Five Goals for 2010 – January 7, 2010

I wrote just 10 times in 2009! Ten friggin’ times! In years past I would write double that amount every month! I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Time seems to go whizzing by and on the nights where I do have time to sit and write I’d rather just chill and watch TV with Lis. I guess getting home at 7 p.m., eating dinner and then putting the kids to bed will do that to you. Man they tire me out! I use work now as a way to relax from the duo.

But it is the beginning of the year and as I have done the past three years I thought I would write down five goals for 2010, mostly so that I can look back a year later and feel crappy about myself, which is exactly how I’m feeling this year what with going 1-for-5 on my goals (though there are two that are debatable).

Let’s review 2009’s goalsand then give myself a grade on how I did with them:

Positive Patience– I mentioned last year that I was having problems with being patient with Lukas. I didn’t do so well for the first part of ’09 as Lukas tested me constantly and there were times that Lia screamed throughout the evening. In July I snapped and finally decided that if I was going to get better I needed to do something about it. I took a 4-week Anger Management course that seemed to help me with my rage. From August to October I was great. I had small fits in November and December but the good part is that I’m realizing when I’m getting frustrated and I have techniques to fall back on.

Grade: C+ – I’m still not where I want to be and still have times where I get frustrated but overall I’ve improved and am feeling a little better on the inside.

It’s Time to call it Quits– The only one I get a passing score on! I actually called it quits from the newspaper in September after all my fall high school preview stories were completed. It was very hard to do but it’s been great for my family life. I’m able to concentrate on putting Lukas to bed while Lis handles Lia. It’s worked out great and allowed my family life to improve.

Grade: A – Not an A-plus because I gave up something I truly loved doing but an A overall as it has helped me and my family.

Drop Some Pounds– A constant from 2007-09 I’ve failed miserably in doing this. I have to admit I’m doing better at snacking so late but I don’t exercise (other than the three months from Jan-March where I play basketball on Sundays) and don’t cut down on my portions. Now my knees are sore, I breathe heavily after walking just a 1/2-mile, and I can’t play more than five minutes straight on the court. All that coupled with the fact that I sit on my butt for 11 straight hours. This goal will be carried over in 2010.

Grade: F – Get off your butt and do something…can you say Wii Fit?

Work Hard– At the end of 2008 I had just gotten a new job. I was getting more money, benefits and a Christmas bonus. I vowed to work hard and do well for my new owners. Well business dropped, I lost my dental benefits, 401K and have to help pay for my health benefits. Oh and we got a makeshift Christmas bonus. Maybe I’m just bad luck. I did however sell more policies than anyone else in the office and led the office in total policies sold in over half of the calendar months.

Grade: B- – There was so much more I could’ve done. I only received a bonus in just three months. I need to focus more on bringing in new business and to getting my benefits back.

Write Something– I wanted a challenging goal and boy did I fail it! I wanted to write more. I wanted to start a book or write a script. I did nothing. With quitting the Herald I actually went extremely backward writing nothing – NOTHING! I mean my last blog entry was to write about how I quit the newspaper. Nothing since September 14. I’ve got goals for myself. I want to turn this blog into a book, sharing Lis’s story of hope.

Grade F – I did nothing!

That brings us to 2010. What goals do I have in-store for myself?

Here are my Five Goals for 2010:

Giving Everyone a Break from Me!

Every Sunday I call my family to see if they want to get together for dinner. I try to get the troops together for a Casino Night, the ACS Relay for Life fundraisers, the actual RFL event, Super Bowl party, etc. I think it’s time I give them a break from me.

I won’t plan on having a Super Bowl party (will I be invited to one?). I won’t pester them to have “family” time on Sundays (will we get an invitation?). I don’t know what I’m going to do about Team Force. I’ll be busy being the Entertainment Chair for the actual event, should I bother with putting together a team and organizing fundraisers?

Either way, my latest breakdown of frustration has caused me to rethink the way I deal with my family. I don’t want to be looked upon as the annoying older brother that has to pester people to have a good time.

I also need to give myself a break from me. I’ve put my energy in the ACS Relay for Life but other than that I need to take a break from organizing things, like parties or volunteering to do things. We’ll see how long this all may last.

Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!

We’ll try something different this year. Rather than losing weight, since no matter what I do it seems like I’ll be hovering around 220-pounds the rest of my life, I’ll focus more on exercising cause really it’s not about the looks but how healthy I’m going to be.

It’s hard to exercise in this state. It’s cold and dreary for months at a time. As mentioned earlier I get home at 7pm. It’s already dark and cold and then I have to eat dinner and put the kiddos to bed. This is where a Wii Fit would come in nicely! I start basketball this weekend and have been walking on my lunch break but still wouldn’t sunny days and a swimming pool solve this problem fast?

Write a Book!

See above…though my new desk move has made this nice. I’ve been able to write for a long period of time without being interrupted. Yah, no Boss Lady peeking over at my work. I’m in my own little island in the corner of the office. I dig it thus far!

Teach Lukas to Catch

Okay kind of a lame goal but t-ball is coming up and Lukas can hit the ball (usually with me pitching), knows which way is first base, and knows how to throw (step and throw). However, like his father before him he doesn’t enjoy getting down for a groundball or stepping in front of a flying sphere. It’s time that he starts his baseball career and what better than having a catch with your son on a nice summer day?

Celebrate Lis’s Five-Year Anniversary!

Nearly five years ago Lis was given a 23-percent chance of making it five years – tough odds! In April it will be five years since she was diagnosed. In early November it will be five years since she was said to be in complete remission. Once in remission she’s given a 23-percent chance that the cancer would not return after five years her percentage increases drastically. We have 11 more months before she makes it the entire five years and things are looking positive. I’d like to celebrate it either by going to Brazil, having a party, doing something to commemorate the battle she’s won.

There you have it. My first entry for the New Year! Let’s see how long I can keep this up!

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