New Year, New and Improved List

Well, one year down, another to go!


2011 was a pretty great year for me - I got to quit the job I wasn't meant for and follow my dream by going back to school to become a teacher.  Comparing my life last  last-last! year (2009) to what it was like this last year (2010) is amazing.  I had time to spend with Tony, friends, and family, as opposed to always being at work or commuting.  I got to put my brain to use again (hooray!) and spend some time in the daylight - on weekdays no less!  All in all, I had a great year, and something tells me 2012 will be even better!


I did want to address my resolutions I made for 2010, i.e. my List.  I was so excited to make that list, and I had fun working to cross some things off.  However, I kinda knew it was a lofty goal to hit all 50.  I didn't even come close - only got 16 1/2!  For some, I would give myself partial credit, but I didn't feel right about crossing it off altogether (for instance, be a better friend - how can you quantify that and check it off??).  

So I didn't come close - but so what?  In January 2011 I had no idea what life would end up looking like.  Basically my life changed so much and my time was used in such a different way (hellllo homework!) that I couldn't have anticipated what was realistic.  That, and we tightened our finances even more to make the one-income thing work, so a few projects I hoped for are still in limbo.


With all that said, I want to keep the list going through this next year, and maybe beyond.  I've adapted it below based on a year's perspective.  I've replaced the ones I checked off with new ones, and got rid of the downright unreachable ones.  Who knows how much more I will achieve this year, but it's good to have a goal in mind, right?  :)

The [New & Improved] List:

{Purple = New or adapted items} {Gray = carryover}

1. Do something that really scares me 
2. Be confident!
3. Eat a healthy diet
4. Learn to garden - herbs in containers at least!
5. Tell Tony what he means to me, often
6. Read 50 books
7. Sight see during fall leaf time
8. Get professional photos of Tony and I 
9. Learn how to make 3 new recipes that are edible 
10. Refinish a large piece of furniture from the thrift store
11. Make my wedding scrapbook
12. Eat more fresh fruit
13. Become a regular walker
14. Give up Diet Coke altogether
15. Tell people more often how much they mean to me
16. Hand make 3 cards/gifts
17. Revamp my blog's look
18. Do something totally life-changing [again? why not!]
19. Stop gossip and negative talk
20. Go on a bigish vacation 
21. Go on a little vacation 
22. Organize our garage, for real this time
23. Try a new smoothie recipe
24. Build something from wood
25. Be a better friend
26. Start a new tradition
27. Take a vitamin every day
28. Volunteer more
29. Buy/Build as needed so our closets can finally be organized.
30. Read one article about the teaching world once a month
31. Put up crown molding in our house (with Tony's help!)
32. Add in arm workouts
33. Plant fall bulbs for a spring surprise
34. Stop procrastinating with school work
35. Throw a party
36. Make it to the lake at least once (or more!)
37. Figure out how to backup my blog's history
38. Go on a long bike ride
39. Visit Atlanta landmarks I've missed
40. Do a home safety check
41. Go one month without fried foods - at all - no cheating
42. Cancel our cable
43. Floss more 
44. Eat outside in balmy weather
45. Reduce my sugar intake
46. Redo two rooms in our house
47. Find a daily/weekly cleaning routine I can stick with
48. Improve our landscaping
49. Paint the furniture in our guest room
50. Love life, every day! 

I'd love to hear what your goals are, if you haven't already blogged about it!  Anyone else do the list method and actually make better progress than I did??