Here are my 2023 Goals and the progress I have made. A few of these goals will carry over into 2024.  It's been a pretty good year despite the diagnoses of Cervicogenic Headaches/Degenerative Neck Issues. 

PERSONAL/CAREER/MENTAL GOALS

The overall goal is to complete 15 credit hours for my NYS Aspire account (teaching credits).

Short term goal 1: complete 3 on site trainings by April. I have completed 1 training (Lockdown Drill review training) on site.  I completed 2 more trainings in the month of March and 1 in May and retired in June so this goal is complete!!

Short term goal 2: complete 2 online courses via the NYS OCFS website:  This goal is met!!  I have completed 3!  (Abusive Head Trauma/Shaken Baby Syndrome; Adverse Childhood Experiences aka ACEs; Mandated Reporter Training to Identify Neglect and Abuse). This was completed by the end of January!

Short term goal 3: participate in all agency staff meetings January thru August: I attended every single staff meeting from February through June (minus the one that was cancelled in January due to a snow day).  This goal is complete!

Short term goal 4: upload all certificates to Aspire by the end of Summer School (I have already uploaded all of the ones I have completed/earned). This goal was completed by me the week before I retired.  I still have a teaching account with the state that will be shut down as of December 31st!!  Thanks  to retirement and not needing to renew my permanent certification!!

Overall Goal Two:  Spend less time on social media

Short term goal 1: Turn off my phone after 8 pm.  I have focus turned on now from 8 pm until 8 am so this goal is met.

Short term goal 2: no Facebook or Insta before work or after dinner.  This goal is ongoing. 

Short term goal 3: read 2 non-fiction books by June:  I am almost done with 1 and I have started a 2nd one! This goal was met!

Short term goal 4: write letters to far away friends and family twice this year: I have written one letter this month:  to my friend Diane who lives out in central NY.  I have sent out 3 cards via snail mail to people in February.  A birthday card to a far away in March.  I sent out 4 Easter cards to family.  I mailed two letters to far away friends and sent out 4 birthday cards in September and 1 in October. This goal is met!

Short term goal 5: practice piano 3x a week after work. Since I retired in June, I have joined with an ex teaching colleague for 4 handed piano pieces and we practice monthly together at her home. I'm practicing alone (my part) 3x a week during the mornings or afternoons before Dave gets home from work.   This goal is met and will be on going. 

SPIRITUAL GOALS

Overall Goal: Pray more and discuss spiritual matters more with family and friends 

Short term goal 1: Read and study 1 major prophet of the OT and discuss with Dave:  I am currently studying the book of Isaiah.  I have shared some insights with Dave and wrote a blog post summarizing the first 5 chapters. This goal was met this past Spring. 

Short term goal 2: read through Psalms.  I am currently reading  through the Psalms and began with Psalm 30. This goal is not met yet....I am currently focusing on Psalm 119 and have completed 30-44 and 1-5. 

Short term goal 3: read and study the book of Galatians in the NT.  I have just (November 4) started this goal!

Short term goal 4: begin a new woman's small group This goal was met in early September!  I started a new group in May and we met weekly from May-Sept with 3 weeks off (one in June, July and August) for vacations. 

Short term goal 5: have a set time for prayer and meditation each morning or afternoon.  I am doing this (meditation) in the morning.  I also pray every morning, evening and sometimes while driving. this goal is on-going. 

Short term goal 6: Engage in one online Bible study:  this goal is met!  I participated in one led by my cousin Trisha about the Fruit of the Spirit. 

EMOTIONAL/RELATIONAL GOALS

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

Short term goal 1: set up coffee dates with younger daughter: This is on-going.  We had our first month one about 3 weeks ago when we had a lunch date at a fave vegan cafe. Month 1 date is complete! This goal is on going.  Claire and I meet monthly and it's so much fun.  She also comes over for dinner each week. 

Short term goal 2: set up dinner dates with oldest daughter: We have had two this month!  one at her apartment and one at our home. This goal is on-going for the year. (Courtney had dinner with us twice in September, and twice in October). 

Short term goal 3: continue to have at least 1 date night per month with Dave : this month (February)  we had 2 dinner dates (Indian restaurant; local fave diner) and 2 in-home movie date nights.  This goal is on-going all year. (In the month of September we had 3 date nights and in October we took a romantic get away to the mountains for 4 days).  We also had a dinner date the end of October. 

