2006 Kick Off
It makes sense to me that if I wrap up one year, I need to kick another one off. During my time away I did a lot of thinking. Mostly this can be dangerous territory, when you think but not think all the way through. Well this time I had enough time to think, analyse, think some more. I thought mainly about what it is I wanted to do this year. What I wanted to change. What I wanted to do the same. And I started to formulate a plan. I suppose you could say they are New Years resolutions but the connotation behind those 3 words is that you set yourself up to fail. My plan is not something that is going to happen in the first few weeks of this year. Some parts of it may take me all year to begin to get right, and others may take longer. This is fine. As long as I am consciously working towards them I consider it to be a success.
2005 was all about weight loss. Well 2006 is going to build on this. I put a lot of effort into educating myself about the better, healthier way to lose weight and to get fit. This year I am going to expand myself into other areas of my life. Weightloss is only one, but it has been the catalyst to get me moving (figuratively and literally) in many other areas.
Physical
The physical aspect of my journey will be more consistent this year. Last year it was getting to the stage that someone had to only mention a sale on in the city and the gym fell away quicker than the quilt did on a 45 degree day. This sort of inconsistency reflected itself accurately in my results at the end of the year. I have paid for a gym membership and I am not going to waste it. I will be going back to 3 weights sessions a week, and 2 cardio sessions. Weekends are usually not a problem as I walk so much in our outings. I am going to add in some morning rituals (see below in books read) and some evening rituals. These should help to tone up the body and also the mind. I am so ready to get this body moving.
Health
After a particularly sluggish holiday where I have realised that not only do I need vegetables and salad, but I want vegetables and salad I will be addressing the health aspect of my food this year. Not only will I be endeavouring to cut down on processed foods (not cut out) but the whole foods that I choose will also be looked at. Will I go organic? Will I grow my own? How do I choose better meat? Do I cut some meats out? Lots of things to explore. I am excited about discovering new foods and new ways of preparing foods. This journey should be fun, and a learning experience, and I am going to make it both.
Mental
In four years I have read very few books. I miss reading but I know that my time needs to be shared amongst many tasks so I will make a promise to myself to read more, learn more, but not to put a number on it. Even reading one book is going to stretch my mind. I did read two books whilst I was on holidays though so that is a good start to the year.
Ancient Secrets of the Fountain of Youth - Peter Kelder
This was an amazing book. In a nutshell it gives a series of exercises, or rites, to do each day to allow your body to possibly reverse aging and return you to a younger age physically. These rites were shared freely by the Tibetan Monks and are what they do (did) daily to keep their minds, bodies, and souls aligned. Fascinating stuff. Based on the bodies Shakra's it delves into areas that are logically hard to accept. I accept that I don't have to understand and if it does little more than make me more supple, agile, and fit - I will gladly spend 15 minutes a morning doing it. If it removes my grey hair, fades the age spots and firms up my saggy baggy bits - more power to it. LOL. I will post an excerpt and a description of the exercises on the Absolutely-Flabulous site in the next few days. I am currently reading Book 2 where it goes into more details regarding breathing, cautions, and tips.
Hidden Messages in Water - Masaru Emoto
The ability to clarify water that Masaru does is an amazing concept. The study showed that by taking dirty water and placing it in a receptacle that had positive messages printed on it, or played positive messages through music to it, you could clarify the water to a point where it was immensely more healthful to you. I know a little more about this gentleman as my Spiritual Healer has taken some classes about him and has spent some time explaining how it all works. Me. Again I am going to stop asking myself "How is this possible?" and I am replacing it with "Why can't it be possible?". When I get back to work I am going to cover my water bottle with positive labels. People may laugh at me but my insides will be laughing right along with them :D
Spiritual
I am not a regular Church goer. I have faith that there is greater powers than mine and I believe that there is an energy that binds us all together. This year I am going to allow myself to explore this area a little. This does not mean that I am going to start going to a Church every week, or every month. It means that I have a spiritual side that needs to be fulfilled. I may find this by donating my time to charity on a regular basis. Or sponsoring a child. Or becoming a safe house. There are many ways to show and to encourage a spiritual side. Maybe spiritual is the wrong word. I will work on this.
Financial
Having security is very important to me. I want to make sure that if DH or I lose our jobs we don't have to have the added worry about where we live. This year I will be doing a budget - early. It will emcompass both the actual in's and out's that we have today but it will also show where we want to head - and why. This was a big one that we discussed a lot on our holiday. What are we heading towards? Why do we want to get there? What does it mean to us? We have been going along with very little plans other than "we want to have lots of money. we want this, we want that" We now know that is the wrong way to go about it. This is an area we will work on all year but having the budget and working through some of the areas in which we are wasting our money will go a long way to sending the right message to the universe that we are now able to handle the financial levels we expect.
