There, I said it.

I used to scoff at New Year's goals and resolutions. I even brought treats to work and called them resolution breakers. It seemed flimsy - the idea of setting a goal just because a date rolled around. I wanted a real reason to make a change. And while I still maintain that setting a goal just to set a goal isn't a great idea, I have become a huge believer in adopting new habits, new goals, or whatever you want to call them.

Last year, I decided to journal every night. I was tired of entries that started with, "Wow, it's been forever since I..." or entries that included "Really wish I wrote more." If you don't like something, change it. So I did. I wrote every day of 2014 with the exception of half a dozen or so days. Clearly this meant something to me because I've mentioned the journaling before, but it along with a few other things were game changers - I did something I had never done before which only made me more motivated for what I wanted to accomplish in 2015.

2015's habits/goals are not anything fancy. In fact, they are subtle enough that no one except myself will notice that they are in place. Four weeks into the year though, I can tell you they are making a difference...proving again to myself that I can do things if I set my mind to it. With no fanfare, they are--

• Floss and anti-aging lotion daily (How am I 31 and still avoiding flossing? I know better. And I already am going to have more wrinkles than my peers who married ten years sooner than I did...at least I can aspire to younger looking skin down the road.)
• One chapter a day (I always say I love to read, and then I hardly read)
• One chapter, half a devotional, or one talk a day (I need to do something spiritually focused more regularly)
• Continue journaling daily. 
• Exercise three times per week, even if it's as simple as walking. (So far this and reading are the highlight.

Like I said, nothing dramatic, but they work for me. The new semester that started this past week also is a fresh start of sorts, so I've added a few things.

• 15 minutes a day of organizing papers, files, etc. at work (Makes all the difference for sanity and making my room look as organized inside the cabinets as it does on the outside.)
• Weaning off soda...again. (I did it last year for a few months along with a few other times. This time I'm going for moderation - just not keeping it in the house and not having it daily.)
• Reaching out to more friends and making actual plans (No more of this - "Yes, we should do something soon." I am actually making plans and loving catching up with friends and people I haven't seen in ages.)

It feels silly to document all this, but there it is. My simple life in a nutshell. It's not over dramatic or flashy, but it's a wonderful life and I'm going to do all I can to make it even better.

Happy 2015!