Goodbye 2012

 Adios 2012, it's been real.

 

I had to end this year making my venture into the new year "official".

Yep, I am making a list of my New Year's resolutions.

I thought really hard about things I want to better in my life.

I didn't want to just throw a list of things together that sounded good, I only wanted to include things that I truly want to work towards, and think I can accomplish, realistically.

So no, I will not be joining a gym or reading a book a week.

Nothing cheesy.

Well, kinda ;)

 

The List:

(queue epic movie opening music now)

 

1. Make my life a little less "public".

 

I've done some soul searching to see why I feel the need to be so public with my life. I am on almost every social media platform, have 2 blogs, and a intensively active Instagram account. Buy why? What purpose does this serve? Is it affecting the time/quality of my "real-life" relationships? Am I being too public? How should I feel that anyone in the world can know exactly what I am doing, eating, and thinking at any moment? I feel....invaded. And I've done it to myself.

Obvs, I am going to keep my life-style blog, because I consider it my diary. But I am aiming to significantly cut back on the social media scale in other areas. Baby steps guys, baby steps.

 

 

2. Read the entire bible by 2014. Easy peasy.
 

 

3. Grow a healthier relationship with food and my scale.

 

 

I let the number on the scale dictate my mood and approach to the day. If I am up in weight, angry Ashley comes out. If I am consistent in weight, happy Ashley comes out. If I am down in weight, anxiety filled Ashley comes out over analyzing everything. Not cool, not realistic, and not healthy.

Example, yesterday I allowed myself a treat meal. Knowing I was consuming probably triple my sodium intake for a day. Knowing I will probably have massive water retention, thus, making me hold onto water weight, and maybe some extra fluff from the pizza ;) Guess what? I did go up this morning (2.5 lbs), but I actually didn't care. In fact, I shrugged, skipped my morning workout, and drove to Safeway for some brown rice sushi for breakfast. Why? Because I wanted to.

 

4. Run a half marathon (for serious this time)

  

 

5. Aim to detach myself from "earthly" things.

 

I don't want to be so involved with materialistic items, clothing, makeup, electronics, and silly things that serve no real purpose. A guest pastor once said, "you can't take money and cars to the grave with you, earthly things don't matter in the end, only your relationship with God." I think that's straight to the point.

 

 

6. Slow down.

  

Everyday my mind is on "GO-GO-GO". Literally. I can't modify how demanding schedule is. But I can ease my mindset and trust that I will have time to get everything done, make everyone happy, make myself happy, and enjoy life while doing it. I feel so guilty sometimes when I can't spend time with people, can't commit to knew opportunities, but I need to remember that my focus is finishing my degree, being a star employee, and having strong relationships with my loved ones.

 

 

7. Trying new things.

 

I tried hot yoga for the first time last week. I loved it.

So I thought, hmm, what if I tried something "new-ish" every month or so? Like a new workout class, type of food, hair style, nail color, just little stuff that's out of my comfort zone.
Life is too short and unexpected to be stuck in a rut and not having anything to look forward to.
 Just sayin'.

 

 

8. I think 7 is a good stopping point. I was starting to think WAY to hard, and I knew if I pushed any more I might start doing word vomit of stellar goals that wouldn't be touched 2 weeks from now.  

Let's be honest.

I challenge you all to put some serious thought into how you want to better yourself for the new year. Share your resolutions below! I want to get inspired by my friends I've met here, and share ideas :)