Can we all just take a moment to all feel really old with the coming of the year two-thousand-and-freaking-fifteen?! I am kind of a number-fixator sometimes (in the healthiest way possible, I assure you) and that number somehow represents big things for me.
I’m not huge on setting measurable goals for the new year or new year’s resolutions. They usually feel forced and contrived, and way too easy to rebel against or abandon entirely. What I love doing though, is reflecting on the changes that have developed over the year, and dreaming up what might be brewing for the year to come. What will this next year be defined by? The fun part is that I can never really predict it, but it’s always something that seems to take my life to the next level, or the next phase.
Change is happening constantly, even when you feel like you’ve been standing still for a while. Don’t let that feeling fool you, because you are actually collecting experiences that are shaping you and creating growth in all facets of your life. And while we can’t predict where we’ll be in a year, it’s fun to dream and it’s motivating to spell out what we want to do and where we want to be.
So what’s just over the horizon for me for 2015? While I can’t be certain (plans never go as planned in my experience) I’m feeling like this will be a year that moves me to a new phase, one where my days are no longer “just trying to survive” (like they are for so many moms of young kids!) but where I’m asking for more and better of myself and my family. Striving to be “better” is always a theme in my life, but it will look different this year than it has in the past.
I will find fulfillment in new ways.
For the past several years, I have turned to “stuff” (running gear is a weakness) imagining it will help me feel “fresh” and fulfilled in some way. As much as I love a new outfit, I realize that “stuff” does not fulfill anything at all and I don’t want to spend my time or money buying things. I truly want to find a place in myself where none of that matters. I want to feel fulfilled just by being, not by having or acquiring.
I will stop using running as an escape.
Look, I love running, and that’s not changing anytime soon. But, the motivating factor is key. I have written about the balance between running as a healthy way of coping and running to avoid difficult feelings. I have made a big leap in this area over the past year, and I would love to make more progress here. There was a time a couple of years ago when I needed that time spent running away from home to collect my thoughts, but that time has passed, and I want running to be something I only do when I truly crave it. Moving will not help me grow unless I’m also okay will being still.
I will continue forming individual relationships with each of my children.
In 2015, my children will turn 8, 6, and 4. And yes, I just cried hysterically for 30 seconds after writing those numbers. My husband and I were talking about how each of our relationships with our kids has grown and changed over the past year or so, and it got me thinking about what I want to work on going forward. Kids grow so fast in the scope of an adult frame of mind. It is really necessary to meet them where they are today because it’s so easy to fall behind and wonder what happened. I hope to nurture each of our developing relationships this year, and chill out on the angry mommy stuff. Yup, I can be an angry mommy.
Yoga will become a new norm.
I’ve been doing yoga for a week and already I’m wanting to do it almost daily. I know I said in a recent post that I’d like to practice yoga twice per week, and if there is any measurable goal I’m setting for the new year, it will be to stick with that. This is probably more for the psychological benefits than the physical.
Blog blog blog.
This blog has really defined the past year in many ways, and helped me keep things honest with myself and with the world. There is no doubt in my mind that it will be coming along with me, full force for 2015!
The food.
Will I still be eating sausage in a year? I think so. I don’t foresee any big changes in my food happening this next year. If it ain’t broke, no need to fix. Physically I am feeling really well, my digestion is good, and I’ve mostly mastered the little tweaks in my diet to the point where it feels natural. One “goal” I have for the new year is to make my own darn kombucha already! I did the bone broth, now must move on the the ‘booch.
2015. Still can’t quite wrap my head around that number as the actual present day and not some fantasy sci-fi movie year. If I’m feeling this way now, 2050 might really get my granny panties in a bunch (assuming I’m lucky enough to be mentally and physically present at that point.) But now’s not the time to be thinking that far ahead, I suppose 🙂
Thanks to Jill Conyers and Jessica Joy for The Fit Dish Link-Up – happy to join you guys today!
Do you set measurable goals or resolutions for the new year? Do you reflect on changes over the past year and try to predict what’s on the horizon? What’s one area of your life that you’d like to work on this coming year?
These are great goals! I can’t believe it’s 2015 already in just a few weeks, how in the world did that happen??
I also need to start incorporating more yoga into my life..i’m horrible at doing it! I know it will make me a better runner..even if it does bore me to tears! Its soooo good for our bodies!
I always thought it would bore me because it’s so different from running, but it’s great in a completely different and complementary way! Definitely good to mix things up, glad I finally made the push.
