Something in me feels hesitant to talk about those January things like resolutions and ‘one words’. It’s not because I find them are fake or vain or forced. The oposite, really. It’s because I think that stopping, evaluating, and resolving to do something is a holy moment that holds much power, and I worry that saying it out loud for all the word to hear cheapens it. With that in mind, I want to quietly share the vision I have for myself for this year.
This is my year to finish.
I want to only start things that I have room in my life to finish.
It is time for me to flail less and actually complete things more. I am a chronic starter (ENFP FOREVAH) and it can be rough on my family. No, I cannot join that leadership team because I would probably have to step down 4 months in (been there, done that). No, I have no intention of taking on the task of catching up on baby books and no I do not feel guilty about it. Yes, we will finally paint the trim in our kitchen this year and finally declare that house project finished.
I want to finish a race every month of the year.
January through December, I made a chart of races from 5ks to half marathons in which I will participate. I have realized that I love running and I am especially motivated to do it when I have a race to look forward to. (The race environment is an extrovert’s dream.) I have also realized that having pace expectations for myself makes races stressful and removes a lot of the joy for me. For each of these races (a total of 3 5ks, 5 half marathons, 2 10ks, a 7k and a 10mi) my expectation of myself is to finish.
January: check.
We want to finish our basement this year.
Because what is a year for O My Family if it doesn’t include a massive house project? Three small children in an urban house is interesting. We have enough bedrooms, but DanO and I both feel that utilizing the currently unfinished space in the basement would help our family’s lifestyle tremendously. Our vision is a simple finished space that will house our over-stuffed couch and TV – both currently in the living room – as well open space and toy storage for the kids to play. Perhaps I’m overly optimistic, but I imagine a day where the boys would play by themselves in the basement without being under foot while I’m cooking or loud while the baby is sleeping. It’s time for that space to be finished.
I want to finish the weight loss journey that I started in January of 2012.
You know, the one that was interrupted by the carrying and birthing of one sweet ODear? Right now I weigh more than I did when I started Medifast two years ago. This was my healthiest and fittest pregnancy by far (even running a half marathon at 11 weeks along) and yet the amount of weight I gained was nearly identical to my other two pregnancies during which I was not particularly active. Also, my body has held on to much more of the excess weight this time. In summary, getting older is no joke. Last time I was on medifast I lost nearly 40lbs in 7 months, then waffled for a couple months, then got pregnant. This time I want to reach my goal weight and finish strong by maintaining (the REAL hard work of weight loss). This is a whole post in and of itself. Forthcoming.
I love this! As a chronic starter, I may have to adopt this myself!!!
Positively gleeful on seeing another post so soon after Miri’s birth story!!! <3 Be the closer this year girl. I will be the starter…including a cross country move back to Florida next month!! New beginnings and great completions for us both this year!
your vision of your basement – that is totally how ours was when I was growing up. only partially finished but we spent so much time down there. it was a couch and a bunch of toys. eventually we had video games down there too. I’ll admit it freaked me out a little if it was dark down there . . . but I remember hours of tinker toys and building mazes for the cat from couch cushions and all sorts of awesome sibling stuff. and I’m sure my mom adored it!
We just moved into a house with a finished basement, and my goodness what a difference! Even at ages 4 and 20 months, they already choose to play down there while we stay upstairs (with a careful ear). The pretend play in our house has increased exponentially, now that they have some space to themselves!
I did a race a month one year. Some months it was more. It was fun to try to find new ones. Good luck!!
Just had to say NO, you are not being overly optimistic. We moved 18 months ago from a no-basement to a basement situation. It’s glorious. The running, the spontaneous pretend play that they conjur up on their own when they don’t have an adult close by, the tender brotherly moments I hear from upstairs when they don’t know I can hear them, the moments of peace to cook or, let’s be honest, pee. A basement is a thing of beauty. Good luck!!
So I just wanted to send you a high-five from across the web!!!! You are my heroine!! I am so impressed with your running and how you want to attack that goal. I am an ENFP too and I did one race when our oldest (who is 10 1/2 years old!) was a few months old. I walked it with a double stroller and I was THE LAST one to cross the finish line – but I had a BLAST!!! Our family wants to do 5ks together. This makes me motivated to plan out our races.
I just want to say, that you are one of the motivations that I had when I started my Medifast journey last spring. I went whole-hog this past October and have lost almost 40 lbs!!! I had 4 children in 5 years and all the moving (from the military) and transitions took a toll on my body and health. I got radical this fall and its paid off. So girl – you can do it. You did it before and you can do it again!!!! I am rooting for you. I am following your journey and praying for you. Praying that you also take deep, long breaths and entail your beautiful, beautiful life.
Love this post and have missed your posts! Busy I understand…I have 5 ages 11y to 20mths… Resolutions…pshhh! If it wasn’t so darn long it would be a 4 letter word! Right? But this year I’m focusing small. I’m doing the Bible reading plan for Slackers and Shirkers, hoping to read some of the beautiful books that I keep buying but don’t make time for and most of all working on my attitude. My kids need less Cruella & more Mary Poppin’s if ya know what I mean ;) I like the idea of being a finisher…such a great idea!
I love this…in fact I may adopt it mentally! I have so many things I WANT to start, but since I’m trying to finish nursing school this year, finishing really should be more of a goal. I am going to ruminate on this whole thing for a while…
Awesome post Allison…and I liked reading your Myer’s Briggs! I feel like I know you just that little bit more. GO you for being brave and putting it all out there it’s very motivational.
I am a chronic starter too– and terrible at staying on track of my weight loss goals!
I’m an introvert but actually love racing, too, and it definitely motivates my running! Were you able to plan for races that tend towards the first half of each month, so that you can look for a fallback option later in the month should the need arise? (You never know about illnesses or other emergencies). I certainly wish you well on your goals and look forward to race reports and house project reports and more!
Through involvement in my community I did a 5k run last year. It was a charity run for local professional triathlete who got cancer. It was a lot of fun and now I try to stay conditioned incase a new run comes along. They are a great way to meet new people and get connected with a good group of people. It is an awesome experience.
I find this post very helpful. We often make resolutions or we resolve to change something about ourselves that we don’t like. We do this all the time, not just at new-years. You offer helpful advice on how to make it more likely that we succeed or ‘finish’ these resolutions. Thanks.