Resolution Recap 2011

It’s that time of year again. Time to review the past year, successes, failure, and in betweens. Time to find areas we could do better in the coming year, time to be thankful for the blessings we have had, and time to plan for the next.

Last year, I set four resolutions. Some success, some not so much.

Here is what I set and how they turned out:

#1 Run a 5k in under 30 Minutes: SUCCESS!
I never ran an official 5k, but I did complete a 5k in under 30 minutes. A bigger accomplishment in this area was completing the 12 mile, 26 obsticle, Tough Mudder with a great team of 4 other people. We had an awesome time and are already planning for our next one.

#2 Read 9 Books or More: NOT QUITE
I didn’t make it to 9, but I did read some great books this year. I got a new Kindle Touch for Christmas, so I’m looking forward to consuming more books this year. This goal could have been better by making a more specific milestone of 1 book per month instead of over a year, it would be easier to track and stay accountable to.

#3 Share the Gospel: Hard to Say
I feel like I was more outspoken about my faith and beliefs this year, but the problem with this goal is that it was not very measurable. One of the things I read this year is that goals should be S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). This one is hard to measure.

#4 Drop 15 lbs of fat: Succeeded, Then Failed.
Well, I lost 15 lbs and by eating a LOT of the holidays, I managed to gain it all back. So I’m about back where I started last year. The good news is that while my wiehgt doesn’t show it, I’m more fit than I’ve been in a long time. Thanks to a great workout partner, I’m at the gym regularly, stronger than I’ve ever been, and have more endurance (still a weakness though). Two more weeks until I’m 30, time to kick this one into overdrive! 

Next year, I’ll be focusing on making goals that are S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). Hopefully this will lead to more success in 2012.

Let’s make our own news!

Our nation is so obsessed with 24 hour news coverage, what the latest celebrity gossip is, what politicians are doing at every waking moment, what businessman is making money or not making money.

We need to start thinking about our own families, our lives, and our own news.

It’s time we stop worrying about everyone else and everything they are doing all day long and start making our own news. We have a news system designed to glue us to the TV or Radio for “BREAKING NEWS” that is often just a bunch of hype.

Let’s focused on our families, our children, our spouses, and things that matter locally.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m as guilty of it as everyone else, but I want that to change. Honestly, most of the “urgent” and “breaking news” on CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC, or any of the others usually as little to know actual impact on our lives, EXCEPT that it can create worry, fear, and anxiety over things that don’t matter.

I use to watch a lot of news. I watch almost none now. That doesn’t mean I’m not informed, I read more than I watch or listen because it allows for more calm and focus rather than sensationalism and entertainment value of what our news has become.

What I am not saying is be selfish. We should care about people and help people, but we should not spend out time worrying about things we have little to no control over while neglecting the things we do.

Let’s stop worrying about everyone and everything else and make our own news. (Preferably good news.)

“Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?’” (Luke 12:22-26, NIV)