Ringing in 2015 with Goals & Dreams

The year of 2014 was all about being content. Content with my life. Content in what I was doing. Where I was. Not comparing myself to others. Being content and happy. This year, for 2015, my goal is to BE. Be present. Be involved. Be healthy. Be loving. To be in the here and now.

Be present. This year is going to be a huge one for us and Clara. We are setting the foundation and habits on what kind of parents we will be for Clara and future children. I don’t want to miss out on important milestones in her life or even the little ones. I want to be in the moment. To not always get caught up in needing the perfect picture to document an event but to be there. Be present. Be a part of her world.

But on the other side of things I want to get out. So many moms I find spend most of their days at home because it’s just easier. But my goal is to be involved. Even though she’s still a baby, I want to get in the habit of getting out.

Going places.

Doing things.

Seeing people.

Last week I went to the retirement community I work for and you should have seen how the residents faces would just light up when they saw Clara!! I made an effort to stop in at a few individual apartments and both ladies were close to tears telling me how we made their week and were just so glad I took the time to stop and chat. Such a small effort on my part but such a huge impact on them. I also am working on filling my social calendar so that I get out of the house at least once a day…Monday’s I plan to go to the library for baby book time, Tuesdays bible study, Thursday new moms group, and Friday playgroup. Plus, I plan on going on lots of walks with a nearby friend. And that’s just what I have planned as of right now.

Be healthy. I know this is a cliche goal but it’s true. In 2013 I lost 40 pounds, got to the lowest I had been since before high school, and felt amazing! When I was pregnant, I gave myself the excuse to eat what I wanted because I was convinced I needed to eat more to grow a healthy baby and I thought I would lose it all right away with breastfeeding. Now I’ve been coping with my stress of everything going on with Clara by eating copious amounts of chocolate and other junk food that people so generously bring to my house when they come to visit. So thoughtful but not so helpful. I am determined to get healthy though. My original goal to lose the weight two years ago was so that one day I could be a healthy, active mother. Well that “one day” is here. I need to be healthy for my Clara girl and to help me be the best mom I can be. I have set incremental weight goals for myself and am working to get back to my pre-baby weight. I plan to do this by:

• Tracking my food on myfitnesspal – if you use this, add me. Hold me accountable to tracking! (my profile is agarvin10)
• Be active everyday – whether that’s going on a walk, running on the treadmill, or walking stairs in my home on days when I can’t make it out. I am going to start wearing my Jawbone Up24 again (a fitness tracker) and my goal is to get 10,000 steps a day.
• Eat breakfast daily.
• Eat fruits and vegetables like they’re chocolate.
• Up my protein – eat more lean meat daily, have a protein shake a few times a week, and eat a smoothie with flax and spinach at least once a week.
• Limit my sweets to one a day, except on special occasions, and be intentional about what it is – definitely the candy box on the table has to go!
• Have an accountability partner who is determined as I am to be healthy.

I think with these realistic goals I can hit my goal weight in no time! I have already started tracking again and feel better being aware of what I am eating again.

Be loving. My husband will be the first to tell you that I am not a cuddly, ooey-gooey lovey type person. That’s just not who I am. But I don’t think there’s only one way to show people I love them. I want to work on being intentional in making sure people know I care about them. Whether it’s bringing them Starbucks just because or a call to chat and say I appreciate them or planning a special night out. I want to be loving and make sure people know I care and that they are important to me.

Last year I felt like I had a clear direction and knew what I wanted to accomplish throughout the year. I went back to my “content” word many times and by about half way through 2014 really felt like I was truly, honestly content. I have so been loving life and where we are at so I am so excited to see what 2015 has in store!

What goals, dreams, and ambitions do you have in mind for 2015? Did you choose a word of the year? I’d love to hear what your goals are in the comments below!