First Blog of 2009

So, all of the other blogs that I read have posted something new for the new year. I have been lazy. It’s even been a few weeks since I posted a Song of the Week! But lately, I’ve just been too lazy/bummed/bored/tired/etc to actually sit down and think of something to write. It seems a lot has been happening in other people’s lives and mine just goes on being the same boring day-to-day monstrosity that it is. But that’s okay. I learned as a wee tyke that we cannot go through life comparing ourselves to others. There will always be others that have cooler toys then you, are more attractive, have more money, etc. If you constantly focus on those things, then you won’t ever get to a happy point in your life, and I think that is ultimately what everybody wants.

So, now that that has been said, I am going to present my goals for the Year 2009. I guess you could call them resolutions; whatever. It doesn’t matter. These are the things that I think will keep me happy for the rest of this year going into the next one and make me a more pleasant person to be around.

1) LOSE SOME WEIGHT: You see, this has been on my to do list for a long time. I used to have a deadline of 7 August 2008 to get back to my “playing” weight and stay in the Army. Well, instead of doing that, I extended for a year, and now have a new goal date of 7 August 2009. If I don’t get down to around, I don’t know, 240 pounds or so, I might actually be done with the Army. I do actually enjoy being in the Army, so this might make me sad. My goal right now is to lose 10-12 a month. If I do that through August, I’ll actually be a little less then 240, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If not the Army, this is something that needs to be done for my long term health, and will help with some other goals below.

2) RUN A MARATHON: I want to run a marathon this year. I ran the Army Ten-Miler two of the last three years but sucked my way through them. I would like to push myself and run at least one marathon before I am thirty. If I do it this year, then I will be one year ahead of that goal. Training for said marathon will help with the weight loss, and I did reach a point a few years back where running was actually fun for me. I would like to get back to that point in my life and release all those endorphins and what not.

3) GET INTO GRAD SCHOOL: I would also like to return to school next year, 2010, to get an MBA. I had thoughts of pursuing a PhD in history or something, but I don’t really see myself caring about something so much as to research and write a dissertation. The option will always be there, but it seems like a good goal for when I retire and have nothing better to do. An MBA would allow me to find something that I am good at and get paid to do it. Plus, if I lose the weight and stay in the Army, they will help pay for it. Hooray!

4) FOCUS ON ME FOR A CHANGE: This kind of started in October a bit, but it is something that I would like to carry forward into this year and beyond. I don’t think I have really had time for myself since I left Utah, and I miss that. I don’t like making plans or doing things based on what others think I should be doing. I am not necessarily saying that I want to be alone, but others will have to find a niche in my life, not the other way around.

5) PAY OF SOME DEBT: Notice I said some and not all. In my more youthful days, when I was trying to keep up with the Joneses, I spent a little bit more money then I actually had, and compound interest has taken care of the rest. I fully intend of getting rid of it all someday, but that may not be 100% feasible in the short, one year period. Two years… I can totally make a significant dent and be closer to being debt free. I just don’t want my 30s to be saddled with the debt of my 20s.

Like Jen says, lists look better in 5s. I can’t really think of anything else right now. Sure, I got the stupid resolutions that I always have – stop biting fingernails, eat better, watch less TV, read more, etc. – and those will come as they do. But these goals are things that will begin in 2009 and possibly carry into later years as well, which is fine by me. I am just trying to get to a point in my life where I can say that it’s all about sustaining. That, my friends, would be sweet!