2023 Resolutions

Hi friends - I wrote my 2022 wrap-up post a few days ago, and it got long so I split these into two posts. So for part 2, here's the new goals!

1) Consolidate my TBR list in one place (combine Goodreads & amazon list into one) 

2) Read 6 non-fiction books & at least 36 books total in 2023 (3 per month, non-fiction every other month)

3) Finish 2 prayer or bible study guides (similar to none like him, or praying psalms over your kids)

4) Complete the 5x5x5 Navigators New Testament 52 week reading plan (5 days, 5 minutes, 5 ways to read)

5) Consistently use the Blogilates 2023 Fit Planner (at least 75% by year end, including her daily workouts)

6) Get to a 10 minute mile consistent pace for a 5K (Finish a timed, race 5K in ~30 min) 

7) replace 2 household appliances (examples: dishwasher, dryer, washer, fridge - joint goal with Ryan)

8) Build up supply of water/food in basement storage for family to survive 3 days (joint goal with Ryan)

9) Clean & organize basement storage room, guest room closet, and my closet (joint goal with Ryan)

10) Finish Stephanie's knit blanket by Christmas 2023

Several of my friends set "intentions" for the year rather than resolutions, words that they are intending to live by in the new year, a sort of "vibe check" instead of number-based goals. While I like the idea of this (because it frees people from any associated guilt with un-achieved number goals), I need the measurement of number based goals. However, in reviewing my goals I see three themes for 2023 emerge. They are "consistent", for habits I want to build upon or strengthen with new routines this year, " consolidate" for my book list and closet cleaning goals, and "complete" for those goals that are carry-over from prior years (the 10 min mile) or some projects (like the knit blanket).

Things that didn't make the list, but would still be cool to do (we'll call these extra credit points):

- Finally bake something with yeast (i.e. a dough that has to rise)

- Finish my October 2023 Triathlon in less than 2 hours (setting a PR for sprint tris)

- Reduce my time to swim 100 meters to 2 minutes or less

- Listen to 12 audio books (I'm trying audible this year for the first time)

- Bike the B&A trail or another 10 mile+ trail in the area (https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2021/march/08/top-10-trails-in-maryland/)

2022 Resolutions Report Card

Well, friends, here we are at the end of the year, which means it is time for the long-anticipated, long-awaited annual review that always comes to this otherwise mostly quiet blog space. I went back to check and in 2008 (the year that I started this blog!) I did write a summary of the year, though I cringe to read it because oof, being a high school junior was not an easy time in my life. And then every year since then (sometimes in December, sometimes on January 1st) this blog is a digital time capsule of things I've tried to do each year in this thing called life. Some stuck, some didn't, some were achieved, some weren't, but it's an important part of my annual ritual this time of year to take stock of what I resolved and how I did, and set some intentions for the new year (which will come in a second post).

Here's my scores from last  year:

1) Weekly Prayer Journal - 0.75 points

I did this in the Jan-March timeframe, then again June-early Aug, then again Sept-Dec. Took a while to find a format I liked and could stick with. Only giving myself  partial credit for part of a year.

2) Bake through the Jane Austen cookbook I was given - 0 points

This was a lovely Christmas gift, and I wanted to conquer my fear of yeast - but I didn't get time to try. This one will probably end up being a carry-over goal into next year!

3) Return to Triathlons - 1 point

I did this! No personal records were set, but I returned to the racing circuit after two years. And one of my planned races got deferred due to a hurricane, so I've got to do this again in 2023 (though it doesn't make the resolution list). 

4) Hold a plank for one minute - 1 point

I was able to do this using the Blogilates training program Jan-March, and once I achieved it I promptly stopped her program. So, not really as intended, and one of my new resolutions tries to address that - but it was achieved!

5) The "one second a day" 2022 in review video project - 1 point

This one is DONE (well, 3 days from being done) and it is an absolute treasure. Definitely some days there were photos instead of videos by accident, but overall I'm really happy with the memory it created (especially with a one year old who changed so much this year, seeing it captured on film is great).

6) Floss Daily & Brush Daily with Max - .5 points

Max loves brushing his teeth. I don't love flossing and didn't really stick with it, but I have overall better dental hygiene because it's part of Max's bedtime routine, so it's overall a win. 

7) Run a 10 minute mile for 5 miles - 0.5 points

I ran an 11 minute mile average for my 5 mile race in October (thanks to my friend Nancy for running with me and keeping the pace!). I was able to run a 10 minute mile this year (in the month of April I ran at least 1 mile every day with my friend Julie, and one of those days I achieved the 10 minute mile - but only for 1 mile). So I achieved parts of this goal - faster for the 5 miler and capable of being 10 minute mile fast - but not both together.

8) Finish at lease one of my unfinished craft projects - 1 point

I finished 2 knit blankets I'd started for friends babies, finished 1 quilt top (but not the whole quilt) and helped my sister finish another quilt project we'd worked on together.

9) Read 12 translated books - 0.25 points

I set a goodreads goal to read 52 books this year, and I achieved it, but only 4 of them were translated books (and 3/4 are Japanese translated books, so not especially horizon-expanding if I stay in the same culture, though they are really great books!). Here are the 4 translated books:

- Before the Coffee Gets Cold         - Convenience Store Woman

- Where the Wild Ladies Are         - The Mirror of My Heart

Here are all 521 https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/11636-2022-reading-challenge

10) Knit Ryan a pair of socks - 0.5 points

I didn't knit socks for Ryan, but I made three pairs of baby booties for new babies, so I'm giving myself half credit for achieving the goal of braver knitting (not just squares).