I plan to go after this year with all I've got.

Happy New Year, to each of you...what a great new year it will be.

Love,
B

Creating Space - 2012.

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In 2010 I shared all that I learned from my church's 'Creating Space' series and the steps I would take to create space in my own life. Well, 2011 came and went with purposeful busyness that has accomplished many new goals and while I'm thankful for that, I realize that it's time to revisit creating space as 2012 is quickly approaching.

While I'm not one for new years resolutions I do find that the new year lends itself to reevaluating where you're spending your time and how you're using your resources. What needs the boot in 2012 to create space for new opportunities? What good things can go so God things can come?

I hope to find a quiet spot over Thanksgiving to really start muscling through these areas so that I can streamline and begin this new year with purpose and poise. Anyone else worried that if they aren't intention this holiday season will leave them exhausted and uninspired? I want to use the time I get off work and out of town to regroup and redouble my efforts towards my long term goals/five year plan.

Anything getting the boot in your lives for the coming year? Anything you want to create more space for? Any advice you want to give me for 2012?


Love,
B