2021 is just around the corner and I know I’m not alone in hoping that this new year brings new possibilities. I’ve always been fond of New Year’s Resolutions and goals. It offers a time to reflect on the past year and work towards our future goals. Like many people, 2020 was not what I had envisioned. I didn’t accomplish many of the goals I had set for myself. However, rather than being too hard on myself, I’m working on practicing grace. Amidst the pandemic and literally everything else this year has brought, I’m just happy to have my health and the trajectory this life is taking me. Over the years I’ve found that I am a very goal driven person. If I say that I am going to do something then I almost always accomplish it. However, a vague goal doesn’t do anyone very good. This year I’m working on making clearly defined goals that I can work towards. I’ve got a long list of what I am going to accomplish in the coming year so I’ll just talk about a few of them on here. RUNNING/FITNESS
Run the Wonderland Trail: The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile trail around Mount Rainier here in Washington state. I grew up hiking in this National Park and this mountain has always held a special place in my heart. I was planning on running my first 100 miler in 2020 but the pandemic and forest fires made this goal feel quite out of reach. I’m not sure if trail races will resume in the coming year, which is why I’m planning on making my own race. Running nearly 100 miles in one push is no easy feat. In order to make sure I’m prepared for this endeavor, I’ll be completing various training runs; perhaps the Loowit Trail around Mount Saint Helens, Timberline Trail around Mount Hood, and a few other routes. Bike 100 miles: I’ve biked up to 65 miles in a day but have never got around to doing the full 100. Not sure when I’ll make the effort but I plan on taking it easy and enjoying being out on the road or trail. Everesting: Everesting is something I learned about last year and it involves picking any hill and doing repeats on it (by running or biking) until you climb the height of Mount Everest, 20,029 feet. Maybe I’ll go for the full Everest or a half Everest (completing half the elevation). A silly yet challenging way to continually test the limits of what we are capable of. HOBBIES
The past few years I’ve focused pretty solely on physical goals and haven’t prioritized having balance when it comes to hobbies. This year I’d like to change that. Read 26 Books (one every two weeks): I had reading goals set for 2020 and I honestly forgot all about them. Yet after receiving many books over the holidays, I’m excited to get back into the habit. I know that having this goal will also help me continue to set boundaries around limiting my screen time during the evenings. Practice the Ukulele Daily: If you know me personally than you know that I have never been what you might call “musically talented”. Yet over quarantine back in April, I was fortunate enough to start messing around with my partner’s ukulele. I’ve learned a few songs but I still don’t know the basics of music. However, for Christmas my partner Kenny got me yearlong access to ukulele lessons. Needless to say, I’m stoked and will do my best to practice every single day. I’ve got quite a few other goals for the year, related to my career and finances that I’d rather keep to myself. And while this new year offers new possibilities, or times for goal setting, let us remember that you can start a goal or “resolution” any day of the year. If you like resolutions that’s great, if you’d rather start a goal four months from now, equally great. Who knows if I’ll accomplish everything on this list, but I might as well try to see just what I am capable of doing. After all, life is short, so we might as well have some fun.