Happy New Year!

2020 Goals

I have quite a few goals for the coming year, but I know they are attainable. They will be challenging, but I know I can succeed. 

I really want to be healthy and I know I am currently not in great…or even good shape. To be where I feel healthy, I know I need to lose at least twenty pounds. I do not imagine I will be able to do that in one year, but I think I can lose ten pounds if I stick to two of my resolutions for 2020. 

The first is to try a new recipe every other week. I am planning on choosing recipes from The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen. I want to eat healthier, so the recipes I am choosing will support that. I want to transition John’s and my eating habits to a mostly Mediterranean diet. I think this will help us both feel lighter and help support the second goal.

The second is to improve my physical health. I walked up the stairs today and I was breathing so heavily I think my boss thought I was going to pass out. So, I will start small by just taking the stairs whenever possible, taking a walk at lunch, and bringing my lunch to work everyday. John will also help, he wants to get in shape as well. He’s starting to complain of feeling lethargic and I know he does not like that feeling. I have challenges getting up in the morning, though I remember a time when I could get right up without feeling negative emotions, it was when I was a lot lighter than I am now. Another resolution that John and I are doing together is saving money. I was inspired by The Financial Diet’s 52-week challenge. We have a box and we will put money in weekly… well, I will. John is doing it at the beginning of each month for 4 weeks. He has chosen to work his way sideways, so he is starting with $1 and $52 in the first month. For the month of January he will have saved $106; I will have saved $10 by the end of January. I cannot wait to see how we do with this because I think being more financially conscious is necessary but we have been unable as of yet to find an attainable goal for ourselves. I think this will be a great jumpstart to our savings account for our future together.

My husband is from the Philippines and speaks Tagalog. So does the rest of his family. He is fluent in English, but I feel it must still be very challenging speaking to me sometimes. He has to constantly translate things in his head between English and Tagalog. I want to help bridge the gap in our communication and I think this may be one way to do that. He has already agreed to assist me in learning. I have also downloaded Rosetta Stone to my computer and phone. I tried finding local classes but there were none that I could participate in. Of all my resolutions for 2020, I think learning Tagalog is one of my favorites and definitely brings the most excitement. 

My final goal for 2020 is to be baptized. John was raised Catholic and I know it is very important to him. I have faith and went to a Catholic school for 9 years, though I was never baptized and neither of my parents are Catholics either. I started the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) with our local church earlier this year and plan to be baptized during Lent. This is probably my scariest goal because I am making a major lifestyle change. I am accepting a higher power into my life with all the traditions that come along with it.  It is scary but also wonderful and truly I cannot express the gratitude I feel for everyone who has helped me reach this point in my life. 

Long story short, my plans for 2020 is going to keep me very busy and I can’t wait!