a new year to strive for the same goals

I set out the current school year with lofty goals. I even wrote them out and posted them on our refrigerator where I would see them daily and have no excuse not to remember them. We are now approaching the end of the 1st semester, and as I look back on the goals I set out to achieve, I have mixed emotions. I am proud of my commitment to some of these goals, but yet embarrassed and disappointed in myself for not making others a higher priority. You  can probably assume which goals have been more difficult to achieve:

2011-2012 goals:

1. Avoid the computer before getting to school in the morning.
2. Carve out time for daily devotions and/or journaling.
3. Exercise at least 3 times a week.
4. Do all weekday lesson prep at school. Only grading at home.
5. Lesson plan on Saturday mornings in order to leave Sundays free from schoolwork.
6. Commit to a time each night when we will both stop working, even if there is more that could be done.
7. Spend 1-on-1 time with my husband each night.
8. Make dinner more often. Try a new meal per week.
9. Make a weekly meal plan and grocery shop during the week to avoid the weekend rush.
10. Dedicate at least 2 hours a week to my creative side -- design, photography, crafting.

Maybe I set the bar too high? While I have been better about sticking to some of these goals than others, I have "messed up" on all of them at various times. Thankfully, I have not let my mistakes frustrate me to the point that I throw all of these goals out the window. Every day brings an opportunity to try again.

Though we have entered a new year, my goals remain the same. But for resolution's sake, I have added one more. 

Drink more water.

Hopefully this one will be more manageable. Though for someone who could go most of the day without thinking to take a drink, it's going to take some adjusting. I hope that by drinking more water, I will have more energy to do all of the above! 

I also encouraged my students to come up with goals for 2012. In doing so, I told them my ambition to drink more water. I'm still deciding if this was a wise move. Since then, I often hear the question ... "Mrs. Beverly, did you drink enough water today?" or better yet, the command ... "Mrs. Beverly, remember to drink your water!" I wouldn't be surprised if they simply start handing me my water bottle. They have also used my goal as an excuse for more frequent and lengthier trips to the drinking fountain. Nevertheless, they are much better than me at remembering my goal on a daily basis. (They can't remember to write their name on a worksheet, but they somehow remember to remind me to drink water?!) Perhaps I should tell them my other 10 goals? :)