Gearing up for the year 2008

Hello world.

I am in Minnesota for the last day of 2007 and I am gearing up to post my first list of 101 goals. It is crazy how long it took me to come up with 101, but it is finally finished. I have to admit I am a little nervous to post these goals. I guess there is something about it that puts some pressure behind them all. Now that I have shared them with you all, now I must follow through. I am going to chronolog all my trials and tribulations. Post pictures. Vent my frustrations. Share my joys along the way. If I have inspired any of you all to do a list, please share it with me. I would like to give you the same support you have given me.

Where would I like to be at the end of these 1001 days? Well, I am always telling myself that there is so much I would like to do, but there are not enough hours in a day. I am hoping this project will open up all the opportunities to finally put some dreams into action. For those of you who may not know me well, I have tendencies to oversleep, I have put on a few pounds, my skin has broken out for some odd reason, I talk alot about art but have not produced any action, I am a sugar fiend, I stay up too late, play on the computer way too long, spend too much money and the list goes on.

Why is that bad you may ask? Well first of all, my health. I want to live a long healthy life. The way I have been eating (sugars) I am on the path for adult diabetes. I dont have the energy I once had. I want so badly for my skin to go back to normal. I want to plan for our future. I dont want to work my life away. I want to invest so that our money works for us while we are sleeping. I want to enjoy life to the fullest before we start a family. I need to open up my creative outlets. These goals I have listed, I believe, will put me on that path of where I want to be.

I read a book called Conversations with God, and it talks about why we are on this earth. Really, we dont have to do anything. Nothing. We could just sit and watch TV for days if that is what we really wanted to do with our lives and that would be okay. But if you wanted to go to Los Angeles and were simply placed randomly in the USA with no map or directions how would you get there? I know where I want to go, and my list is just a guide on how to get there.

Will getting there give me happiness? Well, I hope that is part of it, but that is not why I am doing it. I am so very happy where I am at. I love my husband. Where we live. The times with our family. Our dogs. My job. Charlie and I are very healthy at our age. I am every so grateful for it all and soon, I am going to make a list of just 101 things that make me happy. Happiness is not my quest but a pleasant by-product. My quest is the journey, the adventure, and so that I may be proud of the person I have become when I stop to reflect at the end of these 1001 days.

I simply want to change my perspective and by doing so I am going to focus on changing some of my bad habits. I have been inspired by the 30 day trials and I plan to do several of these during the next 1001 days. I will decide after the 30 day period if I am going to keep the habit or drop it like a hot potato. The first one I would like to do is becoming an early riser and get up at the same time every morning for 30 straight days.

Happy NEW YEAR everyone! Cheers!

What is the 101 goals in 1001 days all about?

Creating your own 1001 Day Project

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focussed. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Once you have created your site, you can add it to the master list here at Day Zero.

Want more information? Check out the web site: Day Zero

Imajenfly's 101 List

1. Run a half marathon


2. Visit and camp in the Grand Canyon


3. See New England's changing of the leaves.


4. Participate in a Texas art fair


5. Go to Napa Valley and visit different wineries.


6. Sell my wedding dress


7. Organize my photos in albums.


8. Join toastmasters.


9. Go to a Ramtha retreat.


10. Go thru and sort my childhood belongings.


11. Start an investment club for women.


12. Buy an investment property.


13. Make a will.


14. There is always enough. Repeat. I will say this whenever I worry about money.


15. Groundhog day every month, review goals.


16. Write in a blog every week.


17. Post a picture for every day.


18. Get caught up and keep up with Microsoft Money.


19. Send birthday cards for a year.


20. Stretch often.


21. Focus on my art. Find a direction. Walls. Books. Commissions. Explore all of these.


22. Floss every day. Dentist 2x a year. Just do it.


23. Switch to spending cash a week, instead of card.


24. Fit into a pair of jeans, size 6. (must be able to zip and sit.)


25. Take a multi-vitamin daily.


26. Drink water at meals.


27. Bring meals to work.


28. Learn to cook. Cook more at home.


29. Use coupons!


30. Paint 1-2 rooms for a child.


31. Illustrate a children's book.


32. Change my last name at all remaining institutions.


33. Completely revamp my closet and get rid of those little dresses that do not fit anymore.


34. Redesign Mom's business cards and brochures. Do a photo shoot.


35. Design a garden. Plant.


36. Fix our bottom patio into a sanctuary.


37. Ride the MS 150 from Houston to Austin.


38. Do my Yoga DVD for 30 days.


39. Rebound 10 minutes a day for 30 days.


40. Learn how to train Gizmo.


41. Do laundry once a week.


42. Change sheets every 2 weeks.


43. Wash car every other month.


44. Save 100 bucks a month.


45. Improve my swimming stroke in one summer.


46. Host a wine tasting at our home.


47. Learn how to play Texas Holdem.


48. Take the Durango train ride in Colorado.


49. Go on a cruise.


50. Go to Italy with Charlie.


51. Organize closet under the stairs.


52. Run 3X a week for 30 minutes.


53. In 2010 run a marathon.


54. Take an art class.


55. Get caught up on all my commissions. Marla, Tina, Wendy, Lacy, Brandon, H. Aunt.


56. Grocery shop once a week.


57. Major clean the house when season change.


58. Wash all windows on Townhome.


59. Keep up my real estate license.


60. Update my address book and put into Rollodex.


61. List 3 things to do the night before.


62. Listen to all my motivational business CD's


63. Learn how to weight train.


64. Set up garage with cable.


65. Buy a treadmill with cash.


66. Sing solo Karaoke.


67. Write Mommom a letter every other month.


68. Give up "sweets" cold turkey for 30 days.


69. Do push-ups after every run.


70. Back up and clean up the computer hard drive.


71. Read 5 books before purchasing 1.


72. Roll all loose change & deposit into savings account.


73. Read an article on Photography twice a week.


74. Get up at the same time for 30 days in a row.


75. Go 30 days without watching TV.


76. Build up my meditations to 20 minutes a day (and then do it twice a day).


77. Fast for 3 days.


78. Make a list of menus every week.


79. Go on a white water rafting trip.


80. Try skiing for the first time.


81. Take a tennis class.


82. Fly HTA for 6 months.


83. Use moisturizer.


84. Go to an Astros Spring training game.


85. See the Astros at Wrigley Field.


86. Try scuba diving.


87. Research different energy companies.


88. Fix our leaky toilets.


89. Load my music onto my MP3 player.


90. Work on a contract for the FCTOA clubhouse as coordinator.


91. Paint the ceiling in my bathroom.


92. Finish the hardwood floor edging.


93. Sell something every day for 30 days on Ebay.


94. Move the rest of my belongings out of Mom's house.


95. Sketch in my sketchbook every day for 30 days.


96. Make a wedding topper.


97. Make a luggage tag.


98. Take Gizmo & Buddy to a dog park.


99. Go to Destin, Florida.


100. Workout for 25 minutes every day for 30 days.


101. Make a new set 101 goals at the end of 1001 days. :)

To be continued...