Goals for 2016

The goals I have for this year may seem either too small or too big, that's okay! That's why they are my goals. I've prayed and thought long and hard over each of them and none of them are new goals in my life. Each of these has either been on my mind or has been slowly gaining ground in practice for a long time. Some of them are big goals for me some are easily reached but I wanted both to be here for a specific purpose.

If my goals are all too hard to finish then I will end the year with a sense of defeat.
If my goals are all too easy and offer no challenge for my intellect or body then upon completion there is no victory.
By mixing a combination of both I will have small victories to motivate me to the larger victories. You see?

A play on the phrase from Andy Mineo...

Not to just rock the boat,
I mean to sink it,

To walk on the water,
Dance on the waves,

That's my 2016 goal.

What's your's?

This year I refuse to fear failure.

I will fall.

I will mess it all up.

I will come up short.

I will fail.

But that will not be the end.

I've revised how I will set goals. I've tried to make them bigger yet more attainable. Thinking of an oxymoron? You'll see.

Writing - 150,000 words

In my writing I have set a goal of 150,000 words blogged. Those words will be any that end up on a published post that I author, either here or on other blogs.

Minimalist - reform all things to needed and enjoyed

I love the concept of minimalism. Living with only the things that are needed and enjoyed. This applies to much more than just "stuff", but covers social media, people, responsibilities (not talking about shirking on your jobs, but only taking on responsibilities that make sense, not over exstending yourself when it's not smart!), and how I think. Don't worry, I'll be talking more on this topic.

Cross Country - regular runs and a big race

I would love to be even more regular with running, so my goal is at least two times a week I'll be hitting the road and trails for good runs. Also this year, I want to run a race, a timed event. I now have some proper running shoes, a team, and I've got heart to run harder this year than last year.

Be healthier - small and steady

I'll be working on setting up a bed time for myself. That may seem odd for a 24 year old to have a bed time, but it isn't rather it is wisdom. Also, I am starting my morning routine, and I hope to be sharing that with you soon. Lastly on this list, I want to be doing yoga about 3 times a week in the morning maybe right after my runs.

Penmanship - Improvement

I love to write! Obviously, as this blog is evidence of that. But I really like to write with my pen and pencil. With going to the University of Central Oklahoma this fall, note taking on paper or my computer will be very important. Style, structure, speed, and note taking styles are things I'm hoping to work on in this endeavor. I am looking for ways to improve my penmanship this year, so if you have any suggestions...please let me know!

Music - Instrumentation and Technique

I am playing in the UCO Horn Choir under the direction of Dr. Peggy Moran, it's the highlight of my horn career thus far. I love it! So naturally I aim to work on my horn this year. Yet, I do not want to fail to play the other instruments that I have skill with, thus I have a goal to keep up with my flute and trombone this year.

Faith - Dig Deep

This is listed last but is far from being least important. It is the most important goal actually. I aim to read more Scripture and to dig into it deeper. Submit to the will of the Lord no matter the personal cost. I want to be known as someone who prays. Also, I need to be meditating on the Word more every day.

So, these are my goals. What are yours?

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

James 1:2-5

Looking back on 2015's Goals

 I wanted to review my goals from last year so that I might have a more realistic view to set my 2016 goals. Seeing how it's February 14th and not January 1st you can see that I've chosen not to go with the fad of New Year's resolutions but have opt for what has been most stable for me; that is, not be restricted to societies version of success. For me success has been to satisfy the spirit of my goals rather than the letter of them. Example is the removal of coffee from my year, some would say I utterly failed, and they are welcome to their opinion, it just isn't relevant to my goals. My success is personal and motivates me no matter how small the goal. I hope you enjoy seeing my progress as much as I have thoroughly been encouraged by it all.

Running

I had a running goal of a 5k in under half an hour, I ran the 5k, but due to it being combined with a marksmanship competition, it was far from the half hour half of the goal. I joined the Knight's Cross Country team in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They inspire me every week of season and off season. I remember the first week of running with them, we were to run a warm up mile (previously my best run was round 1.3 miles), 6 half mile repeats (that is we ran a half mile, rest for 2 or 3 minutes, run another half mile), then a cool down mile. If you kept count that was 5 miles during the practice. I was slow and only ended up logging 4 miles, but that was 3 miles further than any other day I'd ever done. In my book anything that is 400% improvement is AWESOME! I think the longest day on the 2015 season was 6 miles in practice, but the most brutal day for me was the day of the timed mile. I warmed up with 1 mile before the team arrived, did their 1 mile warm up, 1 mile timed, 1 mile cool down. Because, again, I'm slower than the team it seemed that I didn't get chances to stop running and breath, but I didn't give up. That was my personal goal, to never quit, no matter what. It burned, let it, I never quit.

