I'm trying to think up New Year's Resolutions.
Here's my 2009 List:
* Respond promptly to all emails & phone calls.
* Stop AVOIDING things!
* Develop a regular workout routine.
* Flirt.
* Get out of the house daily (go do something - interact with people!)
* Work on self-transcendence.
* Learn to love others for their own sake.
Here's how I did:
* Generally, I did a lot better at responding to emails & phone calls.
* I continued to avoid those people or things which I didn't want to deal with. My boundaries are improving, so I'm learning how to deal with difficult people or situations (aka confront people). I've also learned that avoiding people or situations is not always a bad thing, but that avoidance can in itself be an effective boundary.
* I did NOT develop a regular workout routine, although I've come to the happy realization that I only do physical activity if it is in the context of PLAY / FUN. So if it's going for a jog vs. iceskating or elliptical vs. broomball - I'll take the iceskating and broomball and skip the jogging and elliptical machine! The trick next year will be to do more fun physical activity! At the same time, the point of me wanting to exercise more was to lose weight... and I've done that without exercising by learning to eat better! I did Weight Watchers for a few weeks in the spring & lost almost 10 lbs and have continued to use some of the tricks I learned to keep it off!
* I have discovered that I'm very shy. Yes, I'm an extrovert, but I'm very shy especially around people with Y chromosomes. I made slight gains in this regard, but I'm still working on it!
* I don't always get out of the house (or my dorm), especially when the temperature outside is -20F; I have been more intentional about forcing myself to go to social events, etc. Again, still more room for improvement here!
* As far as self-transcendence goes - my prayer life has been up and down this year. I feel that it has weakened in some ways, and grown in others. It is far more sporadic and unstructured, (I've been more drawn to walking in nature and reading the Bible randomly) but I find that I have had an unusually clear ability to see the Spirit at work in my life despite the messiness of my own interior life!
* This last point, by far, for me has been the biggest area of growth this year. I've learned what it means to love without strings attached - this one thing was the hardest thing to come to grips with - but it has given me an appreciation of the gratuitous way God loves us even when we don't even acknowledge Him or thank Him in return!
So, what are my 2010 Resolutions? Here, I'm reminded that the more specific they are the better!
2010 Resolutions:
* Continue to eat healthy (mostly vegetarian w/ some cheating once in a while!)
* Daily Mass 3x a week; 30 min. adoration 1x week.
* Go to two social events per week outside regular MDiv socializing.
* Improve my relationships with my parents and close friends by improving communication and being more open and vulnerable about what's on my mind / heart.
* Spend at least 1 hour per day in the library and less time playing Spider Solitaire on my Laptop - in other words, keep my 3.9 GPA.
* Do some fun physical activity 2x per week!
* Go on AT LEAST ONE DATE next year! (an improvement over 2009).
* Continue to grow in compassion for others.
* BOUNDARIES BOOTCAMP RESOLUTIONS!
What are your New Year's Resolutions?
Another New Year's Resolution of mine: Write a High School Religious Education Curriculum in preparation for my future life as a high school religion teacher!
ReplyDelete