I'm pretty excited for 2014! I just feels like it's going to be a great year! I'm not saying that because 2013 wasn't great... 2013 held many awesome adventures! I have zero complaints. I mean sure there were things that happened that I wish didn't. Like my husbands car breaking down two times in 1 month (might I add it's still broken...) costing us almost $4000... yep, I'd take that back if I could! But I am a firm believer that each day, each event that takes place in our lives is shaping and molding us into the person we are supposed to be! No regrets!
So why do people get excited about the New Year? I mean, it really is just a date on a calendar... right!?!
You and I both know that the new year means new beginnings. A fresh start. The slate is wiped clean and the possibilities are endless.
But I'm not a fan of resolutions.
The definition of resolution is:
res·o·lu·tion
ˌrezəˈlo͞oSHən/
noun
noun: resolution; plural noun: resolutions
1.
a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Do you know what that sounds like to me? It sounds like me saying "I think I'll start flossing this year" but not making any steps towards making that happen.
Here is the definition for goal:
goal (ɡəʊl) n
You see, we make it so dang difficult. Yes, it takes hard work! Yes, you have to give up some things! I am going to have to give up a whole lot of things in order to pay off this debt, but I'm willing to do it!
1. the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.
Ooh, I like that!!! The RESULT towards your effort. So not only am I saying I want to do something, but I am putting results behind it.
So moving into 2014 what are some of your goals?
Here are a few of mine:
1. Get Crossfit Certified - SOOOO excited because this is happening on January 18th. Goal 1 almost accomplished!
2. Complete 2 Olympic Triathlons and I want to beat my time from last year. My first step towards accomplishing this is that I have already signed up for 2 this summer! BAM!
3. I would like to hike at least 3 14ers this summer, if not more!
4. I would like to keep growing this personal training/coaching business that has started to blossom. I'm not quite sure where it's going to take me, but I'm excited to see!
5. And not fitness related, but I want to get out of debt. We accumulated some
debt due to the car issue I was talking about and in order for me to be
able to sleep at night I need to get that taken care of!
So what are some of your goals, and HOW are you going to accomplish them?
Can I get on my soap box for 1 minute? Okay, here I go (you've been warned!). Coming off of Christmas, and all the Christmas parties and junk food and baking and pure FUN 1 of our first thoughts is always that we want to get healthier in the new year. Okay, so that's great for like 3 weeks. Gyms are more packed (my husband's gym was so busy he couldn't believe it), you buy a few more fruits and veggies, but then by February (some of you hold off till March) you go back to the same ole same ole.
WHY!?!
Because you have set an unrealistic goal (or resolution if you will) that is unattainable. To be healthier. Well what does that mean? You want to lose weight? You want to exercise more? Maybe eat better. You just want to have more energy. Those are all great things, but even I am starting to get overwhelmed just thinking about them.
You see, it's a whole lot easier to say "get healthy" because we have not put any parameters or guidelines on how we are going to do that. So then, when it doesn't happen we don't really think of ourselves as failures (because who wants to think of themselves that way), and we move right back into our old habits.
Just imagine with me, for 1 minute, that this year is going to be different! This year, 2014, is YOUR year. You aren't going to set any "resolution" that isn't attainable. In fact, your going to meet your goals, and set new ones! You are going to set realistic expectations for yourself in achieving those goals. Then you are going to reward yourself with an awesome trip to the Bahamas and take me with you!!!!
Sorry, all that imagining got me carried away!
So first step, writing down those goals. Don't start too big. We don't need to get overwhelmed right away. Once you have your goals written down, then you have to write down steps you are going to take to meet that goal.
No one ever promised that the journey would be easy. But come on really... have you ever appreciated anything that you had just been handed? Sure it can be nice, but do you value it like you would if you worked hard for it?
Let me just say, real quick, that I do not think fitness is the number 1 most important thing in the world. Yes, it is very important to me and I put a lot of effort into it. However, I do believe, that in order to do all that we want to do, and be the best that we can be, we need to live healthy lives (body, mind and spirit). You NEED all three!
So I'm going to finish this blog post with a facebook status I recently wrote on my Simply Healthy facebook page.
As we start this 2014 year I know what you all are thinking. Same thing
you are thinking this time every year. It's time to get serious and
lose those Christmas pounds I've gained, or those 2013 pounds that were
gained.
I'm here to tell you, this is your year! No more wishing you could do it! You CAN do it! Just take it one day at a time... one pound at a time. Life will absolutely get in the way. You can guarantee that. But if you are prepared for that in the beginning then you've already overcome half the battle!
I believe in YOU! I believe that you can do anything you set your mind to! I believe that there is no goal that is unmeasurable. Yes, it will take time and effort. But believe we when I say the time and effort are part of what makes this process so sweet. You don't want to skip it. Trust me! You will be molded and shaped during this and you'll come out a new person on the other side.
Don't let fear stop you. The only failure is not trying. As long as you are giving it your all you have already seen success! Most importantly don't go on this journey alone. Enlist friends, find a bootcamp, find a gym, start a challenge, start a blog, be transparent (eekkk!). We all struggle, we all fall down... But we can never stop getting back up again!
This is YOUR year! Go out and live it!
I'm here to tell you, this is your year! No more wishing you could do it! You CAN do it! Just take it one day at a time... one pound at a time. Life will absolutely get in the way. You can guarantee that. But if you are prepared for that in the beginning then you've already overcome half the battle!
I believe in YOU! I believe that you can do anything you set your mind to! I believe that there is no goal that is unmeasurable. Yes, it will take time and effort. But believe we when I say the time and effort are part of what makes this process so sweet. You don't want to skip it. Trust me! You will be molded and shaped during this and you'll come out a new person on the other side.
Don't let fear stop you. The only failure is not trying. As long as you are giving it your all you have already seen success! Most importantly don't go on this journey alone. Enlist friends, find a bootcamp, find a gym, start a challenge, start a blog, be transparent (eekkk!). We all struggle, we all fall down... But we can never stop getting back up again!
This is YOUR year! Go out and live it!