Facebook and Twitter

I made the goal of staying off Facebook and Twitter for a whole year. That one was the easiest of all my goals, literally because I didn't have to do anything to maintain the goal. I loved it, it was awesome! I've logged back in on Facebook but hardly go on there, I turned off the notifications so that they wouldn't drive me nuts. I have Messenger, and that's been interesting. I wish people could see how much they chat each other instead of actually verbally speaking. You can tell me all day how you could survive a month without social media, but until you DO IT, then you are all talk and no walk. Are you going to talk the talk or can you stand to walk the walk?

Coffee

No caffeine for the year wasn't one I kept up, I did back off the amount a lot, but not a 100% purge from my life. I have no regrets with that one. I'm happy with my current consumption of coffee. But I'll say this of going off of caffeine for a while, I realized what addiction is and what it means to break it off.  Migraines, weakness, cravings, the whole deal, and it was amazing to discover what it feels like to be addiction free! Now, coffee, soda, teas, it is a choice a decision based on my mind instead of an impulse or "need" for the hit. Caffeine is again effective for a stimulant rather than just a taste.

Reading and Praying

My goals for reading my Bible and Praying more were successful! I am thankful for those goals, and will always be working on them. I not have a print out that allows me to color in bubbles when I read each chapter in my Bible because I don't like trying to read "straight through the Bible in a year", I'd rather soak up the word than blow through it. If you can read that fast and absorb the Truths, then that's epic! But I wonder how many do it for the bragging rights of "I read the Bible in a year, can you?" instead of trudging through a book and digging in deep to grow. Grow your roots deep, seek the deepest water, then you can weather the roughest storms.

Writing

I had a goal of writing and keeping a journal for the year. I did! I was and am soooooo happy about my progress and consistency. I was given a journal for my 24th birthday this year and I've been using it as a "convictions" journal. So when I am convicted about something, for example needing to be more consistent with my prayer life I'll write it in my journal with a date. Hopefully as I go through the year I will be able to go back and read the convictions and see how God has grown me in them.

Happy Valentines Day!

"I am my beloved's,

and his desire is for me."

Song of Solomon 7:10

I don't want to rock the boat,

I mean to sink it.

~ Andy Mineo

Run a 5k/Jawbone UP 24/get fit

7 - Run a 5k/Jawbone UP 24/get fit

Talking with my best friend always means ideas will grow and plans will escalate. Last year as I began to tell her of my hopes for a "23 goals for my 23rd year" it went from a passive idea to a challenge.
What does this project look like?

If I start - Will I finish?

Will I make good on promises?

Can I actually commit to something this big?

What sort of time commitment will be required?

There were many questions brought up and honestly, at the time, I didn't know if I could do it. But I believed I should try.

Don't give up on your dreams because they are hard or take a long time...

...the time will pass anyway.

So onwards!

My original plan for this one was: Run 1 Mile

That was the goal for the whole year because it was something I thought I could never surpass. I have cross country friends who do 4-6 miles a day...I thought they were insane!

Until I broke a mile...

I ran my first full mile in February, and continued to improve my time throughout the month.

April 2 I ran with my coach and set my record time at 12:07.

Then I realized I needed to make a better goal, something that would be a REAL challenge.

My challenge no longer is limited to running, but rather a more encompassing full body fitness.

I decided to add other things to my running routine.

April - 30 day Burpees Challenge (8 days in...my opinion: burpees are a cruel and awful torture)

If I survive either I'll do it again or find another work out to add. My overarching goal is not a number on a scale, or jean size, or a specific shape, but rather my goal is to be physically fit. To be a good steward of the body that God gave me and to be able to fully enjoy life.

So now I am faced with upping my own goals, it's a satisfying problem to have. So now my new goal: Run a 5k in under 30 minutes (possibly running an "Adventure Race" like a Spartan Race or the like...maybe next year...)

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Comment with YOUR fitness goals and how you plan to accomplish them!

