My New Year Goals UPDATE

"Phil Robertson" may be the latest buzz word(s) but in the next week "resolution" will probably take over as reigning champ. Mayor of people's posts for all you 4 Square fans out there. I'm not one of them. Side note: a friend posted this article on Facebook written by a gay college student living in Northeast Louisiana and it's powerful stuff. Makes you realize that whether you're ignorantly proclaiming a victory for free speech, spouting off about religion, or boycotting Duck Dynasty, what's at stake through all of this is people and their value and worth as humans. And somehow we keep forgetting that. People are hurting. But this post isn't about all that. It's about how I faired with my 2013 goals.

In writing yesterday's blog post about my year in review, I stumbled upon my 2013 goals I posted back in early January. I kinda forgot they were there. Isn't that what happens though to the resolutions we make in the new year? We set out with the best of intentions to turn our lives around for the better and 30 days later, most of us have forgotten what it is we said we were even going to try and do. I even intentionally chose the word "goal" last year over "resolution" thinking it would make me stick to them. I don't know what (if any) resolutions I'll make for 2014 but in the meantime, let's check in on my progress from the past year.

The ones I accomplished:

• Get settled. Professionally in my new job starting next month and personally in the city of New Orleans by finding a place to live.

• Get involved. My hope for 2013 is to find at least 2 community organizations I can get involved with outside of work. [Does one count? I did a couple different projects with them..]

• Establish and Deepen Relationships. Moving to a new place is always exciting and anxiety producing when it comes to thinking about your social life. I hope to find a core group of amazing friends and expand my network.

• Visit with my new niece/nephew at least once a month once he or she is born in March.

• Put myself out there more in the dating scene. 

The works in progress:

• Add swimming into my workout routine.

• Re-take the GRE. 

• Apply to begin a PhD program for Spring 2014. Big gulp!

• Take a vacation with friends.

• Find a church community.

I never took up swimming. But I'd still like to. My plans for a PhD program (and thus re-taking the GRE) are on hold until I can figure out what I want but more importantly, where I can get it. Not sure that's doable here in NOLA which may mean this goal is on hold for the foreseeable future. I have made great strides in finding a church community and feel that in the next few months, I'll be able to move that one to the accomplished section. As for taking a vacation with friends, perhaps 2014 will be the year for that! Or at least a long vacation with family. 2013 was not the year for vacations.

On this last day of 2013, I hope you're able to make peace with this past year and look ahead to the new one tomorrow with excitement. Until next year! Happy New Year.

Cheers.