Year Two, Day One: Goals

I thought that July 22nd would be my day one. But on my birthday I sat down to write this post and realized that I had no clue what my goals were. That wasn't entirely accurate. I had a vague idea. What I didn't have was anything solid and communicable. I decided to take a few weeks to think about this, and now that it's August 1st I think I've probably had enough time to think. So here we go, my goals for the next 365 days:

1. Finish the editing process on my first book and get that published, then work on marketing it. This is...so huge. I've just finished writing the darn thing, it's the first book I've ever completed in my entire life, and I'm over the moon about this new adventure.
   
2. Write my second book and get the editing process started on that one. I've only just started the edits on my first book and I already have the second one itching in my brain. This is thrilling, really, because for the past six years I've suffered pretty massive writer's block. Now I've not only finished one book but the second one just can't wait to be written! What's the secret? Just sit down and write. Seriously. Just...do it.
   
3. Continue in my habit of walking daily (with a rest day every 4th day), lead that habit into a jogging habit, and eventually a running habit. Ultimately, I would love to be running five to ten miles every day by this time next year. I never thought I'd be an exercise person. It used to be so unpleasant! I used to have to drag myself out of bed and onto the elliptical, labor through the bare minimum workout, and force myself not to crash back into bed immediately after.
   
   Now? I love exercise! So much! I'm one of *those* people. I love the way I feel after a good run and I love knowing that I'm being good to my body. I love the soreness when I push myself a little too far because that's coming later and later in the walk recently. I get so excited about something stupid like new gel insoles, because it means walking is going to be even more comfortable! I'm looking forward with great anticipation to making running a regular part of my life.
   
4. Learn yoga! I'll probably start with pregnancy yoga, just because. People keep telling me I should yoga, and I keep finding dumb reasons not to. But I found dumb reasons not to walk, too. Now I can't imagine wanting to go back to a life without my morning walks! I think yoga will probably be the same thing. So, I'm going to start with pregnancy yoga and learn what I can, then move on to other muscle-toning yoga to get that lean muscle mass I covet in other women.
   
5. Run the Seattle Rock N Roll half marathon! This is what started the whole exercise thing for me. I don't know if I'll like marathons, but I'll like the people I'll be running with and I'll really like being able to say "I ran a half marathon" - Although now that I say it, I'm thinking I probably won't be satisfied until I've done a full marathon. Just a thought.
   
6. Have a baby (or two). Yes, it is my goal to start our family this year. I cannot even describe how amazingly stoked I am for this one. I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember, and it feels like I've been waiting FOREVER to start having kids. Sometime this year, we're going to start! (I invite you to party dance in preparation.)
   
7. GET ORGANIZED! If this was a priority goal list, this one would be way at the top. Seriously, I am *so* disorganized. I've got a few tricks I employ to keep things running around here, but getting some actual organization going is a good idea. Franklin Covey here I go!
   
8. Reclaim my yard. This may seem like a weird one. There has been so much weed killer dumped on my yard, it's absurd. The whole yard, with the exception of some very resilient weeds, is dead. I want my yard back. This year, I want to reclaim my yard, starting with ripping the whole thing up so we can start again. This is going to be a big project, and I know next to nothing about gardening, so there will probably be a lot of fodder in here for another book. But I will learn!
   
9. Get down to a size 4. This one's scary for me to write. Can I get down to a 4 in a year? Probably. But I've never been a 4 before. At least, not with an adult body! I don't know what I'll look like in a 4. Part of me isn't sure I can get to a 4.
   
   Honestly, I just want to be lean. Super lean. Skinny lean, but healthy lean. The size doesn't matter as much if the general image I'm going for shows up. But for now, let's quantify it, and say size 4.
   
10. Read 40 books. I've seriously dropped off in my reading. Last year was supposed to be about this, but my weight became too much of a problem and it had to be focused on. This year, I want to read 40 books that will teach me something new and important. 

I plan to update regularly with how this is going, basically any time I make progress. It's going to be fun!