New Year - New Adventures

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Life has been packed, jam packed of late. In fact, it's been so full that I decided to do something drastic about it. For the fun of it, since I am turning 23 this year, I've decided to do 23 somethings about it!

But we'll just start at the beginning.

Not so much a "New Year's Resolution", but rather a decisision to focus on some really important things, cut out distractions, and reevaluate life in every sense possible. This conclusion happens to also come at the same time as the end of the year. Thus it seems to work as a NYR, so call it whatever you like.

Typical NYRs are about health, self improvement, and religious ideas. Well, what do you know! It's perfect!


So, we'll go through it in reverse.

1 - Be more faithful in prayer
I'm desiring to focus my time in more effective ways. I know of nothing more effective in time management than prayer. So this is certainly one of the biggest things on my list of 23 amazing changes.



2 - Be devoted to reading my Bible daily
Likewise, changing a lifestyle is pointless if it's outward alone, but I purpose to hone in on my soul in this year. Soul style changes are important to me. This is something that we should all strive to cultivate, so if you'd like to start a reading plan, here are some from my friends at Ligonier Ministries. They also have a lot of great resources for FREE!!!
Be sure to let me know how your reading plans go.

3 - No  Facebook, no Twitter

I love people. I love talking. I love being connected. But for this season, being connected needs to be very purposeful. It calls for the disconnecting of some areas, so that those efforts can be rerouted in more efficient direction. So this is just one of the the steps I am going to be taking to become more focused in my 23rd year of life. Should be a lot of fun!

4 - No caffeine

After college got my coffee addiction started, I started working for Starbucks. As of December 31, 2014...consuming 11-12 shots of Starbuck's espresso shots, does not effect me. So, for 2015, there will be no caffeine consumed by moi.
There are a few foodie related things I have planned for this year. For January this is my big step. Of all the foodie plans, this is going to be the hardest, so it's going first.


I hope you keep up with me as I go through this year of adventures! Leave a comment with your NYRs, lifestyle changes, and soul changes you have either just jumped into or have been working on lately! I'd love to hear from you.

Together, lets make 2015 a year of glorifying God for the growing and maturing He develops in us!


Adventure is out there!

Ephesians 5:16-17

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

To the New Year - Writing Goals (Part 1 of 7)

So this is the first of my New Years posts….day one of 2014 seemed like the time to do it.

I'm sure many of you know those who have "new years resolutions". It tends to be promises they do not keep, such as:

An impossible weight-loss plan.
Impractical financial goals.
Insane travel itineraries.

Most people don't keep their new years resolutions because it starts without much thought, it just is "something you do". It's so easy to find a bunch of things you would like to do, and then try them all, and thus bite off too much to chew.

Here is my advice, for what it is worth. If you would like to make a goal, first pray about it, don't just jump onto it because it's a good idea. Take some time to think about what you want to do and look over your schedule to see if it will work, then revisit the idea and be sure that it furthers your goals to look more like Christ. Sometimes we need to say NO to making new goals that we might accomplish the things we've already committed to, and this is wisdom. Sometimes we need to say YES to new things that God might stretch and grow us, pushing us far from our comfort zone that we might shine all the brighter for His glory. So, here are some idea's that I've put together, maybe some would benefit you.

NOTES
- Many ideas here were thought of by my friends, and a few friends donated their valued time to write about their ideas.
- Goals that *I*, personally, will be doing for the FIRST time this year, are titled in italics.

Writing Goals

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."
~ Benjamin Franklin
- Write a Blog -
When you think of blogs, you may think of a blogger Mom who seems to post way too often, or maybe a nature blog that gives overly detailed information about the black Jaguar's genetic coding….and you are not interested in writing a obsessive political blog or maybe you don't have the time to commit to posting an award winning photograph every single day for the next year. If you think blogs take time, you would be RIGHT. It is an investment of your time and energy.

Writing a blog is an investment, it is a worthy one.

I prayed about a blog for nearly three years before I went ahead with the venture. I knew what sort of blog I wanted to write, one that encouraged Christians and displayed my faith, but I knew that the "when" I began was very important. I spoke with many friends who are bloggers, and I interviewed them with several questions about the practical reasons, benefits, and problems with blogging, as well as why they blogged. I took my time in growing my purpose for this blog, it took over a year for the title to evolve to it's current state, and it was it's own outward display of inward spiritual beliefs.

