1. Improve My Family Life
We can ALL work on this. I want to be a better husband. Way too often, I have put myself above my wife. Every day, I regret this. Why didn't I do a little extra for her? Why didn't I fix dinner every once in a while? Why didn't I take her to a movie? Why didn't I spend a little extra time with the kids when she was really tired? We can't go back and change the past, but we can improve the future and make our spouse realize that they are the reason we want to better ourselves. Should you want to better you for you? Absolutely. But, if you have that special person in your life, that might push you just a little more. That might make you work a little harder, when you think you have worked as hard as you can. Same thing goes for kids. Go the extra mile. Tired? Your kids will only be this age once. Even if they don't want to spend time with you, I encourage engaging in a family activity. Play a game, read a book, do whatever it takes. Do I think my kids will love me at all times? No. I think most kids have at one point or another, told their parents "I hate you" when they don't get their way, but it is my goal to be a better parent tomorrow then I was today.
2. Become a Happier Person
This one I think is particularly important. I feel a happy person can be a productive person. I just want to be happy at all times. I am not counting on being happy 100 % of the time, but let's shoot for it (or at least 99.9). Plus, I feel that when we are unhappy, we are not productive and are letting ourselves down. I just want to be happy and see that glass half full at all times.
3. Save Money Out of Each Paycheck
I think for people of my age, this is hard. Really, with the economy the way it is right now, this is tough for any working class individual. But, even if we could just save 25 dollars out of each paycheck, I would consider that a start, because we all want to get out of a living pay check to pay check, and in today's economy, that ain't easy.
4. Run/Workout Each Day
I have become a running fool. A lot of people would already say I had 1/2 of the equation before I started running. I don't feel like I am the world's greatest runner, but I feel like I am steadily getting better. I am going to tackle a 10k in Richmond on March 31st. My goal is to cross the finish line under 1 hour and 15 minutes. Can I do it? I don't know. Am I going to bust my butt training for it? Yep. Also, when I say run/workout every day. It doesn't mean that bench pressing or running are going to be in the cards every day. Most days, I will probably be doing some real working out (running, weights, or whatever) but the point for all of us, is let's cut down on lazy days. Don't just around watching TV and eating potato chips all day. Get up. Do some cleaning. Find some activities that will make you keep moving. Going up and down stairs. Find something, let's cut down on days where we are inactive.
5. Become More Dependable and Reliable
If we aren't as good as our word, then we are nothing. Everybody breaks an engagement/promise every once in a while. However, I think our goal should be "Hey, when I call Bob, I know he's gonna be there for me." or "I don't have to check my watch because I know Bob is going to be there". Things like that I think are just some of the qualities that make one dependable and reliable. That is another thing I strive to be better at in 2012.
6. Continue to Lose Weight
Running has been a major asset in my weight loss, no doubt. However, to really make a significant change in one's weight, you have to watch the diet. That has been the hardest part. In 2012, I am really going to try hard to discipline myself to eat what I should be eating, and not always what I want to be eating. This is going to be the toughest thing for me to do. Hopefully, it will work out for me, but number 6 could be my most challenging resolution to keep.
7. Do Some Work on "The Sports Buffet Podcast" Each Day
I want to do a little something on my hobby each day. Whether it is updating my general sports blog or high school sports blog, updating the facebook site or doing some podcasting. I love interviewing coaches, going to games, just one thing each day to help my little hobby.
There you have it. Do I have some minor goals too? Yes, but those are the seven resolutions that I am going to do my best to keep.
