This is happening! #MTH 2013

 This is happening! Safe and sound in Chapel Hill and excited for big things tomorrow and Thursday.  Prayers and love are always appreciated.  I can't wait to share.  In the meantime, this is my big list.  After days and days of pre-work, lots of reflection and even more praying, this is my heart.

Here we go...the list of 20 goals for 2013.  After lots of reflection this is what I got...

So these are the real important ones right...the meat of the whole process?!?!?!? I'm desperately trying to reign it in without squashing my little "dream big" mantra that I have going on.  As usual I have so many ideas and goals whirling around in my heart and head and I'm banking on the guy in charge to take charge.  I know he will, whether or not I'm listening closely and hear him the first time is another question.  I'm straining to hear. 

1.  Listen, because it's important.  Way more important to listen and learn than talk. Listen to God, to Barrett, to Finn, to co-workers, friends, students and family, even if what they have to say is different than what I want to hear.  How I'm going to do this is a mystery, because I'm sure you would think by all the talking I do that I like the sound of my own voice.  Some days I do...oh if only you could hear it inside my head.  Well, maybe it's better that you can't because sometimes it's better that there is a filter between my brain and my mouth.  But regardless, I'm going to work to improve this.  To be careful of my words.  To use them in ways that are helpful and energizing and purposeful, instead of just blabbering to simply hear myself talk or prove a point.  I think that this will require me to really slow down and be willing to listen more to what people have to say.  Also, not just listen, but really hear them.  I have a lot to learn and I learn it best when people dig in and honestly and openly express themselves.  If I'm talking too much I might miss something really important that they have to say.  Give people my time and attention completely.  I love when you meet someone who makes you feel like you are the only person in the room and that you have their full attention.  I hope to do that for people more. 

2. Pray, specifically with Barrett and for Finn.  This is scary for me and we don't do it out loud...frankly ever!  This must change.  It's so vulnerable, to share those deep parts of your heart with someone else, but I am confident this will be amazing for our marriage!   What example are we setting for Finn? 

3.  Invest in new mamas.  I'm not exactly sure what this looks like.  Recently, this is starting to take shape as part of my action plan for 2013.  I spend a lot of hours thinking and planning what my new business is going to be, and most days, I don't even discriminate about what the industry is as long as I'm in control (still working on that one, cause nothing is really mine) and that I own it.  I think that there is a huge opportunity to build a community of new moms and support them in this adventure of parenthood.  IT IS HARD! and no one is really honest and shares how it really is.  It's like, holy cow all of a sudden you wake up because a baby is crying or you walk into work with crusty cinnamon twists stuck to your pants and you think....whoa when did this become my life?  In the midst of the madness sometimes I forget how lucky I am.  I ADORE that sweet little baby, but I want to find a way to encourage an inspire new mamas and relatively new mamas in lots of areas.  I'm thinking, health, fitness, style, organization, accountability, helping them with self care (keeping their souls excited and charged up) so that they can share and spread the love with their babies.  We must be full to pour out and I think that there is a huge lack or real and honest conversation among mamas.  It's so easy to become consumed with the ins and out of raising a family.  Let's not loose ourselves, but instead invest and help each other out. 

4.  Become certified as a Dr. Sear's Health Coach- I want to do this, so that I can expand my scope of practice to serve young women, mamas, college ladies and my peers alike.  I think we have a lot to learn from each other.  I want to develop a program that incorporates what I have learned through this goal setting  process and encourage women to be the best versions of themselves.  If we don't take care of our selves and continue to challenge and grow and build accountability with each other we will become stagnant.  I want to give and encourage and I have a sneaky suspicion that at the end of the day I will be full.

5.  Be  more conscious of my energy.  Why do I spend my days somewhere that leaves me feeling exhausted and SUPER crabby at the end of the day?  Settling because of security really is selling myself short. 

6. Be healthy and healthful!  Drink more water, do more yoga, get outside, run with Barrett and Finn, play with the puppies and pray.  These are the things that are good.

7.  Dig deep.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the real conversations that I have with people.  Aunt Kris always excites me and challenges me and the encouragement that Laurie and Christen send really is incredible.

8.  Read more. Read more to Finn.  The bible, real books and much less Facebook and instagram commentary.  Seriously!  I also want to read some good parenting books.  There is a ton of really good stuff out there and I want to be a wealth of knowledge so that I can do a few of the previously listed things better, including setting a great and healthy example for that sweet baby.

9.  Find a crew of strong and good Christian women that are local and will constantly encourage, challenge and hold me accountable to these plans.  Specifically my MTH results!  Oh I can't wait!!!

10.  Write more.  Blog more consistently and share my thoughts, because I like to and it's so fun to reflect upon how far we've come. 

11.  Use my real camera.  I really need to invest and stop being lazy about those manual settings.  I want to learn how to not only use them, but how to do post processing too via photoshop and lightroom.

12.  Be more honest with people.  Sometimes I'm afraid to share my crazy ideas, but I think that I do need to give myself more credit and actually make my ideas a reality by doing them.  Part of this process has a lot of components from the previously listed goals, including finding an accountability group and a network of cheerleaders who will encourage and light a fire under my butt.  Remember DO instead of plan!

13.  Be intentional with my time.  Stop rushing and quit being late!  What is sucking my time and attention? Those are usually the same things that distract me and make me late.  Also, at night, Barrett and I should spend more time talking and doing productive things instead of goofing around on our phones or watching TV.  Seriously...we need to make this a priority.

14.  Bi-weekly date nights.  Because I love my husband.  I think that we should be intentional about this time.  I'd really like to start a study or go through this process with him. 

15.  Save.  Enough said.

16.  Do more creative things without an agenda and simply because it's good for the soul.

17.  Run a half marathon...because I know that I can.  Also, get in the pool. 

18.  Call my brother more.  He deserves this and he's the best brother ever.

19.  Change my attitude.  This has been especially challenging lately.  It's way, way easier to daydream about what I wish I was doing, than actually invest the time and change what I don't like.  I want to figure this out.  What makes me come alive, change my attitude and do it.  I am 110% convinced that no matter what you do, even if it's collecting mosquitoes, with passion and being true to your heart you will be successful.  I need to work on remembering this. 

20.  Being defined by what I was brave for and believed in, rather than by what I was afraid of.  

21.  Remember this list!

xo-A