In less than 24 hours, we went from this…
To this.
Sigh. But all vacations must come to an end. Were you away, too? You can catch up here:
Florida Pt. 1: Postcard From Paradise
Florida Pt. 2: Strolling Through The Magic Kingdom
Florida Pt. 3: Sayonara, Chocolate Bread
Our flight was delayed a little due to rain and fog, but we were still home (and greeted by a frigid 31 degrees) by 6:30. Our fridge is bare, so we decided to order in. Ari voted for either Indian or Thai, so Indian it was!
We shared an order of vegetable samosas, basmati rice and naan, and I ordered my usual begun bharta.
For dessert, some creamy kheer: rice pudding made with almonds and raisins.
It was a relaxing night spent watching In Treatment (Season 2 just came out!) and hitting the sack early. I’m trying to get myself back onto an early schedule for the near year, and with lights out at 10:15, I’d say we did a pretty good job!
Speaking of 2011, this new year of ours, I thought I’d share some of my goals for the coming months. They aren’t promises to go down a dress size, dine out less, or cut back on my chocolate habit. No, I’ve instead jotted down a few things that I’ve figured out over the last few weeks will bring me joy. I’m always loath to write myself “resolutions,” because they almost always carry an undertone of deprivation, a dissatisfaction with what one already is. So this year will be about celebrating joy, friendship, and love in all of its many colors.
And so, without further ado…
SMALL (YET JOYFUL) GOALS OF 2011
1. Put $1000 in savings by the end of the year. I’ve been really good about transferring chunks of money from my checking to savings account every few weeks, and I plan to keep that up. Who knows when I’ll need to have access to $300 fast, or make a life-changing decision that will require a more substantial sum.
2. Run another half marathon, pain- and injury- free. With the exception of a slightly pulled groin, I made it through my last race (a 15k) virtually injury-free. Six months ago, I would have never thought this possible. Adequate strength- and cross-training was a big help, as was yoga and regular abdominal exercises. It’s given me the courage and motivation for the next part of this goal, which is…
- 2b. Run 9 races in order to qualify for the 2012 NYC Marathon. Who knows if I’ll actually want to do this- it’s almost two years from now!- but I want to give myself the option. They don’t have to all be big races… I think smaller races might be fun to train for, too, as I can concentrate more on speed.
3. Travel. Anywhere and everywhere. I’ve already just come back from a trip, so I think I’m off to a good start!
4. Journal more. Before I started blogging, I wrote in a diary almost daily. I’ve filled up almost 13 notebooks! They were often inane little entries about what I was reading or a movie I really enjoyed, but just the physical act of writing was a great release. Now that I spend so much time in front of a computer, I don’t do it as much. But as everyone knows, what’s on the internet isn’t the whole story, and I know I’ll want to remember all of those details later.
5. Say yes when I want to say no. This was a goal I made for myself back in October, and I want to keep encouraging myself to try new things, meet new people, and just live as much as possible.
6. Live guilt-free . This was also something I set out to do earlier in the year, and again I want to keep encouraging myself to ignore that little voice -the proverbial devil on your shoulder- that tries to get me down and feel bad about myself. It’s a process, but I’m getting better at catching it happening, and will continue to work at it.
7. Drive more. I didn’t get my license until I was 19, and even though I drove for three of the four years I spent in Minnesota for college, I go months at a time without getting behind the wheel. I rely on Ari and my parents to get me to a place that requires a car, and this just isn’t fair. Frankly I think I’m still a little afraid of driving, but only practice will help that. Besides, it’s a good way to make sure #3 happens!
8. Cook a new recipe once a week. I stole this idea from Holly, but it’s a great one. I have so many good cookbooks (and got a couple more for Christmas), not to mention all of the recipes I stumble upon daily in blogs. I’m pretty good about making food for myself at home, but it’s so satisfying to churn out the product of full recipe. Hope to start this one tonight!
9. Continue showing the people in my life how much I love and care about them. 
Well, that’s it, friends. Not too lofty that I’m setting myself up for defeat, but just enough of a push to start the year on the right foot.
Do you have any goals for 2011? I’d love to hear some of them!