Short term goal 4: set up coffee/breakfast dates with close friends:  I had one breakfast date this month with my friend Cindy R. This goal is on-going. I'd like to have at least 3 more by June. This goal is met!!  I had a breakfast date with a friend in April, a coffee date with another friend in July and a breakfast date with a different friend in July). 

Short term goal 5: continue to meet with prayer partner/spiritual mentor every 2 months:  I have not done this yet except over the phone with my prayer partner Monica. (As of February)>  Next month we plan on getting together in person for brunch and prayer. I did pray with my close friend Diane over the phone this month.  This goal is on going. UPDATE:  as of November 4: Monica and I meet every 6 weeks for either brunch, lunch or prayer.  We also pray over the phone together every few weeks or as needed.  I check in with my other spiritual mentor every week or so while at church. This goal is met. 

Short term goal 6: host 4 game nights/dinner nights by end of calendar year:  We have plans to have a young couple over for Sunday dinner next month but this is just in the planning stages. This goal will continue to move forward. This goal has not been met yet. We had to cancel our dinner plans in February with one church couple due to Covid and we have yet to get together with our friends Darlene and Bob or the young couple Scot and Hannah.  This goal will carry over to the new year 2024. 

PHYSICAL GOALS

Overall goal: make treatment plan for back/neck/head pain

Short term goal 1: meet with neurologist:  This will happen on April 4th! This goal was met. He's a pill pusher and not helpful at all. Might or might not go to the 2nd follow up in January 2024. 

Short term goal 2: continue meeting with Chiropractor: this is on-going and pain is decreasing!!

Short term goal 3: follow the stretching/yoga routines daily: this is being met daily!

Short term goal 4: follow the fitness ball routine daily: this goal is being met daily!

Overall goal: continue to be physically active within the proper boundaries and lose some weight. 

Note: my primary and ob/gyn do not want me to lose weight.  they say i am fine as is. I would personally like to lose about 8 lbs. 

Short term goal 1: plan more deep woods hikes in the eastern/High Peaks regions of the ADK: this will be starting come Spring as is weather dependent. This goal is met!!  It will be on going in Spring 2024 as well!

Short term goal 2: hike on 2 new trails in Vermont: this will happen  beginning in Spring  This goal is met!!  Dave and I had a 4 day vacation in Vermont and hiked FOUR new to us trails/mountains in Stowe Vermont in June. 

Short term goal 3: power walk 5x a week outdoors; walk with Dave 2x a week.  This goal is on-going.  I am averaging 3x a week this winter outdoors for a true brisk/fast power walk.  Currently (this week and next ) I am to not swing my arms...just brisk walk.....UPDATE:  Beginning in July, I was able to power walk every day of the week or 5 days a week  depending on the week/vacations, etc. I am no longer allowed to swing my arms as I power walk due to the upper spine issues. This goal will carry over into the new 2024 year as I desire to power walk every day. 

Short term goal 4: continue to take phytosterols for lowering cholesterol levels naturally.  This is met and is  done daily.

Short term goal 5: continue to follow a plant-based diet.  We are eating more plant based foods and this is on-going.  I'd like to cut out 1 day of chicken and replace it with something plant-based.  This goal is met and is on going.  We now eat plant based protein 3x a week!

Short term goal 6: learn 2 new plant based recipes by June ....not met yet.....UPDATE:  As of September I have made 3 new to us plant based recipes:  Stuffed Peppers using Impossible "beef"; Butternut Squash Autumn Salad; homemade vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter cups. This goal is met. 

Short term goal 7: hike 2 mountains by July (waiting for spring!) UPDATE:  We hiked a mountain in May (Moxham Mountain) with 3 church friends; we climbed the highest mountain in Vermont in June. This goal was met!

Short term goal 8: bike 2-3 times a week this sp
ring:  not met yet but looking forward to this! UPDATE:  In June, I rode my bike only 2 times!  In July I only rode my bike once.  In August I rode once. In September and October: no. I'm going to make it a point to ride my bike more come Spring 2024. 

I think I've done fairly well on most of these personal goals. 

Did you have goals for 2023?? How  are you doing with those? 

I neglected to put my overall Reading Goal on here:  I had a goal via Goodreads, to read 45 books by the end of December. I am on Book number 47!!