What to do in 2009.

I've been thinking about my "bucket list" since I blogged about it last month. In the past I have made lists of very tangible, check off worthy things, but this year I've had a hard time with that. I like to accomplish things, but I've been learning that not everything has a finite end to it. So, this year my goals are bigger and more ongoing than in the past. I still need some things to check off, so I'll maintain a couple of my favourite goals from the past few years. When I was trying to decide what I wanted on my list, I started thinking about the following question... "What are the things that I really want to do in my life?"

1. Raise kids that love Jesus, love me, like me, respect me and want to spend time with me when they are grown up.

2. Get my PhD.

3. Spend a year travelling around the world.

4. Actively grow in my faith.

5. Make the most of all the opportunities that God gives to me.

Those are the big 5 for me in my lifetime. The following 5 are my small, practical, check off goals for 2009.

1. Compete in the Delta triathlon and finish in the top 1/3.

2. Read another 10 new (to me) authors.

3. Finish decorating the inside of my house (painting, refinishing furniture, etc).

4. Go on a date. (might as well do something wild and crazy!)

5. Learn Spanish.

I think that's it. This is unusual for me. I typically have long lists, filled with little things, big things, odd things, but all pretty easy to do things. I need to push myself this year - kick start some positive, challenging changes. The big 5 seem a bit ambiguous and I know they will require a thousand micro goals, but they are each important to me and worth putting on paper. They each seem impossible, but step by step I know they can be accomplished.