2022 Goals Wrap-Up

 

image courtesy of four minute b**ks website

Here we are:  at the end of 2022 and some of us......the ones with goals either achieved or not....are reflecting on how the year went for us.  Most of you probably know by now, if you've been a follower here for more than a couple of years, that I don't make New Year's resolutions.  Those just get broken...or never take off, or are too trite (for my self I mean).  Rather, I set goals in every area of life:  physical, emotional, mental/career related; spiritual, relational/social.  This was a tough year for me.....the tough part began in April with unexplained daily head pain.  Fast forward to the middle of November when I finally discovered it's not from allergies that 3 different doctors (two whom are specialists!) were insisting on, but rather, they have been from my neck arthritis/upper back issues/disc issues.  Because I've led an active life, from biking, kayaking, hiking, power walking, and lifting many young children over the years, plus carrying heavy objects, I have developed disc issues and arthrits.  Having lyme disease 20 years ago and having it undiagnosed and then misdiagnosed and then mismanaged for 8 months didn't help either and now I'm suffering from those consequences of lyme arthritis.  But God is still good and I'm in treatment with my wonderfully amazing chiropractor Ann Marie. She is just the best and I thank God for her all the time!  Therefore.....it's been a rough year.  Headaches are still present just about every day but they're becoming less throbbing and I have more pain free moments or chunks of time without the throbbing pain.  

But that's not what this post is supposed to be  about.  This is a summary of my 2022 year goals.  Let's jump in and wrap up what I've achieved and not achieved. 

PHYSICAL/HEALTH GOALS

Well..... I had 2 overall goals in this area:  to lower my total cholesterol naturally (with no meds) and to hike in the high peaks and eastern regions of the Adirondack Mountains.   Here's how I did: I did lower my total cholesterol AND I raised my HDL (good) cholesterol.  My primary at that time was very happy and surprised when I told her that once again, I lowered it due to phytosterols vs prescription meds. I continue to take the highest rated phytosterol supplements on the market. I did this also by meeting some of the short term objectives:  I power walk 5 days a week, usually outdoors; I've fluctuated between limiting cheese intake and overdoing it with cheese (so this short term objective will carry over into 2023).  I did not meet my objectives of using my fitness ball 4x a week (some weeks were better than others though) nor did I have an established weights routine this past year.  That is also going to be a goal for 2023:  adding weights to my cardio workouts. I did have success in preparing/eating plant based meals at least 5x weekly.  Some weeks I had NO meat/animal fat products at all. 

In regards to the hiking: I did not hike at all in the high peaks region due to my neck and headache issues.  I also just couldn't find anyone who wanted to tackle the harder mountains with me.  There's always summer 2023, right?! I did hike 3 new to me trails/mountains in the eastern region and I did find 4 waterfalls for the 50 Falls Challenge!  Those were accomplished last spring and summer and one was done this past November! I also met the short term objective of planning 4-6  hiking events for my Fitness group.  I actually planned 5 and in those 5 at least 2 friends went!  It was a lot of fun. I think I did pretty well with the Physical/Health Goals. 

SPIRITUAL GOALS

Overall Goal: to fully study Scripture on a deeper level

My short term objectives were to read 2 major prophets from the Old Testament and to thoroughly study those books. I did read and study the book of Ezekiel and it took far longer than I anticipated.  It was a very deep study.  I accomplished this last spring.  I also began reading and studying Isaiah but somehow I didn't continue with that one so my goal for 2023 will be to at least read through that book as well. 

Another short term objective was to thoroughly study the book of John in the New Testament.  This was accomplished in the late spring with my small group.  It was a great study.  Another short term objective was to read through the entire book of Psalms.  I made it to Psalm 119 and then put that aside for a bit to concentrate on the small group study we started this past September. I will finish Psalms this winter. The last 2 short term objectives in this area of development was to spend prayer time with my husband once a week (we have accomplished this and will continue this habit) and I led my small group study through the month of June.  I am still praying about if I am going to have another small group study in Spring/Summer of 2023.  Dave and I are currently leading a group of 7 people in a study this winter that we will finish in April. I feel like I have accomplished this goal! 

PERSONAL/CAREER/MENTAL GOALS

My long term goal here was:  to gain 15 credits towards my NYS Aspire account (a teaching thing) by November.  I have currently acquired 23.75 credit hours even though technically I have more from Hillsdale College when I took an online children's literature course (NYS didn't accept those credits). I also took a ransom spyware course which didn't earn credits even though our boss said it would.  She is going to have to look into that! I will continue to acquire the needed 30 credits by next Sept. (we need 30 credits every 2 years). I did take 3 special education workshops via work since last January so that short term goal has been met!

I had a 2nd long term goal of playing the piano more consistently. I have met this goal!  I now practice some of my classical pieces from college and am currently working on a Haydn piece I performed for my senior recital.  Wow....it has been years since I performed that! I also sit and play worship songs once in a while.  Another long term goal was to spend less time on social media:  this definitely has happened.  I took Facebook off of my phone, along with Messenger, and for 5 weeks this past autumn, I had a social media break (although I did post hiking photos to Instagram). I met that goal and I continue to spend less time on FB and will continue this into 2023. I also had a short term objective to go with that long term no social media goal and that was to read at least 40 books in 2022.  Well....guess what?! I am on my 41st book of the year!  Most of what I read was Fiction but there were a few non-fiction books as well.  This was an easily accomplished goal as I don't watch TV and don't have Netflix or Hulu on every evening. I feel really good about these goals!

EMOTIONAL/RELATIONAL GOALS

Overall Goal: continue to establish and maintain close friendships/family ties

We definitely met the first short term objective of having friends or family over for food and game nights.  We hosted game nights 3 times this past year and it was a lot of fun!  We are having another one Friday evening. Other short term objectives were to have date nights with Dave once a month (we have been consistent with meeting this!) and to have coffee dates with friends (again, this is consistent now...in fact, tomorrow I have a dinner date with one of my prayer partners since I am on vacation all week! 

I also met the short term objective of meeting with my prayer partner every 8 weeks....we will continue to do this.  And one prayer partner and I pray together over the phone every month.  It's been a blessing!  I feel great about meeting this goal  this year.

How did you do this year?  Did you set goals for yourself??  

I'm now ready to think about what goals I want to set for 2023!