Relationships
With all the other things I wish to achieve this year I am going to ensure that I give plenty of my time and energy to grow relationships with the people I love, and to foster new relationships. This will be both physically and over the internet. One does not replace the other, but both have to work in order for me to feel balanced. I spent a lot of time on the computer last year and some personal relationships faltered due to this. These have been recovered and rectified and I need to ensure that I keep the balance. I can do it.
Personal
One challenge I am setting myself this year is to become less judgemental. I do feel that I am quite a tolerant person and embrace people as they are. But. I have a sharp tongue, and a mind that is sometimes a little too quick to criticise a person that I don't know. This could be from something as insignificant as fashion sense to something as shameful as commenting on their size (whether large or small). Most of these comments are not spoken but even thought is not right. I know there is a difference between an observation and a judgement and I will patiently teach myself the difference and become less judgemental.
Well. I think that will give me enough to work on through the year. In the words of a famous South Australian "Bring It On" :D
2005 was all about weight loss. Well 2006 is going to build on this. I put a lot of effort into educating myself about the better, healthier way to lose weight and to get fit. This year I am going to expand myself into other areas of my life. Weightloss is only one, but it has been the catalyst to get me moving (figuratively and literally) in many other areas.
Physical
The physical aspect of my journey will be more consistent this year. Last year it was getting to the stage that someone had to only mention a sale on in the city and the gym fell away quicker than the quilt did on a 45 degree day. This sort of inconsistency reflected itself accurately in my results at the end of the year. I have paid for a gym membership and I am not going to waste it. I will be going back to 3 weights sessions a week, and 2 cardio sessions. Weekends are usually not a problem as I walk so much in our outings. I am going to add in some morning rituals (see below in books read) and some evening rituals. These should help to tone up the body and also the mind. I am so ready to get this body moving.
Health
After a particularly sluggish holiday where I have realised that not only do I need vegetables and salad, but I want vegetables and salad I will be addressing the health aspect of my food this year. Not only will I be endeavouring to cut down on processed foods (not cut out) but the whole foods that I choose will also be looked at. Will I go organic? Will I grow my own? How do I choose better meat? Do I cut some meats out? Lots of things to explore. I am excited about discovering new foods and new ways of preparing foods. This journey should be fun, and a learning experience, and I am going to make it both.
Mental
In four years I have read very few books. I miss reading but I know that my time needs to be shared amongst many tasks so I will make a promise to myself to read more, learn more, but not to put a number on it. Even reading one book is going to stretch my mind. I did read two books whilst I was on holidays though so that is a good start to the year.
Ancient Secrets of the Fountain of Youth - Peter Kelder
This was an amazing book. In a nutshell it gives a series of exercises, or rites, to do each day to allow your body to possibly reverse aging and return you to a younger age physically. These rites were shared freely by the Tibetan Monks and are what they do (did) daily to keep their minds, bodies, and souls aligned. Fascinating stuff. Based on the bodies Shakra's it delves into areas that are logically hard to accept. I accept that I don't have to understand and if it does little more than make me more supple, agile, and fit - I will gladly spend 15 minutes a morning doing it. If it removes my grey hair, fades the age spots and firms up my saggy baggy bits - more power to it. LOL. I will post an excerpt and a description of the exercises on the Absolutely-Flabulous site in the next few days. I am currently reading Book 2 where it goes into more details regarding breathing, cautions, and tips.
Hidden Messages in Water - Masaru Emoto
The ability to clarify water that Masaru does is an amazing concept. The study showed that by taking dirty water and placing it in a receptacle that had positive messages printed on it, or played positive messages through music to it, you could clarify the water to a point where it was immensely more healthful to you. I know a little more about this gentleman as my Spiritual Healer has taken some classes about him and has spent some time explaining how it all works. Me. Again I am going to stop asking myself "How is this possible?" and I am replacing it with "Why can't it be possible?". When I get back to work I am going to cover my water bottle with positive labels. People may laugh at me but my insides will be laughing right along with them :D
Spiritual
I am not a regular Church goer. I have faith that there is greater powers than mine and I believe that there is an energy that binds us all together. This year I am going to allow myself to explore this area a little. This does not mean that I am going to start going to a Church every week, or every month. It means that I have a spiritual side that needs to be fulfilled. I may find this by donating my time to charity on a regular basis. Or sponsoring a child. Or becoming a safe house. There are many ways to show and to encourage a spiritual side. Maybe spiritual is the wrong word. I will work on this.
