Specific goals related to sustainable lifestyle

• Reduce car usage by
  
  • riding my bike at least once a week to work
    
  • riding the bike to library, groceries, farmer's market etc
    
  
  
• Reduce energy usage & cooling costs by
  
  • line drying the laundry
    
  • utilizing whole house fan when cool outside
    
  • using shades to keep out sun
    
  • use propane grill instead of electric stove/oven
    
  
  

- make a vid with a friend
- have my first sleepover
- go to someone's wedding, really go to one
- get a new private lesson viola teacher
- read at least 20 GOOD books over the Summer
- keep up with my laundry-_-
- do the Pops Concerts and play well
- take some pictures when I go places
- improve on my viola
- write
- keep in touch with penpals
- plan ahead for college? find out my options

Can you believe that with another two weeks, this year will already be half over?

I choose both a theme for myself during a year, and I make a list of formal resolutions. My theme for 2008 is all about Confidence -- I'm happy to report that that I think this is going great. I've really managed to embrace this ideal and push myself in new ways that I don't think I'd have done otherwise without this goal. Most achievements have seemed small, but really, it's the small victories and tiny depressions that make up most of our lives, isn't it? I'm learning to be strong in the "Year of the Leopard," as I've named it, learning to take some chances, and not mind when I fail -- or perhaps more significantly, not mind when I perceive that others think I fail.

The resolutions? Eh, win some, lose some for me. I have to say that I'm a little surprised by which ones are working and which aren't. If you'd asked me at the start of this year, I'd have probably predicted an opposite show of success and challenge. Here goes:

1. Pursue mutual friendships ardently, and waste no more energy on one-sided relationships; Learn to let go.
On January 1, I'd have told you this would be the most challenging. Instead it's taken on its own momentum. This pledge was great for me! I intended it to help me separate from some nagging and negative social influences. I've ended up expanding it to include relationships with activities as well. It's been very healthy, and easier than I thought it would have been.

2. Act in a manner consistent with the results I want to achieve: love for love, respect for respect, humor for humor.
Harder to do, but this has definitely had very positive effects, particularly in my most significant relationship, that with my fiancé. This has helped me "not to sweat the small stuff," as it were, and keep priorities in line. At work, one of those priorities is not letting other people walk all over me. This one is pretty challenging, but it's like physical exercise that you feel working. The ache is worth it!

3. Practice Yoga 4 times each week.
4. Achieve healthy weight loss down to 175 pounds.
I group these two together because they relate to similar efforts. Would've said on January 1 that these were a shoe-in after my progress in 2007. Instead I've largely dropped these efforts like hot rocks! I used to do an hour of yoga every morning before work. I started the year strong hoping to lose weight, but very soon lost momentum. I'm a few pounds down from January 1, but not nearly where I planned to be. This is a daily struggle and I'm working on it. I have a plan, but every day it's a struggle to enact that plan. I need to find some genuine motivation toward a passion for better living and good physical health. I'm finding that to be the greatest challenge in my plan for this year.

5. Calendar events, plan ahead, and keep the necessary tools on hand to meet my goals.
Win some, lose some. This reminder, literally printed out and on the wall near my home computer and office computer, has helped somewhat. I'm still not in the routine of organization I once was. The nice part is that everyday is a new opportunity to effect positive change. I can do something about this today.

So, fellow sojourners, now that we're almost halfway through this year of change, how are you doing?

Traceroo

I just wanted to note that I will successfully achieve my goal of eliminating artificial sweeteners for the month of April. I've gone the month and plan to continue to keep up with this new healthier diet.

Since doing so, however, my occassional diet soda turned into ocassional regular soda. Thus the personal goal to eliminate carbonated beverages for the month of May.

Yesterday I bought myself a rather large bottle of San Pellegrino to enjoy before the crack-down. :)

Hi all, I'm deciding whether or not I want to embark on A Course in Miracles. I have the book in my possession, so it's just a matter of timing and level of commitment.


Has anybody done ACIM? If so, what were the results?


Cheers,
~Odyssey

I challenge everyone in change_2008 to give up carbonated beverages for the entire month of May.

No beer
No soda
No sparkling water
No champagne

No bubbles. Period.

I'm also curious to see how this effects our waistlines. So, weigh yourself on the first (you don't have to report it) and then again at the end of the month. Report any changes in your weight, and how you are feeling after one month of living bubble-free.

 Hey everyone, my name is Melissa.

Recommitting to self-care habits:

Brush twice and floss once daily
Stretches every three days
Naps when possible (weekends)
No artificial sugars

 I've been keeping up with my resolution!  Just barely this month (sent the letter off yesterday) but am doing it.

My non-resolution however (of bringing my lunch to work rather than buying it) is not going so well.  Blah.  Gotta get myself organized.

and five days to an improved me.

there is more explaination in my journal, if you'd like to read it.

this forum looks a bit quiet - seems to have died down - but we just had Persian New Year and Easter (which originated from the Pagan celebration of spring and new life or as some believe, commemorates a ressurection)  so see, it's really New Years all over so don't let go of those resolutions!

lets all start talking again!   

In 2008, I will manifest health into my life through an efficient, reasonable and integrated nutrition, exercise and health plan. I will make reasonable accommodations to my health plan to account for periods of disruptions. I will maintain a positive attitude throughout 2008 in order to faciliate good fortune. I will be patient and forthright with others and myself. I will allow myself to achieve success and to occasionally fail without guilt. I will manifest unbounded love and acceptance. I will recognize the human and the divine in myself and in others.

malanai and I have reached the decision that she should take over this comm. As my last order of business, I'm going to unmoderate posting. That means that new posts will go up automatically. However, as moderator and soon to be maintainer, she reserves the right to delete spam or posts that break the rules.

malanai's a cool gal, she'll take care of you all.

Penny, if all this is good with you, drop me a comment and I'll transfer maintainership to you. :)

The list is a combination of spontaneous, or unplanned accomplishments in January and the items listed in my January plan to be completed in weeks 1-4 of 2008. (My mind is messy, just deal)

( The Official January Accomplishment List )

I am posting again because I have seen the five. I now weigh 159 pounds and am within 14 pounds of my goal weight. I know I will not reach it now because I planned on doing it by St. Patrick's Day but that is okay. I am happy with where I am now and will continue working until I see that 4.

In other news I have not yet Withdrawn from any of my classes. And I have not yet eaten the chocolate either.

:) :)

Well, I just finally finished my DECEMBER goals...

I realized last week that I had one unfinished item.

Now I can finish JANUARY!  Two readings left and I will be done with January and can move on with the catching up.  I do plan on catching up.  Even if I don't, I figure I'm still making some form of progress.  A family run around with a pesky head cold kept me down for almost two weeks.  It is possible that I can finish January on Tuesday, if tomorrow works out properly.  No promises with a little one around.

So...to finish January, I need to finish reading the gospel of John, and read up to page 100 in Frankenstein.  Then I have to figure out my Feb. list.

I hope you are all doing better than I!  

edit:  If anyone completed the Jan oral health challenge and is interested in a little reward, let me know.  I know I mentioned I would do something, but I haven't been able to get online until now.

I have decided that being insane is no longer beneficial.

I am welcoming the sanity that I hope comes with the remainder of this year.

Cheers to all,
Geraldine

Hello everyone, it's my first time posting. I'm 23 this July and i'll be graduating in May. I'd like to share my goals for 2008 and hopefully stick by them and emerge an improved person. Thanks for being around :)