What type of yoga are you getting into, and where do you get your routines from? I myself like vinyasa yoga, currently working on backbends and handstands.
In 2015 all I want to do is quit my newspaper job and find a better parttime job, settle down on a school, and find inner peace. The latter, I’m not sure how ill do, but I think it’ll work itself out next summer and fall.
Question, michele: would you have the time to put together, or participate in a january resolution kickoff calendar challenge to shake off the holiday gluttony and get back into the health groove?
I am starting with some basic vinyasa but definitely not doing headstands yet! I went to myfreeyoga for a few and also youtube. I was also thinking about putting together a kickoff challenge but have no actual plans yet! I was thinking more like February though, because I think that’s when people wind up needing it even more than January. feb is a dreary month!
I love the depth of your goals. You are amazing! Thank you so much for sharing the part about developing relationships with your kids. I love that perspective, and needed to hear it! Also, I love how you mentioned we’re never really staying still, we’re always changing. Michele, you are a thought-provoking person, and I love it. You have given me so much to think about. Way to go, blogger! Take care! Thanks for linking up!
Thanks for the link-up! Whenever I reflect it’s amazing how much change I see, when all the while I felt like not much was happening. Same with my kids growing – time is an incredible thing!
I try to reflect and set goals for the year, but it’s really one of those ‘conquer every day’ kind of things going on for me. Trying to learn to live in the moment and enjoy each day!
…oh, except my goal of doing my first Marathon in March. That’s a ‘conquer every mile of you’ll die slowly’ kind of thing going.
Yay for that first marathon! It will be a life changing experience, and the process of getting there is where a good chunk of that change will happen. I believe that taking the most out of every day brings the best kind of growth and change. Ultimately, it’s whatever feels the most meaningful for you 🙂
I think your goals are all realistic and can only make you a better person. I still haven’t decided what mine are. So far this year had been a bit too crazy for me. Just looking forward to a new year, a new beginning.
No need to decide what your goals are if it doesn’t feel right. A new beginning is a nice way to look at it 🙂
I’m pretty excited for 2015. I usually set (somewhat) measurable goals for myself for a new year. This past year it was to stick to paleo and get into heavy lifting. Mission accomplished 🙂 My goal for 2015 is to start my own business. I’m toying with the idea of starting a blog as well, but haven’t decided one way or the other yet. I used to have one, but it fell by the wayside a couple of years ago. I’m also getting married in 2015, so it will probably be one of the best years ever 😉
Go you with starting a business! So awesome! Plus getting married, you have a seriously amazing year ahead!
I really respect how honest you were with yourself and reflecting on 2014 and what’s next for the future. You seem like a great mom! I think that twice weekly yoga is a fantastic goal for yourself, since you have already seen some benefit from it. I think where a lot of people go wrong at New Year’s Resolution time is trying to do too much at once and that seems like the perfect amount of challenging yourself to do something new, but still being something realistic for you. My number one goal for 2015 is to be able to turn personal training into my full time career.
Thank you so much 🙂 I think realistic is all I have room for right now, and I’m really only interested in setting goals that are truly meaningful rather than arbitrary – just feels right for me at this point!
That is a great career goal, and I’m sure you will crush it! Go for it!!
I love you goals! They are are real, important, and reasonable! I have a few things I hope to go in 2015, but I never like defining goals. More like guiding intentions I like to call them.
Guiding intentions – I love that! Measurable goals feel like pressure for me often, I guess I don’t function well that way. I’d rather try to put more focus on what’s close to my heart. I guess that is sort of a lifetime goal as well 🙂
Hi Michele! I love your goals. I strive to go to yoga once a week, and it’s not that easy to maintain but does wonders for me. I love the thought of reflecting on little changes. Great post! Here’s to 2015!
Great to hear you really feel the benefits of yoga over the long term, I’m really looking forward to making that a bigger part of my life 🙂
hahaha, I’m feeling really old with the coming of 2015 too. :[ Striving to be better is always a constant theme in my life as well! I like the idea of constantly improving myself! 😀
I like having a mix of general and more specific goals, just to keep things interesting. A lot of my goals are continual things that I want to incorporate into my life and eventually turn into an actual lifestyle change, which is awesome, but never gives me the satisfaction of being able to cross it off of the list! (I’m big on lists. 😛 )
That’s a nice balanced approached to goals, at the end of the day you have to feel that your goals are invigorating rather than pressuring you. I’m not really one to cross things off lists, I think I do things at a pace that feels like it fits.