The way I see it...

2017 Goals

How is 2017 treating you all? Are you feeling motivated? Kicking some backside and taking names? Still looking for inspiration to make some changes?

So far, 2017 is going alright in my neck of the woods. As per usual, this girl had to write down some goals for the new year. I'm a list-maker, remember? I decided to not really call them resolutions because I feel like you're asking to fail. There's a negative connotation associated with that word. Instead, I'm calling them goals. I'm not going to share all my goals for the new year, but here are some of them.

1. Workout 30 minutes five times a week: This probably seems like an obvious one. People are always making goals about working out in January. I feel like this is completely realistic and do-able. Five times isn't every single day and 30 minutes isn't a lot. I feel like if I can peruse social media every day or read or watch t.v., I can most definitely use that time to get moving instead. Even if it's with my kiddos or just on the treadmill with the t.v. on.
2. Drink 110 ounces of water PER DAY: If you see me running to the bathroom every 15 minutes this would be why. It's really easy for me to get this done in the summer and really challenging for me in the winter. My water intake had taken a nose dive with the cooler weather, so I set a goal. I think I've hit this goal every day except two so far. My kidneys (and other organs) thank me for the gift of hydration!
3. Take more pictures with my real camera: 2016 was a terrible year for me in taking good pictures with my real camera. I always grab my phone because it's always with me and just easier. The pictures aren't as good though and I need to make more of an effort to haul out the good camera. Every month I need to have a folder on my computer with photos that I've taken. That's the goal.
4. Read out loud with my kids more: This is directed more at Jenna and Brody, since Aaron and I already read aloud with the twins. I got a text from a friend who shared with me something called the Read Aloud Revival. Did you know that if you read out loud every day with your kids for just ten minutes, at the end of the year they will have read aloud for 30 hours?! That's amazing. And so, so important!
5. Gratitude Journal: This is an idea I saw online and it is by far my favorite goal of the new year. I went to the dollar store and bought a pretty looking notebook. Every day I write down ten things that I'm grateful for that day. Yes, every day. Sometimes I do it in the morning and sometimes at night. This has completely shifted my days! I am now actively seeking out things that I can write down. The other day, for example, despite the fact it was 30 below, a nice older gentlemen let me head into the grocery store before him. Simple enough, but it was so kind. I have found that it's hard to be in a bad mood when I'm constantly thinking about examples of gratitude that I can write down.

Here's my attitude for 2017. Some days are better than others. Some days you fail. Some days you succeed. That's ok. Life isn't supposed to be perfect. This life is a marathon, not a sprint. Trying to continually create better habits is hard work and takes time. I am just trying to be a little better than I was the day before, but that's just the way I see it.