In 2009, I set 9 goals.
In 2010, I set 10 goals (here is how I did!).
This year for 2011, I am setting 11 goals!
(I’m scared.)
It’s ok though, I am a Snow Warrior, after all.
I approach New Year’s Goals the same way I look at shoveling a huge mountain of snow:
Tackle a little bit at a time and eventually you look back and the entire driveway is complete! If you get tired during the process, head inside for hot cocoa & warm cookies to recharge.
It’s a life motto, really.
Plus, if I don’t set some fun goals for the New Year, how will I ever make it through the long, cold winter?
I’m convinced that New Years Goals help beat the winter blahs. Goals help us look forward to things and get excited and dreamy eyed, just like in the summer when the warm breeze is at our backs and the hot sun on our face.
On January 1st, anything is possible.
I’m excited.
Eleven in 2011
2011 THEME: Trust myself.
It is said that if you do everything with love you cannot go wrong. I have been trying to trust myself more and more for the past couple of years, but in 2011, I want to make it the theme of my year. I want to cut down on negativity (internally and externally) and only take on tasks that I truly want to do. I also want to work on giving my heart to my loved ones and always showing and telling friends and family how much they are appreciated.
Hell, I will start a day early…I love you guys!
1) Blogging: Quality over Quantity
There was once a time in my blogging journey when I was more concerned with blogging ‘x times per day’ than producing something that represented my best effort. Throughout 2010, I have realized that it is really about quality over quantity.
My blogging goal for 2011 is to never hit publish on something that is rushed or is not my best effort. I think there is too much pressure on bloggers to post as frequently as humanly possible, but I think it is important to step back and breathe.
2) Take care of my health and continue my journey with a Vegan diet.
Committing to a vegan diet is not always easy and this is why I decided to put it on my 2011 list.
I’m sure many of you think that veganism is a walk in the park for me, but there are many days that I really struggle with my commitment. My journey with veganism is always a work in progress and I have never had an end goal of being a ‘perfect vegan’.
I will slip up.
I will occasionally have foods that aren’t vegan.
I was called a ‘hypocrite’ by a few people when I said that I would try some non-vegan foods while traveling in Paris, but not everyone has to agree with my choices for it to be right for me. We need to stop worrying about what others think of us and do what speaks to us on a personal level.
As long as I keep feeling the positive effects of the food I eat, I’m willing to put in the extra effort to continue along this fun journey.
3) Write a vegan cookbook proposal + sign with publisher + start cookbook testing
and writing process
This one is scary to say out loud.
I want to write a vegan cookbook more than anything! Healthy recipe testing, cooking, and baking makes me feel very fulfilled and excited. Nothing would make me more happy than applying my creativity into a cookbook that I could share with all of you. I have a passion for my cookbooks and they bring me great joy. I would love to be a part of that.
With that being said, I don’t want to write any cookbook; it has to be the right opportunity based on my vision or I am simply going to wait. I will not settle for an offer that my heart is not into just to have a book published. I believe that what is meant to happen will happen, even if it is not as soon as we want!
4) Save 10% of monthly gross income into high interest savings account.
At the end of each month, I will assess how much gross income I have and then I will transfer 10% of this income into my high interest savings account.
At the end of the year I shall buy myself some Coconut Bliss.
That shit stuff is like gold!
5) Run my first 5k race in under 23 minutes (which would be <7:24 min/mile or 4:46 min/km pace)
This is going to take a lot of training, but there is a former track and field speed demon inside of me just waiting to tackle the short distance races again! I used to run sprint distances in school and I thrived on them. For some reason the thought of breathless agony appeals to me.
It’s complicated.
6) Raise money for charity.
In 2011, I am going to pick a new charity and spread the love around.
7) Do Body Pump class a minimum of one time per week.
Another fitness goal of mine is to build muscle. Running is great for my heart and sanity, but it doesn’t do much for building muscle I’m afraid. I have had awesome results with Body Pump in the past and I am excited to take the classes again!
8.) Take a photography course.
My photography skills are self-taught, but I would really love to take a photography course (or two) in 2011 to delve deeper into my newest passion. I learn best visually and hands-on as opposed to reading something off the internet.
It’s really a miracle that I can even operate my DSLR camera. I’m not very tech savvy, naturally. Eric is patient.
9) IRELAND or bust!
(Pic source: David Liddon)
Eric and I have wanted to go to Ireland since we met over 10 years ago. My mother in law grew up in Ireland and we have lots of family that we can stay with to cut back on costs. It would basically be a week of chugging beer, eating chips, and pretending I live in a castle. I’m down with that.
10) Meditate for 3 minutes per day.
My approach to things that scare the crap out of me? Shoot low and I might surprise myself. As easy as 3 minutes per day sounds, this is actually one of the goals I am not sure I will accomplish given my prior track record with meditation!
My goal is to meditate for 3 minutes each day in 2011 in an effort to reduce mental ‘noise’. Mental Noise is what I like to call ‘a brain that never stops talking to itself’.
I suffer from Mental Noise, as do many other women. I have this constant chatter in my head and I’m pretty sure it’s not the kind that can be aided by medication.
11) Wild Card
My final goal for 2011 shall remain a secret until the end of the year! I have to have a few secrets up my sleeve!
Do you have any fun goals for 2011? What are you looking forward to?
What an exciting set of goals. Best of luck with the book proposal. You have amazing receipes though, so I see it being snapped up!
