Forget resolutions, bring on the 30-list!

Since I had a hard time coming up with a good new year's resolution* earlier in December, I decided to try something new. You see, in October I will celebrate my 30th birthday. That's right, the big 3-0. I'm not really scared, per se, but thought this would be the perfect time to challenge myself to a bit of a contest. I call it the 30 x 30 list. And, here it is. This blog is where you will see my progress between today and October 11, 2011. Hey, I like the sound of that.

1. Read 15 books
2. Lose 30 pounds
3. Save an extra $3,000
4. Play 30 rounds of golf
5. Write (and send) 30 cards/notes (thank yous, hellos, etc.)
6. Meet 15 new people
7. Learn a new skill
8. Go on a 30th birthday trip (I have my eyes on Boston, but may settle for golf in Cali)
9. Restart my money blog and gain 30 subscribers
10. Reduce the burden of our house in Calgary (long story...)
11. Start and finish a significant project at work
12. Exercise every day for 30 days
13. See the mine
14. Break my low golf score of 94
15. Do one thing I've never done before
16. Call my parents more often
17. Golf at five new courses
18. Make a five-year plan
19. Make a vision board
20. Buy a postsecret book (check it: postsecret.com)
21. Spend one day a month doing something relaxing
22. Splurge on something luxurious, but not essential
23. Take golf lessons
24. Go camping
25. Do something unpredictable
26. Organize my office
27. Volunteer a minimum of 30 hours
28. Reconnect with girlfriends from years gone by
29. Be the best girlfriend I can be
30. Make this year my best year yet. Bad news, tragedy, anger and pain need not enter.

*I actually did come up with a new year's resolution after a particularly forgetful holiday season. In 2011, in addition to working off the items on the list above, I resolve to lose fewer things!

Happy new year everyone.

Resolutions, resolutions, resolutions

I haven't posted in a while. It's probably because I felt rather defeated after not completing the NaMoBloPo in December. I'll have to set that goal for another month, maybe February or March.

Speaking of goals, it's resolution time. Well, it's actually passed resolution time, but I just can't seem to settle on a few goals that make sense and that I'm willing to commit to right now. It's causing me some stress, but I'm trying to settle on goals that are achievable, make sense for the long term and that I'm ready to throw up here for all of you to read.

I think the other thing I'm struggling with is the fact 2010 is the start of a brand new decade. That seems big. It seems like the kind of thing that calls for some big resolutions, possibly ones that span the decade. Hmm...I wonder what I want to accomplish by 2020. Actually, as my mind starts to ponder this, I'm freaking out, so I'm going to stop those thoughts right now.

There are lots of thing I want to do in 2010: running the half marathon in Red Deer in May, completing NaMoBloPo, setting up a proper emergency fund, learning more about finances, shedding some pounds, reading books (specifically, Half the Sky, Three Cups of Tea and a few other fictional books on my list). But, these goals seem mundane. I have to settle on a few more long term goals and then break them down so that my 2010 resolutions are contributing to some greater long-term plan.

A plan for a plan. Hmm...sounds Type A-ish to me. No?

I'll have to settle on my final resolutions sometime soon, or else they'll become 11-month goals. Maybe my resolution should be: become less indecisive. Or become more "fly by the seat of your pants"ish. Unfortunately, I think both of those are unattainable, so they're off the table.

Seeing that I can't come up with my own resolutions, I'll ask you folks: any ideas for some great resolutions? What were yours?

I resolve

Normally I don't have a difficult time coming up with a new year's resolution - there are normally so many things I want to change that I'm able to quickly pick one. This year is no different in that there are many things I want to change or do or see, etc. but it IS different in that I had a tough time selecting one or two things that I absolutely want to focus on this year.

In 2008, I made it my resolution to read at least 15 minutes every day and if I didn't read one day, I had to make up the time. While I likely didn't read 15 minutes every day of the year, it's safe to say I did more reading in 2008 than I had in a long time - and I enjoyed it. I finally finished the book that I'd been picking up and putting down for more than two years, the Time Traveler's Wife, I finished a few "self-help" type books and probably a few others I can't recall.

I should also mention that I announced just after midnight on January 1, 2008, to a large group of Brodie's friends and acquaintances, that my resolution was to get engaged. Well, if you've seen my left hand lately, you know how that's worked out for me. I guess I'll be waiting a few more years for that lump of coal I gave him in his stocking to do its thing...

After much deliberation and blackberry-idea-jotting, I think I've landed on a fairly solid resolution: to be a better friend and re-ignite the friendships I've let fall to the wayside in the past several years. I miss having my closest girlfriends in my life, the ones with whom I can laugh and cry without thinking twice. They were the ones by my side through high school - pushing me when I needed a push and slapping me when I needed a slap. They are the ones I know would be by my side today if I called on them.

I vow to make 2009 the year of reconnected friendship - through birthday cards, telephone calls, girlfriend trips and anything else I can do to show these special women just how much of a difference they've made in my life and how much I miss having them on speed dial.

Cheers to you, my friends. May 2009 bring us closer than ever.

xoxo