Update on Goals for 2008

Well, here we are, one month into 2008. Remember those goals for 2008 that I wrote about at the beginning of the month? I do. I'm planning to update my progress as each month ends and look ahead at my plans for the next month, in hopes that this will keep me moving toward my goals. So here goes...

1. Lose weight: Check. I've lost 4 pounds this month. Not as much as I'd hoped for, but I also see exactly where I'm struggling and I'm planning to work on that.

2. Exercise 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, and drink plenty of water: Well, honestly, I have failed miserably at this. I just don't think much about drinking water throughout the day, so I need to focus on that more. As far as exercising, we're getting a family membership to the YMCA as soon as we get our income tax return. I'm really excited about that!

3. Move toward eating less meat, especially red meat, and look into following a gluten-free diet: I've definitely eaten less red meat. I've researched gluten-free diets and have found several recipes that sound pretty good; however, right now, that's not something that's really important to me. Maybe later this year, maybe not. I definitely want to focus on eating less meat, though.

4. Eat out less: This hasn't been going well either. Lent begins on February 6 and we're giving up restaurants. We spend too much money eating out when it could be going to more worthwhile causes, and all the eating out is bad for our health as well. So we're going to put it back in its proper place, as something special instead of something that happens several times a week.

5. Learn to sew: Well, the first step in learning to sew is learning how to use my sewing machine, lol. I've asked Ashley to come over and teach me but so far we haven't been able to get together. Hopefully we'll do that soon and I can start practicing.

6. Go back to school in August to start working on a master's degree in counseling: This has been my main focus this month, often to the exclusion of working on other goals. But I've made a lot of progress here. I spent the first half of the month studying for the GRE, took it on the 19th, then turned in my application on the 25th. In February I'll be starting on financial aid stuff. Fun.

7. Be in bed by 11:00 and get up at 7:00: Ha, ha, ha. That's really funny. I have a great sense of humor, don't I? I know it would be helpful for me to get in bed by 11, but I'm a night owl by nature and I hate going to bed before midnight. I also spent the first half of the month staying up late to study for the GRE. This is definitely still a goal I want to work toward, but let me make it clear-- I don't like it, lol.

8. Read through the Bible in a year: I'm following a one-year reading plan with a few other people from church. I've stuck with the plan so far, and in January I read all of Genesis, the first 4 chapters of Exodus, 57 Psalms, the book of Matthew, and 9 chapters of Romans.

9. Spend less time online: Ugh. Also not going well. I need to just turn the blasted computer off.

10. Volunteer in the community more: I've been in contact with Habitat for Humanity and on February 4 I'll attend my first Family Advocacy Committee meeting. I've also picked up a volunteer application from New Hope Pregnancy Center and have almost finished filling it out. I also want to get involved with The Caring Place (an organization that provides food and clothing for disadvantaged people in Cleveland).

And I'm adding one more goal for 2008: Do not get pregnant, lol. So far, so good.

So as you can see, I've made progress in some areas and not so much in others. I'm sure that's how it will be every month, though. I'll update on my progress again at the end of February!