New Year... Now What?

In the middle of remembering to write 2009 rather than 2008 on checks and other correspondence, I can’t help thinking about past transitions from one year to the next. I start each year with different plans and hopes, some a bit fanciful, others more realistic and yet still challenging to achieve. Last year, I was looking forward to my trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and getting a job so I wouldn’t be broke after the fact. A year later, I have fond memories of the trip and I am working, which is a blessing in the current economic situation we are living with now. Now that 2009 is here, I hope to make meaningful decisions that will ensure lasting success in my professional life. Whether I remain in publishing, go into teaching, or get into public service is still not certain, but I hope I can look back at 2009 with a sense of accomplishment in this aspect of my life.

I am also committed to getting healthy this year. While I have no desire to become “super skinny,” I am aware my family history of heart disease and diabetes puts me at risk. This past Christmas made me realize how important regular exercise and a consistent healthy diet really are. I discovered that just cutting out soda, sugary drinks, and junk food is not enough for me; I have to eat smaller food portions, and exercise every day. My sluggish metabolism has bothered me in the past, but it took a few random moments this past holiday season to really motivate me to do something about it. I am happy to say that I am sticking to a fitness regime and diet that seems to be working for me.

These aren’t really resolutions. I personally feel that calling them by that name subconsciously makes me less likely to follow through with them. I would rather call them plans or projects, because I am one myself... I am a work-in-progress, and always will be.

What are your plans/projects for 2009?