Flip it and Reverse it, New Years Resolution Style

It is amazingly and quickly approaching November 1, and I’ve decided on a new experiment. This idea was prompted by two things.

1. It has come to that point in the semester that laziness has kicked in. I don’t want to do anything school related- which is wonderful considering this is the point in the semester where all of the big projects and tests and papers begin. Thanksgiving is so close I’m drooling at the thought of turkey (or perhaps duck, so I’ve heard!) and I literally think about pumpkin flavored things every day.

2. New Years resolutions are bogus and everyone knows it.

Thus, I’ve decided to create a reverse New Years resolution list. My goal is to do all of these things by New Years. So not only will I avoid that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach each January 1 trying to come up with ways to “improve my new year” that I know I will break in a month, I will also hopefully end the year with a bang. So here goes. I’m not saying I will perfectly complete all of these things, but I sure will try my hardest.

1. Stop eating fast food unless it is absolutely 100% necessary. (Just to clarify for anyone out there, I am not a fast food addict. I simply want to start using my money more wisely and making overall healthier decisions, which leads me to number 2..)

2. Get into a regular exercise routine. (I genuinely do love to exercise when I get into the habit, but that’s just the problem.. getting into the habit. Hopefully when I visit my parents for Thanksgiving going to my mom’s 5:30 a.m. spin class will get my motivation reeling- or more likely kick my butt and remind me how hard it is.)

3. Limit my caffeinated beverages to 1 a day. (My current caffeine predicament can be summed up in a Gilmore Girls quote. Rory says Lorelai, an avid coffee drinker, is “90 percent water, 10 percent caffeine.” This is currently me. Need I say more?)

4. Read 5 non school related books. (Okay, here is where you can help. Please comment with your favorite books that I should read before New Years!)

5. Find somewhere to regularly start volunteering next semester.

6. Take the time to write a detailed letter to my future self of all the things I’m passionate about right now and want to accomplish in my life. (I want this to include everything from living overseas to performing in community theatre to baking my children cookies when they come home from school to bringing hope to people in third world countries.)

7. Finally, and most importantly, spend more time with God- in His Word, in His creation, in conversation.

I truly believe that if I pursue this resolution the most, all of the others will fall into place. He will give me the strength to roll out of bed in the mornings and go on a run with the beautiful body He has given me. He will give me the discipline to eat and drink healthfully. He will provide me with open doors and light passions within me for my future. He will remind me that though 2011 may seem like a year with a lot of unknowns, He has plans for me and they are even greater than I could ever imagine.

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11