Goals For A Special Year

2012 is going to be an incredible year, I’ll accept nothing less.  It is going to be a milestone packed year!  Are you ready for this?

I will:

• Go to the gym, and physically challenge myself at least 3 – 4 times a week.  It’s a requirement for a slim fitting white dress I have purchased and decided to wear later this year!

•  Gradually commit to a strict, yet healthy vegetarian diet.  This will be a gradual process as it will surely be a learning curve.  Being vegetarian is something I have wanted to explore for years, it may not be forever, but it’s something I would like to wholeheartedly try.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the circle of life - I enjoy the Lion King, I own it on Blu-ray.  I am bothered though, by how many animals are treated, and cared for while being raised for slaughter.  It angers me to think that some of these animals lives are not respected – whether their sole purpose in life is to be eaten by me or not, they deserve to enjoy (however they do) their life up until the point of termination.  That is my belief.  I want to know that the burger I’m about to eat smiled while hanging out with some animal buddies basking in the sun at some point in their life.  Irrational?  Perhaps, but life is life.  It should be respected.  My reasoning behind giving up meat and animal by-products is also strongly influenced by the research supporting potential benefits gained in relation to a person’s health, demeanor, energy levels etc. Admittedly this will be a difficult transition for me as I quite literally eat chicken every evening for supper.  I am also a huge advocate of high protein diets.  I have researched other ways to replace the protein in chicken, and am really excited to try out the new recipes and food with my family! Oh, that’s right, 2/3 of us are on board with this particular goal.  Our daughter will not yet be participating as I feel it’s a personal decision she can make when she is mature enough.  As it stands now, she is still four months shy of being a 2 year old.  She requires healthy portions of high quality meat as she is a growing little person.

• Purchase an SUV.  The Honda Fit, although roomy, is simply not roomy enough for this growing family.  My better half is not able to learn drive standard, therefore an automatic transmission would make life a lot less complicated with already hectic schedules.  The e-break turns in the winter have been thrilling, and I like to think I have become exceptionally gifted with controlled sliding in snowy conditions, however now that I have a child in the car with me, the Honda Fit has proven not to be the safe and secure ride we need.  Time to move on.

• GRADUATE college, preferably with Distinction.  It has been a long road, one I will elaborate more on in the coming weeks.  I cannot wait for graduation day.

• Establish myself in a career building occupation immediately after graduation.  Hire me. 

• Get hitched.  Have I mentioned I am getting married?  Be prepared for many posts on the process of planning our wedding. 

• Relax and enjoy our family honeymoon.  This is another topic I am busting to write about! 

I believe goal setting is a necessary part of living a positive and fulfilling life.  Francis Bacon once said, “A wise man (or woman) will make more opportunities than he/she finds.”