I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, so I typically avoid them.  Except last year, where I resolved to stop reading Sacramento Bee article comments that bashed State of California workerbees because I take them too personally.  Well, that didn’t work.

This year, since I’m following my path to some new kind of life, I am doing something more like goal setting.  It’s got less to do with resolve than it does to do with transformation.

1. Completing the first stretch of my journey towards better health.  Huge progress so far!  My plan is to reach my goal by March/April, leaving me lots of the rest of the year to drink wine and martinis, which I seem to be missing a lot this holiday season.  All things aside, the rest of the journey is to maintain what I’ve accomplished once I get there.
2. Learning to say no. This is a skill everyone should have.  Life is too short not to learn this, and if I learn it at 43, it’s not too late. And speaking of 43, I’ll be 43 in a few weeks.
3. Taking the time to learn to cook things beyond the microwave.  (Thanks to my wonderful husband for my new All-Clad slow cooker thingy!)
4. Here’s 4 words to carry with me for the year: motivation, inspiration, determination, conversation*. I’m looking for all of these, within myself and around me.  I’m lucky to have a great group of people around me for support and encouragement, to listen when I’m a raving lunatic, and to help me keep the vision straight. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.

Simple things, you’d think. But this is what I’m willing to take on this year.  You’re welcome to come along for the ride.

Shine again in 2010.**

* Thanks to Sparkpeople.com for this article: 14 Tips for Starting and Sticking With It

** Thanks to the wisdom of the Oracle for that beauty!