New Year...New Goals

For the last few years, we have sat down as a family on New Year's Day and set some goals/resolutions. For the last few years, they have been posted on my blog, and nowhere else, only to be forgotten about by January 7. Not this year!

We all agreed that this year, the resolutions should be posted somewhere where we would be reminded of them regularly, and be able to keep track of our progress (or get back on track, if needed!).

Here they are, posted above the "chore chart" in the laundry room.

Granted, I'm the only one that's in there every single day, but maybe if the kids decide to actually use their chore chart, they'll see them too. Steve will likely only see them if I'm lying comatose in a hospital somewhere and he has to figure out how to work the washer and dryer. But I think he has a better memory than me, so he shouldn't have too much trouble remembering what he's working on.

Without further ado, here's the Whitaker Family Resolutions for 2012:

Grant

1. Learn how to read.
2. Learn how to ride my bike with no training wheels. (He set this same goal last year, but didn't make it.)
3. Keep my room clean. (Doesn't hurt to dream, right?)
4. Be kind to my family and don't throw fits. (Parental input and suggestions are welcome when someone draws a blank.)
5. Not hurt my brother. (Brotherly input is also accepted.)
6. Improve all my swim times. (He's got his sights on a medal this year, not to be outdone by his older and much faster brother.)

Jack

1. Audition for at least one play, and if I make it in, be happy. (Olivia may have some competition in the acting department.)
2. Score at least five points in the season for my basketball team. (Last year, he scored one all season.)
3. Spend more time outside than watching TV.
4. Beat the Sharks' record for butterfly. (This could happen . . . this boy can swim.)
5. Keep my room clean. (Again, doesn't hurt to dream.)
6. Get better at golf and shoot at least a 45 for 9 holes. (This could be a reality as well . . . he's shooting consistently in the mid-50's—legitimately— for 9 holes.)

Olivia

1. Beat my personal record of 33 seconds in the 50m freestyle.
2. Finish a junior triathlon. (She's not a runner or a biker, this one may be a challenge. Maybe I'll be her coach!)
3. Do well in school.
4. Do some sort of exercise every day.
5. Complete two personal progress goals every month. (This is a program though the church youth program, aimed at helping young women grow and progress both emotionally and spiritually.)

Steve

Steve's goals are a word for word repeat of last year. He said the only one he did well in 2011 was #3. But he did lower his golf index by 3 points this year, which isn't too shabby.

1. Get under 200 lbs. by June and sustain it through the year.
2. Lower golf index to single digit handicap.
3. Continue for family to be #1 priority.

and now, my goals for the new year:

1. Read Book of Mormon 5 minutes every day as a family. (This was a challenge from our Sunday School teacher this year, one I decided to take on as a family challenge. So far, almost a week in, we haven't missed a day.)
2. Exercise 1 hour 3–5 days a week. (Last year, I said 5 days a week. That didn't happen once. Maybe 3 days is a more reasonable and realistic goal)
3. Reach a healthy weight and maintain it. (I turn 40 this year. I've heard it's near impossible to lose weight once you hit that magic number, so I'm hoping if I start that new decade of life at a healthy weight, I'll be off to a good start.)
4. Schedule 2–4 hours per week to write. (Last year, I set a goal to complete a book project. It got well underway, then life got in the way, and I've barely touched it in months. I want to complete that project, as well as work on a couple others that are festering in my mind. I figure if I start out with 2–4 hours a week, I should at least start seeing small progress.)

In addition, I'd like to get our house to the next stage in the "decorating" department. That means painting walls, adding accessories, and generally making it feel more lived-in than it does right now. This is a lofty goal, as I do not have a great sense of decorating style, so it will likely require some professional assistance. This isn't so much a "resolution", as it is a dream . . . but maybe putting it down in writing will help me to make it happen!