That photo of Ireland – is of the castle in my hometown. I was there taking photos of it in the snow just the other day! I know you have lots of relatives here but if you want any ideas or tips let me know. I don’t live her always but I grew up here and likely to be around/nearby in the 2nd half of the year if you were thinking of doing a reader meetup?
Happy New Year! I’m really looking forward to reading you in 2011.
I’m so glad you shared your goals with the world. I think it’s great that you admit you aren’t a perfect vegan. No one should judge for your choices. I am positive you can publish a cookbook. You have a very large following and publishers love that. And I like the 3 minutes a day thing. That seems manageable for anything! Happy new year.
I think your goals are fabulous Ange!
oh yes, vegan cookbook is a must! and so is ireland. My father in law just moved there so we will be visiting soon as well! Happy new year friend.
LC
I love your goals!! I have a lot of similar ones for 2011, including the BodyPump, the photography, and the veganism. I’m trying to commit myself to a month of veganism to start off, then taking it from there. Congrats on a successful 2010, and here’s to a wonderful 2011!!
goodluck with your goals!
hi Angela!Nice list of goals!!
if you write a book, I’ll buy it!
I hope that I can received it in Italy :)
Frying bacon the other night for my “non vegan” family, my brother in law asked what I miss the most about “eating like a normal person” and my response was grilled cheese :) The 5 year old in me craves it once every couple months. Being vegan and having a sensitivity to glutten makes eating clean easier but I know I will always have cravings…. aka the desire for a chunk of cheddar cheese.
Have you ever tried the famous Daiya cheese? I just bought some but have not tried it yet…its soy and dairy free :) I hope its as good as everyone says it is!
I have tried the “mozzarella” on pizza the texture and the flavour was really good.
I’ve tried the cheddar, the flavour is incredibly similar-to someone who hasn’t eaten cheese in what feels like a looong time, not so much to my dairy eating friends :)
Such awesome goals! I love your wild card goal – so cool!
I have a few goals this year, and I’m still working on them:
1. Participate in another CSA
2. Continue to get healthy and listen to my body
3. Travel
4. Move my blog from wordpress.com to a self hosted site
5. Eat locally and in season
Your goal #2 really resonated with me: Taking care of you health and continuing on your vegan journey. If you don’t mind, I’m going to adopt your goal #2.
I’m glad you noted that eating vegan 100% of the time is not easy, especially when traveling and/or eating out. We don’t have to berate ourselves if we partake in something non-vegan once in a rare while. But it’s a journey we want to continue. If we’re mindful of the journey then those non-vegan moments will get fewer and further between.
Great goals for 2011! I can’t believe you’ve never taken a photography course because your pictures always amaze me.
Love your goals Angela! I would totally buy your cookbook.
I just posted my goals, I would like to start meditating too!
A few things. First, your blog is amazing in content and quality. I don’t feel like you publish mediocre posts. If this is not quality, I can’t wait to see what you have in store.
I have been trying to runa sub 23 min 5k for a while. Would you mind sharing your training plan when you get to that point?
Lastly, I would like to place my preorder for your cookbook. Cannot wait!
You really should do the cook book. It would be amazing and I would totally buy it.
Last year I decided to be Vegan and like you I have made choices to eat some foods that are not. (like an earlier post cheese was my main weakness) This year I not only want to eat completely Vegan I also want to stop eating processed foods and eat cleaner. I hosted Christmas dinner this year for my family where everything was vegan except for the turkey, I have told the family that this was the last one I would make an in future any meals at my home will be Vegan. I have noticed that the family members I expected the most resistance from have been the most open to my way of eating which makes me feel great. Other goals are to continue to exercise but kick it up to at least 4 times a weeks or even better 5 times, to get my papers in order( I do not plan on leaving this earth any time soon but have seen what can happen if people cannot find your paperwork), plant a vegetable garden, take an art class I would like to learn to paint in watercolour, type up my mothers recipes and make into a book to give to family (also try to convert them to vegan dishes for me), volunteer I am looking or a place to volunteer in the Peel region, and finally watch less TV and spend more time doing all the things I want to do on this list. Have a great year everyone! Also Angela there is always room for another cookbook on my shelf.
Great work Angela! I’ve enjoyed following you for the last year and a half and am so happy for your success. I hope you have an amazing 2011!
Angela! Put me on the list for your book! Thanks for the inspiration and humor over the year. Looking forward to more of you wit, wisdom and wickedly excellent recipes.
Angela *Cottonwood Canyons, Utah
Amazing goals! You are so dedicated and motivated, I know you will accomplish all you set out to do. Good luck and happy new year!
And my goal? Make things home made. I buy far too many things in store that would require not much more than a whiz in the food processor, a grind in the coffee grinder or a bake in the oven… so why not save money and make my own hummus or nut butter? :)
xo
i love the goal of making things homemade!
Great goals!!! TAKE a photography course??? OMG Angela, I think you could TEACH a photography course!!! I’m sure you disagree and of course have much to learn, but please know your pictures are fantastic!! And for the record, I’ll be buying your book WHEN (not if) it’s published!!! All the best to you and Eric (and Sketchie) for 2011!
Love the goals and I do themes every year! This year, my theme is “CHAAARRRRGE!!!!” I’m ready to accomplish a lot of the bigger goals that I have been working on over the last couple of years and am quite excited for them!
I’m excited to hear about how your cookbook goes as I’ll be first to pre-order a copy! I’m sure you’ll be fighting publishers off!
Looking forward to following along this year and see what’s in store for you!
I’m also trying to learn more about photography! Your photos are great examples for me.