Goals, Celebrations, and Musings - Hello, 2006!

Don't Forget to Date Your Cheques '06'

To ring in the New Year, we celebrated in what I think was pretty fine style. Watched a fun movie. Morgan made a gourmet meal. I drank a very nice bottle of wine. We watched the ball drop in Times Square (with snippets of Niagara to get the Canadian perspective), and went to bed.

Woke up, and it was 2006. Funny how that works.

For me, the first day of the year being a Sunday is a pretty sweet omen. Made breakfast. Read the paper. Drank coffee. Excellent.

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Resolutions vs Goals - Here's Mine

Although I gave guidelines in my last post, I really didn't distinguish resolutions from goals. Or, at least how I see it. Which is this:

Resolution: Drink more
Goal: Drink more wine by getting snokered 5 nights out of 7.

(note - the above is only an example)

The resolution is a nice, but empty statement. A goal is quantified with some kind of call to action.

So, here are my 2006 goals, as promised:

1. Finish eight courses this year (seven + the one I currently have), using the formula of 48 weeks of work divided by 6.5 weeks/course. It comes out to 7.38 courses, but I have head start and I've built in two weeks of flex above and beyond vacation. I will accomplish this by re-evaluating how I spend my day, and using that time I have at home alone between when I get back from work and when Morgan gets back from work to take major daily strides. The exception, of course, being Tuesday. By doing that, I'll put in 90min of quality time everyday before Morgan gets home - so I can still spend quality time with her and not feel guilty about ignoring one or the other. Weekends are also a very important part of this, so I will endeavors to make one day (it may alternate week-to-week) the primary school day, and the other will be the one where I take care of that 'around the house' stuff. That sort of routine will also help keep our space organized and clean.
   
   
   
2. Achieve my goal weight of 195lbs before we go to Holland by changing eating habits, and incorporating daily physical activity in my life, such as running, cycling, walking, and swimming. This morning, I was 219lbs. I also want to play more GLOs with my friends (like when we go play frisbee), and see what either the McKenzie Towne Hall or YMCA have for some core-stregth activities. The latter may come after we get back from Holland, and I evaluate the next step in prolonging my body and mind by keeping in shape. I'm also going to drink way more water this year, especially at work. I may only have a cup or two of coffee a day, but I'll nurse it all afternoon. So when it's cold, it's done, and out comes the water bottle to keep me fresh and alert. That will likely also help me when I get home and need to hit the books.
   
   
   
3. Read all those books I have on my shelf that I haven't read by taking time most nights to un-wind by reading in bed. When I have done it in the past, I feel so very relaxed. Plus, I want to read new stuff, but I can't justify it with a shelf full of un-read books.
   
   
   
4. Do whatever I can to support my family and friends in their goals and dreams, and forage stronger bonds through communication. I don't think I'm unsupportive now, but I do know I am notorious for not keeping in touch with people. At least, I think I am. Writing some emails and making some phone calls will help me mentally by hopefully creating some stronger bonds, and maybe those around me will benefit as well. This one is harder to quantify - but I think it boils down to if I don't know what is happening in my friends' lives, then I'm not listening enough.
   
   
   
5. Continue on my current career path, with my current employer, hopefully transitioning to a new role in the next eight to twelve months. I'm not struggling at work, and I really enjoy it, so this one is a little easier. It can't be, however, just ignored and put on the back-burner, or the success-o-meter will quickly crash to zero. By supporting my team and having trust in my experience and problem-solving abilities, I'm confident I can march right on to the top.

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Everyone, come on over and meet 2006

Your world is anything you want to make of it. Good luck with any goals you set, and remember my number four if you get stuck.

Auld Lang Syne,
-R.