Goals

I prefer to call them goals rather than resolutions...it seems so much more positive that way doesn't it? My goals will be something I can work towards throughout 2009, not necessarily resolve to change. And if I slip up (which....duh, that is obviously going to happen)...I don't have to feel too horribly about it, because goals are ever changing and evolving.

With that said, I realize I'm about a week late getting these goals out there, but I always feel you get a recovery day/weekend/...er...I guess now it would be a week... after New Years Eve. Anyone else agree with that?

So here are my 2009 Goals...posted for my blogging community to read and hold me to them!
*Learn about photography and my camera*
I am absolutely in love with my new camera, but need to allocate some serious time this year to learning more about photography: lighting, editing, ISO, shutter speed, F-stop, etc. My goal will be to get some good books on it, take some classes either at Community College or a studio, and just take lots of shots! Practice makes perfect, right?

*Play the piano more*
There is absolutely no reason why I'm not playing the piano more...it brings my heart such joy, a have a beautifully special piano to play on (it was a gift to my grandmother when she turned 5!), and it is a great stress-reliever. My goal will be to get more new music so I'm not bored with pieces I've been playing for years. I did get this music and have been pretty obsessed with playing it...perhaps I will get the entire book by this composer?

*Healthy Choices*
I am making a point to not put a specific number here, as in pounds lost, times I will go to the gym per week, etc., but rather, I will make an attempt to adjust my lifestyle towards making"healthy choices". I will eat more organic foods, work out (cardio and weights), cleanse my body, and (sadly) drink less wine (or attempt to...). There is nothing better than feeling good in your own body, and I'd like to get back to that.

*Focus on Volunteering*
I love my volunteer work with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and I want to get re-focused with my work with them. I've been doing monthly events and still serve on the Council, however I haven't had a family that I've worked with independently in a while. I need to make more time for this.

*Correspond better with family*
Specifically, my grandparents. I am pretty good with keeping in touch with close friends and family that I speak with on a regular basis...but I need to send more emails, more letters, pick up the phone more often with family I don't see as often...

*Balance*
This is always a continual struggle for me...balancing married life, work life, friend life, family life, puppy life, Courtney life..sometimes it just doesn't seem like there is enough time to do it all. Actually, there isn't enough time to do it all, all the time...and this is something I need to work on realizing. There are times when I need to say "no" to events or occasions for my own sanity. My goal will be to continue to work on finding the healthy balance of it all, through the ebbs and flows of life....

*Financial Plans/Goals*
I've always been a saver, and this has continued in to our married life (thankfully)...however I need to make some plans with what I'm actually doing with this savings/retirement money...Nicholas and I bought a book a while back that we have never actually read on Asset Allocation. Actually reading that would be a nice start I think towards this goal...

*Being Present*
This is probably my biggest overall goal for 2009. I have moments of this in my life, where I am aware at the exact moment my life is happening how extremely blessed I am, and how thankful I am. I need to work on being in this "present state" all of the time (or at least more often).

So cheers to a fantastic 2009! I'm certain that many amazing memories will be made...