Resolutions 20

As I'm writing this post, I just realized that I met most of my resolutions or goals from last year. That is a first for me. I researched a little on the origin of resolutions and here is something I found out: 

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar. With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.

The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.

In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/39353#ixzz19jkWXbpx

Maybe this is why we are so compelled to look back- reflect, and then look ahead and set some goals. I also firmly believe in the following: 

1. If you are thankful, good things will come your way. 

2. If you want something, you can have it... but you have to truly want it and be willing to make sacrifices to get it. 

3. There is a give and take- Karma sort of...this circular notion which goes back to the Golden Rule- what goes around comes around. 

4. Attitude is everything. Our moods and feelings guide or physical being.

5. Bad things can be opportunities for good things. 

So keeping all this in mind, I must set my goals for the coming year. 

Here is what I wrote for last year~ Let's see how I did.                                      

2010

The first set involves HEALTH

1. Make an extreme effort to walk every day. I will start with a walk to the mail box. Then a ten minute walk...then more as my back permits. As I get my back/ leg better I will use walking as my stress reliever outside connection. I did this.....after my surgery...now I'm up to 3 miles or more a day - 6 days a week. 

2. I want to use Yoga as a tool for strengthening my body. I will do a pose a day and work up from there. Nope 

3. I will journal all my food every day. Good or Bad. DID IT.

4. I will take more of an active stance on my back/leg. I will try to get it fixed. Surgery or not, I've got to end the pain. Did it...got the surgery.

5. Keep Moving. Keep Moving. Keep Moving. Keep Moving. Doing it.

6. I will loose weight. I have set a goal of 25 lbs to be reached by summer. I'll adjust as necessary. :)  DID IT

The second set involves my MIND

1. I want to read more books. A goal is 12 books this year. I'll start with the four I'm currently reading and not finished with!  Ummm..not quite. :( 

2. I want to blog regularly. I will keep the weight loss blog and the other blog updated at least weekly. If I do more...then great. DID IT

3. I need a hobby. I am interested in photography. I need to pursue that. I'll look into classes. hahhah NOPE

4. I will keep up with Bunco and force myself to be more social. I will talk more in groups.YES...made an effort to make myself have fun....seems to be working. 

I'd say I did pretty good reaching my goals. But it didn't happen all at once...everything took the year, which is ok since it's a whole year's resolution. 

Now onto to 2011~

1. Continue to do Weight Watchers at home. Journal all my food. I'm half-way to my goal. I think the hardest part is yet to come~ the last 35 pounds. 

2. Learn MORE self-control when it comes to eating. I'm about 80%- like tonight I gave in when I really didn't want to. When I travel I need to be more diligent in my healthy eating. I think it takes practice. Turn celebrations away from food. Everything focus' on food always. 

3. Continue to walk daily.  Add more slowly. This summer get to 5 miles a day. 

4. Add in Yoga or Pilates. I need to add in some type of strength training. 

5. Cook more. Or even eat more of a variety of foods. Reading blogs gives me great ideas. 

6. Read more books. I need to try to read each night. I'll set a goal of 12 books again. 

7. Go to church more regularly if not for me for Parker. 

8. Try to blog at least once a week minimum.

9. Take lots of pictures. Maybe consider doing a picture a day. I look looking at pictures. 

10. Be kind. Be thankful. Be of service. 

That's it...Let's see how the year goes. Happy 2011!!!!!