I love all your goals and basically have the same ones for myself. You have a good head on your shoulders my lil veggie.
Now that you are home safely…what resort did you stay at?
Great goals!! My goals = be more confident, stop worrying/stressing, and continue to nourish myself.
Returning to snow after a warm vacation = total buzzkill. I feel your pain.
Loving your goals- many overlap with mine! Save more, journal, travel, saying yes… I’ve been thinking of them but time to put them down to paper.
One of my goals was to start a blog! and I did! But I guess I’ll have to see how it goes=) I love #6, I should add that into mine. I am already feeling so guilty because I’ve messed up my half-marathon training. If you don’t mind me asking what is begun bharta? I am a new vegetarian and have been wanting to try both Thai and Indian food but have been a bit afraid to=/
yum! rice pudding rocks
so does indian food!
i think i’m going to do the “say yes when i want to say no” thing…i’m tired of my grandma lifestyle. i need to branch out!
xo.
Great goals! I share a lot of those same ones for myself.
The first couple of days back from a vacation are always rough. I’m glad you had an easy first night to soften the blow!
like the say yes when you want to say no resolution! im with ya on that one
oh my! What a change. Stay warm up there. The kheer sounds yummy. Love rice pudding. And your goals are totally fabulous. #9 is my favorite. I have two goals: 1. Spend more time with family & friend, 2. get more sleep
i thiink you should travel to see meeee
haha or vice versa!
i know such terribleness to come back to
boo AND hiss. but i’m loving your goals! haha i like how you classified them as small healthy goals! i set things like that for myself all the time and two of my mayj ones are get a full time job and save atleast 1k by the end of the year! hopefully they come hand in hand ASAP haha
Ugh, what punishment to go from Florida to blizzard leftovers! I am sorry you had to come back to this, but better than no trip at all! And any trip that includes Disney is a treat in my book. I’m SUCH a cheeseball like that.
I like your goals–they are very realistic! The same thing happened to me and my journal habit by the way. I started journaling EVERY DAY when I was in 6th grade and didn’t stop until 1/2way through college! I can’t believe I kept it up so long, but it was a great habit. I’m not sure I feel the need for it now like I did when I was growing and changing more often, but I do always have a journal in progress so I can turn to it to write privately when I need to. And I still do! Just not as often. I think everyone practice journaling, even if briefly.
I would be glad to chauffeur you around! haha! I love to drive, hate to be a passenger!
And I need to say NO more. I am a yes’er, a pleaser, a take too much on’er and I need to just.say.no.
We can help each other
And I need to save money too, that was one of my 1st New Yrs intentions on my post i wrote about it all too!
Great list, Katie!
I love that you’ve based your goals around joy, such a positive approach. I have a lot of similar goals to you, travel, run another half, be a bit kinder to myself etc. I love the idea of cooking a new recipe each week, I try and have a lot of variety in my diet my I have a huge list of recipes I’d like to try – I need to jump to it!
Love your goals. I’d love to accomplish them all, and add wasting less time at the computer. More in-person talking, visiting and less virtual friendship. Write actual letters, with stamps and paper.
Great goals for the new year! I love Indian food, I need some in my life.
I gotta say, I am totally with you on the driving thing, even though I drive to work/class every day. Cars are scary!
I love how you chose to focus on joy and positivity in your resolutions. I have a feeling that the reason I tend to hate resolutions is because they’re usually associated with deprivation. Now I’m going to go write my own!
Thanks for sharing.
i love your goals, and i love the idea of this being a year for joy. i used to journal a lot more too and would like to do it more – blogging takes up a lot of my writing time! and travel is on my list as well – in fact, i’ve got kayak.com open in another window right now.
can’t wait to see what this year brings for you!
sweet goals! i can’t wait to see all the recipes you whip up this year.
I love to see your goals list.After seeing the setting of your goal, I need to think mine more deeply. I hope I have more courage to do something in different way,learn & try something new(organic food,travel,languge,skin care..),more deeply freind realtionship,save more money,work happinessly,do more exercise have a health mind & body .OH~GOD
I love your “say yes” more goal. Definitely something I should keep in mind. You’re only young once!