Just 17 Days left in 2011

@postaday 357; #postaday2011.

I always get excited about new things, and the biggest new thing for all of us is 2012. It’s time to start thinking about what we want to do in 2012, what we want to achieve, and how not to waste the precious time we have on earth and with each other.

Depending on your perspective, life can be either a tar pit or a babbling brook. One sucks you under, while the other rejuvenates. I understand liking the way things are and the resistance to change, but I do not understand pessimism. I understand being cozy with the same worn soft shirt and blue jeans, the same mug, the same way to have your tea and coffee, the same authors, the same music. I always go back to my Steely Dan collection, which has gone from 8-tracks in the early ’70s, to albums, to cassettes, to discs, and now to my iTunes. But I’m just as interested in some — not all — current music offerings.

Maybe because I’m north of 50, I’m especially interested in the best ways to improve my health. I get a kick out of all the fun high-tech things available to assist. My iPhone fitness apps are numerous, and I will admit I don’t use them all. I absolutely love my bicycle Garmin and uploading the data from my weekend excursions. My life could probably be one big spread sheet if my doctors wanted to meld my electronic health records with the data I gather myself!

There is a term being bounced around now in the health industry: Young Invincibles. It’s not a term meant to be offensive. In fact, I think it truly captures those of you between 14 and 40 years who are still able to burn the candle at both ends, party like it’s 1999, and still sport 6-pack abs at the butt-crack of dawn while taking off on your first wave of the day.

I did all that.

I’m not going to say that now I’m paying for it. It’s OK. What we do delivers us to who we are. Regrets, I’ve had a few. Teaching moments are often painful but they result in the stitches of experience that pepper our war stories of life. I expect to do more, see more, feel more, and hurt more. As long as it adds up to a life well lived.

With that in mind, here are some goals I have for 2012.

Fitness Goals:

• Run in the December 2012 Honolulu Marathon.
• Ride in the April 29 Haleiwa Century Bike ride.
• Participate in the April 22 ANA Lanikai Triathlon.
• Run in the February 5 Try Fitness 1st annual Women’s 5k.
• Participate in the September 9 Try Fitness Na Wahine Triathlon.
• Get back on my stand-up paddle board.
• Get back on my surfboard.
• Find more time to swim with my masters team.
•  Stay a size 10.

Practical Goals:

• Purge and organize stuff that takes up too much space at home and in my mind.
• Let all hard-copy magazine subscriptions lapse.
• Do more yard work and enjoy gardening again.
• Save money.
• Keep healthy foods at home ready for my family.
• Eat out less often.

Personal Goals:

• Enjoy daily workouts.
• Wake up each day happy and content.
• Kiss and embrace my loved ones every chance I get.
• Get enough sleep.

• Seek projects at work that ignite my passion.
• Inspire my audience.
• Welcome opportunities to participate in team projects.
• Spend time with experienced executives willing to help me realize my potential.
• Spend time with new colleagues so I can learn from and enjoy their perspective.
• Become a mentor.

And my final goal for 2012: Be open to any and all possibilities.

Luv,
me.