Goodbye 2013; Hello 2014!

2013 is officially over and the year of 2014 has begun.

The year of 2013 was filled with ups and downs, just like any other year. I accomplished a lot. I failed at times. I took emotions twists and turns. I endeavored to have new experiences as well as continue with old ones. As December 31st approached, I was looking at quotes, phrases, ideas, anything that would help me moving forward in the new year and here are some of the ones that I took note of:


"Collect memories, not things."

"Do all things with love."

" A year from now, you'll wish you'd started today."

"I'm too passionate to not be a priority."

"Take time to do the things that make your soul happy."

"Good things take time."

"Start where you are; use what you have; do what you can."

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."


I'm not saying to take any of these words to heart personally (that is a matter of choice for you), but they connected with me and I believe words are powerful objects that can help you remember, forget, succeed or fail. With the right words, you can achieve what you wish to achieve and believe what you would like to believe. These are some of the words I'm choosing to listen to, remember and hopefully live by in the upcoming year.


Now, in a moment of retrospect, here's a look back at 2013...

Highlights of 2013: (in no particular order)

• Vacationing in London with my parents
• Successfully completing 5 half-marathons (including setting a new PR) and 12 other races
• Surviving being the Interim General Manager at DTC
• Directing the ESD Alumni Musical (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
• Spending time with Bailey (just in general)
• Coaching my runners (and getting two of them through their first half-marathons)
• Making new friends
• Strengthening older friendships
• Road trip down to Austin with my girls
• Finishing one full year at DTC
• Navigating my first year being single in a decade

So, I don't enjoy making resolutions. The main reason: I can never stick with them. So, this year, I'm making goals for myself. You may ask, what's the different between a resolution and a goal. Honestly, I have no idea, but the fact that it's a different word has me thinking differently about them. I feel like I can make and hit goals, but resolutions equal failure.


Now, here is a list of goals for 2014...

Goals for 2014: (in no particular order)

• Setting mini-monthly goals (easier to accomplish: i.e. no eating out for a month, etc)
• Push harder as a runner (and train for Dopey in 2015)
• Expect more as a coach
• Say 'YES' more often when it comes to friends and family and 'NO' more often in terms of work (within reason)
• Keep more of an open mind
• Have a more positive attitude (that might be difficult....haha, see what I did (or didn't do) there?!)
• Take more chances on things and people

I may succeed with these, I may fail. The purpose is to at least try and that I shall do. Life passes by quickly, as this year proved. Take the bull by the horns and live.

Champagne For All

As a Christmas and New Year treat, we bought seven bottles of champagne, cava, prosecco and sparkling wine to bring and end to 2011.

Below are 6 of the bottles that we bought, from the ok stuff to the good stuff, we covered it all. Please note: the pictures are in no particular order. You decide what you think the creme de la creme is...

Can't wait to try them all!! PS...Robyn will be joining in the drinking too...so I'm not a lush, just FYI.

Good Morning 2011

I was contemplating last night what I would write today. Today is the start of a new year....2011.

I was more thoughtful, more insightful last night...probably due to the bottle of champagne I was nursing in the late hours. But the same thought remains...

I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to in 2010. It was full of ups and down, but it was no means disappointing. Opposite in fact...but I hope to tick a few more goals of this year.

LOOKING BACK

2010 was supposed to be the year of running...and it started off really well. I began running and training for all of the races I was planning on participating in. My first race was supposed to be in February, but it got cancelled. Just after, I injured myself and had to take a month off of training. I came back just in time to run the next race (with no time to actually train) and did fairly well, which I was proud of.

Then injury after injury and busy schedule after stressing out....everything caught up with me. I was able to continue to run, but I wasn't really training or challenging myself. The breaking point happened when I had to go into the ER in early Fall. That was the point when I just threw in the towel.

But not all of 2010 was full of setbacks or disappointments. I moved forward in a lot of ways too. I made it through a full year in my current position. I didn't know if I would actually make it...but I did. I got through the extremely stressful times and I also strengthened relationships that have changed my life.

LOOKING FORWARD

I can only imagine was 2011 holds for me. I know that I will be heading back into the gym to try to get back into running. I have a few things that I will be changing to ensure that I don't get injured as often so I can have a better chance for success. I have ideas on how to be stressed at work and I want to continue keeping my relationships in the forefront of my life!

It's a new, fresh start.


Now...what's for breakfast ;-)