Goals, Goals, Goals… (a quick update)

Way back in January, I made a brief blog post about why goals are so much better than resolutions.  I haven’t written anything for the internetz since.  I went as far as to include five realistic goals for this year. (I guess I can be thankful writing wasn’t one of my goals)  They are:

1.  Be more positive in everything I do.

2.  Eliminate all unsecured debt.

3.  Take another real vacation

4.  Run a half marathon this year

5.  Being Mario Mendoza

So how am I progressing on these goals?  Well, I’ve made progress on all goals and after this weekend, I should have two of them completely marked off the list.

1. Being more positive in everything I do

The first goal on my list is more subjective than objective and can be difficult to measure.  It is the most resolution sounding goal on my list.  I honestly haven’t found the best way to try and measure this goal. However, I wake up every morning and try and find the good in the world around me.  At the same time, I’m trying not to lose my objectivity when it comes to tough or problematic situations where being positive is not a realistic option.  When this happens, I try to focus my energy on finding a positive solution.  Often this involves asking myself the “miracle question” which is the key to Solution Focused Therapy. I’ve found it to be a tremendous help.  I actually used this approach in coming up with my short term and long term goals.

Current status:  On-going

2.  Eliminate all unsecured debt

I actually started making a concerted effort to eliminate all unsecured debt last year.  I’m very proud to say that I achieved this goal back in March.  It’s quite nice not having to pay interest on a credit card.  Now I’m actively starting to save all the money I was spending on paying off my credit cards to build a formidable savings account back up.  Then the next step after that is active investing…

Current status: Completed

3. Take another real vacation

I haven’t taken vacation yet this year.  I was tempted to take a ski trip, but I didn’t.  I’m pretty sure I’ll take a trip to the beach sometime in August.  If I could amend this goal, it would be to take an international vacation.  I’m working on that right now…

Current Status: In progress

4.  Run a half marathon this year

My original plan called for me to run a half marathon sometime this far.  Right now I’m way ahead of schedule.  I’m signed up to run a half marathon this weekend in Homewood.  For those of you who have been paying attention, I’ve started logging some miles and distance the last several weeks.  I can thank the quicker than planned attempt at the half to my friends from the “Monday Runday” run group at Tin Roof.

Current Status: Soon, real soon…

5. Being Mario Mendoza

You’d think I would start shedding some serious pounds with as much running/working out as I have been doing.

I really haven’t.  However, my metabolism has definitely started to shift into ludicrous speed.  So I’m definitely eating more right now…  and I’m continuing to be Mario Mendoza

Current Status: Steady as she goes

So what does this all mean?  It’s about time to reassess and replace my completed goals with some new ones.   Like running, it all begins by putting one foot in front of the other…