So, all that to say:
- take your time in doing this, but do it.
- it's okay to grow ideas as you go along.
- it's an investment of effort and time.
- it's going to display to the world what you believe, so know what you believe.

I have blogged with both Blogger and WordPress and both are good sources. Blogger is a much simpler platform, and WordPress is a more professional platform. I prefer Blogger for the simplicity of it.

I hope you start up a blog this year! If you do please post a link to your blog in the comment section of this post!


- NaNoWriMo -
Maybe you are already a writer of novels, blog posts, essays, papers, maybe you've already written your dissertation! If you enjoy pressing deadlines, losing sleep without getting paid for it, and the satisfaction of seeing your story come to life…NaNoWriMo might be what you've been waiting for.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month (November). It is a writing challenge, lasting 30 intense days, where you have the chance to write 50,000 words of fiction! If you succeed and accomplish this lofty goal, you will be rewarded with being a champion and victor! Winner's have the chance of having their completed novels published.

I've done NaNoWriMo, and it's a LOT of fun! This last year I was unable to participate, so I wrote some tips and ideas for the NaNos here.

If you want to do it, but aren't sure exactly how to prepare for it, try this challenge.

I hope you get the chance to compete some year! It really is a ton of fun!


- Journal -
This is something that I believe everyone ought to do. If God has given you the blessing of knowing how to write, then you ought to write. If you've never considered journalling, I propose the idea as a noble one. God commanded the Israelites to make markers of His blessings and Providence in their history, this was that in times of trial they might remember His enduring faithfulness. Journalling can do the same thing in your own life.

Personally, I am not a faithful journaller, I do it in random spurts when I think about it. But I will say this, when I look back at my writing I can see God's hand in my life, constantly growing me, and I can watch my faith deepen. It is incredibly encouraging to have the ability to look back and see where I was and where I am today.

Journalling is a way of getting thoughts out of my mind. I'm a word person, my mind gets so full of thoughts that it gets hard to think with so many thoughts going at the same time! But when I write them out, I have the chance to organize them, and then once they are out, it is much quieter in my head, and I can go about my day with more patience and thoughtfulness.

If you aren't sure about this idea, remember journalling can be just about anything! Maybe you can write one sentence each day, or if you are a prolific writer you will write more. Maybe you could make each Sunday a "recap of the week" sort of day! Or, every trip you go on, take your notebook and document where you go and what you see. I do that, and always think of the Lewis and Clark.

Maybe getting a pretty journal would be fun.

Journal topics:
- Journey to eating healthier
- Vacation memories
- Favorite moments
- Thought of the day
- Scripture commentary
- Prayer

During the fall of 2013 I began my adventure to a healthier lifestyle, and went out and bought the biggest bright pink journal (400 pages!) I could find, and I began to write in it all my successes and failures as my journey began.

So, your journal is not relegated to some boring topic, just write what interests you!

- Hand Written Letters-
Maybe this is old school, but it's one of the sweetest things me and my friends do, in my opinion. There are few things that brighten a day like checking the mail and finding a precious hand written letter from my friends.

A hand written letter means my friend sat down, took time out of her day, thought her words through, and patiently wrote her thoughts out for me. It's totally different than an email or text. I can write a text while walking through Wallyworld…I can type up a few hundred words in an email in a few minutes and keep going in stride. BUT…hand writing a letter to a friend. I have to pause all other life, I seek out quiet, I slow down my thoughts, I pour my heart into that envelope. I lick the glue to seal the letter, I place the stamp, write the addresses, then somewhere on the envelope I write "Psalm 103".

My day is so bright when I get a letter! And it's satisfying to flip up the mail boxes flag when I put a letter in the mail, knowing in a few days I would make a special friend's day brighter.

If you have never been one to send "snail mail", I encourage you to start! It's a lost art! If you write a few letters every now and then, please write more! So much love goes into each letter, and it's certainly felt when your recipient opens and reads your letter, it's  beautiful thing!

- Jar of Memories -
So, last year I saw an idea online, about writing little notes about good, fun, happy, exciting, etc. things that happened throughout the year, and putting them each in a jar. So that at the end of the year, I could open them all up and see the blessings that God had given to me through the year. Maybe you could think of it as journalling meets "message in a bottle" idea.
I enjoyed it and thought it was fun, maybe you might like to do it this year.


How ever you all go about the year, do it with vigor!

Colossians 3:16-17

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."