What I am reading this year and other New Year's Resolutions

Every year I set myself some kind of "New Year's resolution" and I try to go for something I know I can actually stick with and something that I know would not be too overwhelming. Two years ago it was to run the Chicago Half Marathon - and I did it, together with my friend, neighbor, and a running partner - all in one person ;-)

(She keeps on running and completed 2 marathons this past year, you can find her inspirational blog by clicking here - I am not able to run long distance anymore - doctor's request)

My last year's resolution was to become more organized, as I am a person who wasn't born with such ability and it is difficult to do what I do everyday and not be organized. I ended the year ok but not great... That year I had one more resolution - to try Yoga. I used to hate it - too slow, too boring, too long. Guess what - I did it and I am LOVING it!!! (No picture here, maybe when my poses don't look so awkward ;-)

This year my goal is to cut on TV even more (we have not had a TV provider for the past year anyway) and read more books. The catch to that is to not read fiction but read non-fiction books that will hopefully educate me on some useful subjects. I love reading fiction but I find non-fiction mostly boring. For some of you this might be an easy task, but not for me. Here are some titles that were recommended to me by my friends...

1. The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein - yes I know, this one is a fiction but I thought I would start this off easy :-) This book was HIGHLY recommended to me by my husband and by now I am finished with it and I have to say - READ IT! I loved every word of it and so did he.

2. The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey - I would like to educate myself further about money and future and our awesome church uses Ramsey's program to help people get themselves to better financial future.

3. I Just Want my Kids to be Happy, by Aaron Cooper - Don't be fooled by the title... the subtitle goes like this "Why you shouldn't say it, Why you shouldn't think it, What you should embrace instead" - yes, I find that to be a problem of this generation of parents and I am guilty as well. 

4. How Children Succeed, by Paul Tough - the author is Chicago based so I hope this will give me an inside into my husband's job as well.

5. Be the Miracle: 50 Lessons for making the Impossible Possible, by Regina Brett - This was recommended to be by my friend who has the best library in the world

6. Start Something That Matters, by Blake Mycoskie - This story is about starting the shoe company Toms, which donates shoes to people in need all over the world. And who wouldn't want to make a difference, right ;-)

Anyway, wish me luck - and even read one of these (or all) and let me know what you think. I gave myself 2 months per book but I am hoping to finish them earlier.

My One Word for 2013

I know I am a little late with this one but couple weeks ago I found a post on someone's blog about The One Word for 2013. This is how it works - instead of writing down a list of New Year's resolutions and then later get overwhelmed by it, you simply come up with a word that summarizes what you want to accomplish this coming year. I love this idea!

My last year's "unofficial" resolution was to start running again and do something I thought I could never do. At the beginning of the year I had no idea what that might be but I just let it sit and stir and eventually it came to me on it's own. And so in September of 2012, I ran the Chicago Half Marathon. You have no idea how much I went out of my comfort zone.

This year I feel more confident, thanks to my last year's success and I am setting this goal - get organized. Now I am not talking only about organizing my house, although that is a big part of it, but mainly I am talking about organizing my priorities, my mind, my life...

I would like to feel more confident in what I do and I believe the biggest part of succeeding in that is to keep myself on track with everyday life, activities, and just things that are going on around me. Stay on track with my goals, make people around me happy, send friends and family Birthday cards, be present in the moment. Those are the small things that are usually running through my fingers and I miss out on them. 

That is what I want to achieve this year 

Get Organized!

In case you are interested in joining this idea, here is the link to the lovely Melanie from OnlyAbreath.com, who makes these for free! Isn't she so nice?