Financial
Having security is very important to me. I want to make sure that if DH or I lose our jobs we don't have to have the added worry about where we live. This year I will be doing a budget - early. It will emcompass both the actual in's and out's that we have today but it will also show where we want to head - and why. This was a big one that we discussed a lot on our holiday. What are we heading towards? Why do we want to get there? What does it mean to us? We have been going along with very little plans other than "we want to have lots of money. we want this, we want that" We now know that is the wrong way to go about it. This is an area we will work on all year but having the budget and working through some of the areas in which we are wasting our money will go a long way to sending the right message to the universe that we are now able to handle the financial levels we expect.
Relationships
With all the other things I wish to achieve this year I am going to ensure that I give plenty of my time and energy to grow relationships with the people I love, and to foster new relationships. This will be both physically and over the internet. One does not replace the other, but both have to work in order for me to feel balanced. I spent a lot of time on the computer last year and some personal relationships faltered due to this. These have been recovered and rectified and I need to ensure that I keep the balance. I can do it.
Personal
One challenge I am setting myself this year is to become less judgemental. I do feel that I am quite a tolerant person and embrace people as they are. But. I have a sharp tongue, and a mind that is sometimes a little too quick to criticise a person that I don't know. This could be from something as insignificant as fashion sense to something as shameful as commenting on their size (whether large or small). Most of these comments are not spoken but even thought is not right. I know there is a difference between an observation and a judgement and I will patiently teach myself the difference and become less judgemental.
Well. I think that will give me enough to work on through the year. In the words of a famous South Australian "Bring It On" :D
You're baaaaaccckkkkk!!!
Wow, you certainly have done some thinking over these past few weeks. I hope that even if you do not achieve all your aims, you manage to find a balance which sees you healthy and happy.
I'm with you on the charity side of things. I personally don't believe in any higher being, but for want of a better word, do believe in the karma. Or maybe a better way to put it is that you get out what you put in. Anyway, I don't think it hurts any of us to do a bit more for the benefit of others - could you imagine the difference if we all did??! What's the saying... "Be the change you want to see"? or something like that.
Anyway, I look forward to hearing about how all this goes for you.
YAY - YOU'RE BACK!
Posted by
CaramelKitKat |
January 09, 2006 9:46 am
Hey M - so great to have you back !! Just not the same when you aren't around. You've got some pretty impressive goals for 2006. Here's to a fantastic year on all levels. Luv Kel
Posted by
Kelly |
January 09, 2006 9:46 am
I am sure you will have a very meaningful 2006.
It is so great to read your posts again.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Posted by
Suzy |
January 09, 2006 9:55 am
Welcome back - missed your psts!! Sound like you had a lot of time to think and reflec!! Bring on 2006!!! Your weigh in results are terrific!!
Posted by
Yummy Mummy |
January 09, 2006 10:14 am
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have given me a lot to think about as well. I also consider the journey so far has enabled me to plan, change and improve on many aspects of my life. This will be a great year and I am thrilled we will be able to share some of it. Good news on that tiny gain. Now I will be eagerly watching to see you shred those 9.8kgs.
Posted by
michelle |
January 09, 2006 11:02 am
Well done on minimising any huge gain over Christmas - you rock !!!!
With such a great plan in place you can only go from strength to strength.
Have a great 2006 - take care and be good.
Me
Posted by
Me |
January 09, 2006 11:29 am
Welcome back! I've missed your posts! Your list of goals for this year is very impressive...good luck in everything you want to achieve!
Posted by
Tina |
January 09, 2006 12:17 pm
Wohhooooo!!!!
I have been checking in so much to see if you had updated!
I loved reading this post. You certainly have been thinking about where you want to be in the future and Wow how interesting your life is going to be from now on.
Sooooo glad you are back M!!! Wohoooo
Love CM
Posted by
Chubbymum |
January 09, 2006 2:27 pm
Wow, what an uplifting post! I've missed reading you and have been checking back in often in the hopes that you'd get a chance to update but it sounds like you've managed to spend your time in one of the most valuable ways there is - with family and people you love.
Enjoy the rest of your days off before you head back to work on Thursday. :D
Posted by
C |
January 09, 2006 3:04 pm
Hi There - big welcome back to you. I am surprised at how long it feels like people have been away and its nice to have the gang back on line! Sounds like you did a lot of reflecting over the break. It all seems very positive and I am sure that you will achieve all of your goals this year. Achieving success with weightloss, makes us all feel like we can give everything a shot and I really believe that you have the determination to see it through!!
Thanks for your comment. I am very excited. I am also starting to feel more normal (not so tired and sick) so I am back at the gym and eating normally again (just with a little more milk aand en extra snack!)
