I hope you are all enjoying 2010!

It’s going to be hard to top 2009 for me. I had a banner year! But, somehow, I KNOW that 2010 is going to be my best year ever! I hope you KNOW the same

I spent the last week on vacation. Of course, vacation for me just means I’m a little more selective about which emails and phone calls I answer I have decided to take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s every year. I love to spend the time reflecting on the year that’s past and then setting goals (NOT resolutions) for the coming year.

I probably do overkill compared to most people, but it certainly helps me to see how much I’ve grown in all areas of my life and it helps me to shoot for even bigger goals in the coming year. I have some pretty big goals for this coming year, but I believe in stretching myself to almost impossible goals. That way, even if I miss the goal, I still get much further than I would if I had set a puny, easy to reach goal.

After I’ve set my goals, I like to break the goals down into 12 monthly goals so that the huge goals don’t seem so overwhelming. I print out calendars for each month with my monthly goals listed so that I know what I’m shooting for. It really seems to help when I have my daily quiet time to focus on the goals that I have set for the month and for the year.

Last year I started a new habit which has really helped as well. On January 1, 2009 I sat down and wrote a note to myself for the first day of each month of the year. I reminded myself of my goals and what was important to me to focus on for the month. I encouraged myself to be the best that I can be. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to read those notes every month. I was amazed at the insight I had at the first of the year and how well I had exceeded my expectations for the year.

I did the same again this year. I sat down Friday and wrote myself 12 notes to be read on the first of each month. I definitely had writer’s cramp by the end of the day but it will be worth it when I read those notes each month and remember the enthusiasm and expectations that I have for making this my best year ever.

This year I’ve also started another habit. I know it’s going to take some effort, but I’m committed to sticking with it because my most important goal this year is to be joyful and happy each and every day. I should either be doing the things I love to do or working towards doing the things I love to do. I know that no matter what comes my way, I can find SOMETHING to be happy about.

So, I came up with a list of 20 questions that I am committed to answering each and every day. These questions are designed to help me stay focused on my goals and to get me feeling better by the time I’ve finished answering the questions. So, no matter how I’m feeling that morning, by the time I answer all the questions, I should be refocused and reminded of the important things in my life. I should be at least a little happier and more relieved about whatever may have been bothering me when I got out of bed.

This was my third day with this new habit and so far it has exceeded my expectations. I am SO excited about this coming year. Hopefully, these questions will keep this excitement alive throughout this whole year.

As I write this, I realize that it really all hinges on expectations. We usually live up to the expectations put on us whether they are put on us by ourselves or someone else. I’m beginning to see that the expectations I put on myself are so much more important than those put on us by others.

I’m putting high expectations on 2010. I’m expecting big things for myself and of myself. Those expectations are already drawing passion and excitement from me. I can not fail. But, for the sake of argument, let’s just suppose that I could fail. If I fail, I’ll fail after a year of passion and excitement. I’ll fail after being a little happier throughout each day than I was when I got out of bed. Can that even be considered a failure?

Make 2010 YOUR best year ever! Expect GREAT and Wonderful things. You really can NOT fail! And WHO deserves it more than YOU?

Another Rainy morning. We have had more than our fair share of rain lately. As you can see, Roxie is upset that we don’t get to go for our walk. She likes to jump on my desk to watch out the window. Today, like me, she can only see it rain. But, you will have to admit, it’s still a pretty good view

I was really sore yesterday. I was amazed that just walking and Yoga could make me that sore! I guess that’s a good thing. I felt as if it must be working At least until I got dressed to go to my office in Nashville. Then I felt fatter than ever. I started to get a little depressed. It just doesn’t seem to work as quickly as I would like for it to work. I also know and believe that as long as I feel fat, I will not get the momentum and energy headed in the right direction. I will get whatever I focus on, so if I focus on what I don’t want, that’s exactly what I will get.

As the day went on, I tried to focus on what it would feel like to be slimmer. I walked at lunch and I took the stairs back to my office – all seven floors! I thought as I headed up that I could get off on another floor if I got tired and then take the elevator the rest of the way up. So around floor five, I started to get tired and was going to take the elevator from there. But, there was a sign on the door that said something like “under surveillance – do not enter unless emergency”. Uggghh! I slowly made my way to the sixth floor. Again, the SAME sign! I drug myself to the seventh floor. I made it but I thought I would pass out. It wasn’t that my legs were burning so much (even though they were), but that I could not seem to catch my breath! I waited at the door until I didn’t seem like I would scare someone with all my heavy breathing and then went back to my office.

By the time I got home from work last night, I was really beginning to feel tired. I went for another walk when I got home even though my bladder was hurting and I felt so tired. I was hoping that it would give me more energy, but it didn’t. I started to quit a couple of times because of the bladder pain, but I didn’t. I was really proud of myself for sticking with it, but I felt that old familiar frustration with the pain and thoughts of giving up were jumping around in my head.

I skipped the yoga last night. I was just too tired – emotionally, mentally, and physically. I found it hard to even sit in my chair and work on the few client sites that I needed to work on. I did accomplish a little but headed to bed early.

This morning, I still feel a bit tired. The rain doesn’t help. I’m also still sore. I wasn’t going to do the yoga this morning, but decided to watch the new routine instead. Then, as I watched, I decided to go ahead and try it. I felt much better after doing the routine. One thing I really like about yoga is that you only push it as much as you feel comfortable pushing it. I don’t feel bad for not being able to do the poses as deep as the yoga instructor, and I still get a great workout. It seems strange to me that just stretching can give you such a great workout but I can definitely feel it afterwards. Better yet, is the relaxation that I always feel when I’m done.

I’m going to try to never let myself skip two sessions in a row. Each time I skip a session, it gets easier to skip the next and before I know it, I’m out of practice again. I’m determined to stick with it.

Marna’s email this morning helped me to see the reasons that I often overeat. I’m glad that I have that program to help me with my thinking to compliment the yoga and walking that I’m doing. I think the ‘thinking’ work is really the most important part.

I’m hoping to do the walking DVD for the rest of my lunch hour today. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Rain, rain, go away!