2011 Goals
The connotation of "New Year's resolutions" has become negative over the years, almost the laughing stock of January. I've never really had resolutions until last year. On Jan. 1, 2010, Kelsey said she was going read the Bible in one year. Without much thought at all, I said I would do it, too. Gulp! Always trying to be a man of my word, I started thinking about how I was going to accomplish this big task. I modified my goal in order to strive for consistency and building a routine. I wanted to read the Bible every day in 2010. I knew that having my Bible (in book form) with me every day of the year was highly unrealistic, so I set up a reading plan on my Bible app from Youversion.com.
I accomplished my goal last year. I read the Bible every day. I will admit that I skimmed some of the Old Testament. The streak lives on for me into 2011, but I am using the First Steps Reading Plan, which hits the highlights throughout the Bible.
So, I have set a few challenging goals for 2011.
Reading: Uncle Dave suggests reading--as do most other successful leaders in the world, no matter what area of expertise. So, I am on a quest to be a lifelong learner. The goal: Read 12 books in 2011. I had a running start on the book Linchpin by Seth Godin. I started reading it during my Christmas vacation time and just finished it on Saturday morning. I really wanted to get started on my second book of the year: Canon Rebel T1i/500D: From Snapshots to Great Shots by Jeff Revell. I have not paved the rest of my 2011 reading path yet, but I am keeping my eyes and ears open to suggestions along the way.
Get in shape/run: I haven't been in shape since my junior year in college. This is something that has been nagging at me for a few years now and I decided that 2011 was the year to make 'staying in shape' a lifelong hobby. I started running outside the first week of the year and the cold really didn't bother me, but now that there is snow and ice I have been leary of running the partially covered sidewalks and trails around our neighborhood. Last week I only ran once, but supplemented my workouts with some time on the Wii Fit. This week I am going to suck it up and actually go to the gym and run on a treadmill, or around their tiny indoor track. I don't love running, but sometimes to get where you want to go you have to do things you don't love to do. I think they call it building character.
Photography: Not sure where this goal is headed yet. Kels is keeping me busy in this category, taking photos for Snappy Casual. Beyond that, I am trying to learn the basics of how to use my new Canon T1i to it's fullest potential!
What are you goals/resolutions for 2011? Share them below in the comments section.