I am supposed to be setting goals for 2022 right now. I am unusually unfocused and unproductive. Now, I am writing about goals in 2022 instead of setting them. As I write, I am enjoying three mini blueberry muffins with a glass of cold milk. I do this while knowing that health goals need to be at the top of my list for 2022. On the upside, I did run 3.8 miles earlier today, but truthfully this was mostly so I could put off my goal setting a bit longer.
So, what do I want to accomplish in 2022? First, let me digress with the fact that I did not really set goals for 2021, and while the past week has been a disaster, my 2021 as a whole was an amazing year. Maybe I should take a passive approach to the upcoming year as well. The challenge with that is that my health needs some major attention. I am also keenly aware of the fact that I have neglected many friendships, and I have been a drain on my closest friends. I need to refocus on the people that matter to me, and I need to do more to show my friends how much they mean to me. I also let another year slip by without writing that book that I have been wanting to write since second grade. I also never got around to cleaning out the barn, the garage, the attic, any of the closets, and my mess of a desk.
So, let’s start with what I got right in 2021. Most importantly, I focused my attention on the boys. So much so, that I sense they want a break. The two of them are “hiding from the cats” right now while they put together Brainy Bird’s new Lego set. I do appreciate the need to not have a kitten running through your Lego pieces, but I also sense they wanted some brother time, aka “Mom-free time”.
Secondly, I exceeded all of my savings’ goals, while still being generous to others. I attribute this to my low cost of living. I do not miss my expensive house or my expensive car. I do like watching my savings go up. I love having money for the things that matter to me and to help others.
Third, I took time off! I took vacations. I took a record number of vacations this year. I took the boys to Washington DC for a summer vacation. I went to Brainy Bird’s new student orientation at the University of South Carolina; I drove him to South Carolina to move into his dorm, and I made it to parent’s weekend. I also went to Las Vegas during the Christmas holidays.
Those are all things that I got right in 2021. My biggest challenge in 2022 has been my health. I put on fifteen pounds; I stopped running, and my diet is a disaster. I think that being at home all the time, I get bored, so I eat. I tell myself that I will start my diet tomorrow. Then I wake up the next day and I repeat. I want to lose 22 pounds in 2022, and I want to run a marathon. It has been almost a decade since my last marathon.
I want to double down at work, and I want to set personal bests on every front. I also want to focus a great deal of energy on growing the careers of others.
I want to continue to save money and work toward my early retirement.
I want to take four vacations again this year. I hope the first vacation will be a trip for Little Chirp and I during his spring break. I am waiting to see how things go with the Omicron variant before I officially make plans.
I want to spend time with my friends. I want to reconnect with people, and I want to show my friends how much they matter to me. I want to make them a priority.
I have the gist of all that I want to accomplish, now I just need to set specific, measurable goals to work toward each of my objectives. I am calling it a day and joining Little Chirp in the kitchen where he is making fondue for the first time ever. I guess I am starting that diet tomorrow, and I will get my goals written tomorrow.
Happy new year all :).