The Triathlon Rx

aka GOALS for the NEW YEAR!

Ohhh man, I don’t even know where to start. I opened up a fresh page (read: Word, Notebook view – my “real” notebooks are still packed in boxes from the move!) and started brainstorming. At first you’re like ugh… I don’t know what to put!? And then the pen hits the paper… and maybe it’s just me, but when it rains, it pours. My list went from 3 to 30 in no time. Granted not all of these will be official “new years resolutions” (oh wait, I mean “goals” ) but definitely things I want to work on/do over the course of the year. I’ll call it a combination 2011 Goals/Bucket List…

So FIRST things first. This morning I ran a little APAS report… which, however it is/was called at your school, is essentially a “heads up” on where you’re at with your degree. (Classes taken, classes in progress, classes left, GPA, etc.) For some reason I was thinking I was a whole YEAR AND A HALF BEHIND because of the year and a half I spent in architecture. My APAS, however, told me I was WRONG. And I have never been more happy to be WRONG in my life! Yes, I’ll still be a SuperSenior next year, but only by one semester because I will be GRADUATING after fall 2011!!

Ha. Lle. Lujah!! But that will only be happening if I stay on top of my game! Meaning I will be taking a SUMMER class or two…. definitely PHYSICS and then one (or two) PE credits. Right now I’m registered for THREE PE classes this (spring) semester, but I will for sure be dropping one, if not two of them. I’m currently have 20 credits and I don’t think I need weight training to be the class that’s stressing me out.

My birdies wanted to say hi. THIS IS ALL I HAVE LEFT!! The one PE class I’m for sure keeping this spring is TENNIS, and I’m sure I’ll be bugging this lady/pro every other day to come play with me! So come December 2011, I will be walking with a B.S. in Kinesiology, a minor in Spanish, and hopefully, a 3.9. Briiiing. It.

So what about the goals? I cut down my list of 30… and although I’ll be working on all of these in due time, the highlighted FIVE are going to be the “official” goals for 2011. Here we go…

(I know… I highlighted 6 things. That was a) a mistake, and b) I had already screenshotted and saved, and didn’t bother to retake it. ) OK, so ignoring all the “extras”, I have:

1. Explore new ways to deepen my faith. This will [hopefully] happen in many different ways this coming year, including going on a medical mission trip, working with the youth program at my church, volunteering, and going to…
2. Bandshell mass this summer! It is super relaxed, kids dancing on picnic blankets, and just a nice change of pace. Music can be hit or miss sometimes… but it’s the thought that counts, right? It is super convenient in terms of location, and it is late enough that I can get my LR in before the opening prayer. I also wouldn’t be the first one to run (or bike) there… and runs home. No excuses!
3. Call/write/send something to both of my grandparents EVERY week. My last trip to see my grandma really cemented this one for me. I can not even imagine what it would be like to live in a nursing home with no one to visit… the only mail asking for donations for Alzheimer’s research… and the highlight of the week being the Tuesday hair appointment. I hope my weekly call/letter will be something my grandparents can look forward to, and I really hope that at that age I’ll be lucky enough to have someone do the same for me!
4. Plan out training times at the beginning of the week. Between school, work, family, friends, church, etc. I definitely have to make a concerted effort to fit all the training in. When I plan out ahead of time the actual TIME of day that it will fit in for the whole week, I am 107% more successful. True fact.
5. Don’t overschedule myself!! Somehow in the moment I think it’s a good idea to take on 12 different things.. only to end up stressed because I feel like I can’t give my best effort or have to half@ss something. I am sure this will be a work in progress, but it definitely won’t happen if I don’t even try!

Reader Qs: what are your goals for 2011? What do you think will be your biggest obstacles?

I am starting the new year off on the RIGHT foot, and bought a book of 40 “forever” stamps at the post office, as well as have a letter ready to send to to G-ma Rosa tomorrow! I also have some things I’m helping out with at church this month that I’ve never got to do before… AND, with a little help from the Lord (and maybe the smell of fresh-brewed coffee wafting my way from the kitchen) I will be back on schedule to the regular 6am practices this week! Damn… I gotta go learn how to program that Krupps…

And speaking of things I ‘gotta go’ do… I need to get myself going out the door! Depending on where you’re reading from… it might already be 2011! Happy NEW YEAR to everyone – stay safe, have fun, and start it off on a good note! Good night!

-E