Have a great week - I'm back to work tomorrow!
v x
Posted by
missy vas |
January 09, 2006 3:16 pm
First of all welcome back and Happy New Year! You have put a lot of thought into what you want to achieve over the next year and given me something to think about as well:)
Posted by
Anonymous |
January 09, 2006 4:32 pm
Welcome back!!! Happy new year - as always you've put so much thought into what you want to achieve this year, that you can't help but succeed!!!
Well done on the minimal gain, goes to show that this really is a lifestyle change and that all that hard work last year and paid off with some nice new habits :-)
Posted by
Emily Campbell - Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator |
January 09, 2006 5:40 pm
I've been reading and enjoying your blog for a while and loved today's post. Certainly gave me a few things to think about.
Posted by
Catherine |
January 09, 2006 5:45 pm
Yay! M's back ;)
Glad that you spent quality time with your friends and family over the holiday period.
The small gain is good considering dutch treats - I hope for the same ;)
Posted by
Lucinda |
January 09, 2006 9:50 pm
Glad to see you back!!
Your post has given me alot to think about:)
Enjoy your next few days off!!
Posted by
Leighanne |
January 09, 2006 10:00 pm
shes back and shes ready to GO :) seems like you had a lot on your mind and all decent things to achieve. Im most curious to see how you will get on with the spiritual side.
hugs to you!
Posted by
Cat |
January 09, 2006 10:23 pm
Greetings from the US. Sounds like you will have a full 2006! We all have areas in which we want/need to grow. Best wishes with your efforts to explore your spiritual side, as well as with your relationships. :o)
Posted by
Trailady |
January 10, 2006 3:43 am
First of all - welcome back. It's lovely to hear from you again.
Now, some thoughts from me on some of the things you've said here...
I, too, use my summer break each year for a bit of reflection and self-examination. I like to look at what I've achieved in the last year and what I hope to do in the next year. I find this is particularly important as far as my job goes, so I can keep challenging myself. The big trick is - remember to frequently refer back to your goals during the year, so you don't get to next summer and go 'Ooops, wasted another year!' I don't think this is a problem you will have.
Relationships really are the key to happiness. They are worth every bit of effort you put into them - and worth remembering every relationship has to be handled differently. There is no 'one size fits all'.
With you on the judgemental thing. I tend to do a lot of mental judgement. It might not directly hurt the person involved, but it does hurt you - way too much negative energy building up!
Sorry for the long comment - but your long post was asking for it!
Posted by
Sue |
January 10, 2006 8:06 am
Great Post. Self reflection is always important and so is changing ourselves for the better.
P.S. You're looking great in your new profile photo by the way. ;)
Posted by
Jonny 5 |
January 10, 2006 8:54 am
Your perspective on life is something to be admired by us all! Good luck. I know whatever you yearn for and dream for will come true. You deserve nothing but the very best out of life! XX
Posted by
Anonymous |
January 10, 2006 9:25 am
Well young lady, you sure must've fried your brain doing all that thinking!! LOL.
I feel very guilty now about my pissweak NY's resolutations (lose weight, eat healthier, give up smoking, blah blah blah).
Damn.....
Bri
Posted by
Briony |
January 10, 2006 10:07 am
resolutations - what the hell are they????????? LMAO.....
Bri
Posted by
Briony |
January 10, 2006 10:07 am
Hello M. So glad you're back and what a lovely post to begin the year with. A great omen for you, I think.
Take care, I look forward to "talking" to you soon! xxx
Posted by
philippa_moore |
January 10, 2006 4:22 pm
Good to see you back. Looks like a busy and productive year ahead for you :)
It always helps to take some time and assess where you're going
Posted by
Kathryn |
January 10, 2006 6:28 pm
Welcome back M. Fantastic post. I am still sorting my way through where I am headed, but you always give me food(LOL) for thought.
Keep well.
Jods.
Posted by
Anonymous |
January 10, 2006 9:39 pm
WELCOME BACK!!!!
Posted by
Jaykay |
January 10, 2006 9:56 pm
Bring it on for sure! Great to see a plan M and I am sure you will be successful in achieving it all! Cheers to a new year babe :-)
Posted by
Mary |
January 14, 2006 4:45 pm
Chiming in later than everyone ...
YOU'RE BACK!
I hope you had a great holiday, and it sounds like you did.
Amazingly detailed plans you have there, but I wouldn't expect less.
The Ancient Secrets book: I can't help thinking that the exercises are designed simply to make the information flow around the spinal nerve tissue as free as possible. It's the network that drives everything, so if there's no lag, then the body can do it's work properly.
And yes! More reading! I've been devouring books lately and want MORE! I think my reading speed is actually going up.
Anyway, great to have you back. Have fun. Always.
Posted by
Daniel Hatadi |
January 15, 2006 10:18 am