2014 Goals Update

Happy February!

2014 has started off fast and furious.  So far it has been a largely positive year  There have been ups and downs but I have felt great about it. I have steadily taken small steps towards My various goals.  I realize that most of them are long term habit changes rather than finite actions.  Although, come warmer weather, I hope to knock out a bunch of the items on this list.

Having set some hopes and goals for myself, I have found myself more involved in my own life, taking care of myself, and living in the present.  I needed to refocus my life some and build in more meaning and more intention.  For some reason in 2013, I managed to let a lot of time slip away without engagement, intention, or meaning. I feel more fully awake this year so far.  Lots of great change happened last year but I think I let it drive me rather than driving it.  I let the changes and the "busyness" overwhelm me and take over.  I spent a lot of time worrying and dwelling on every little thing.  I let anger overcome me and I let things that were outside of my control impact my behavior and how I view the world.  The goal is to prevent that from happening again this year - so far, so good.  (*knock on wood*)

With that - here's the February update

In Progress

• Continue improving my healthy habits - Good going on this front.  I've been exercising, eating well, reflecting, journaling (and blogging), managing my money, keeping the house clean, spending time with friends...etc...
• Apply to graduate school - I'm doing it!  I am applying to MBA programs.  This is a decision that surprised me too but I believe that it is the right decision.  Maybe I'll write about that at some point because I have lots of thoughts (positive and conflicting) about the reasons behind this decision and some of the forces behind it.  I think it would be surprising to many that money is not a motivator in this decision at all but maybe my own bias is showing.  I'm applying to "executive" programs which are designed to complete in 2 years while working.  I'm applying to MIT, NYU, Cornell, UVA and UPenn.  I've got open houses scheduled, and interviews, and the GMATs.  I have to write my essays and finish my applications.  There is a lot to do but I'm working on it.  When I write my update on March 1, I should be able to say that I have finished all of the applications. 
• Take better care of my teeth - check! I love my sonicare toothbrush.  Now I need to make a dentist appointment - blech!
• Read a book every 2 weeks - Every 2 weeks might have been a bit ambitious while also trying to applying to grad school.  I have been reading though and I renewed my library card.  My inclination is to buy more and more books but that is silly when there is a wonderful place called a library where I can get them for FREE.  Besides, until I have a home with a dedicated library I just don't have the space for more books.  What am I reading right now? Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (yes, I had to copy and paste his last name).  It is an incredible book and it is totally blowing my mind. 
• Increase my investment and ownership in SLTP - The book I  am reading is an excellent segue into this goal.  The concept of flow is on of the foundations of how SLTP is built and why it works.  Reading the actual theoretical foundations behind it is investing more in the program.  It is helping me understand the way we work and why we work more deeply.  I also was able to recruit East Hartford High students back to the program and that has been awesome.  I am regularly finding ways to invest in the program and to help however I am able.  I am bringing colleagues with me to the Interlead tomorrow to get a feel for the program and to show them what it is that I do and what this SLTP is that I spend so much time on. 
• Take a trip to NYC - I'll be in New York on February 11 and February 12.  Done! I'm going for my NYU interview and a couple of information sessions but there will be enough time in between the events that I hope to be able to see some people while I'm there.  
• Take a baking class at King Arthur Flour - AC and I are going to take a class in March...or maybe April but we have talked about it and are working on identifying the class.  This will be happening!
• Increase student contact at work - This I am doing!  I created student specific office hours.  I've been reaching out to students for conversations.  These are check-ins with no agenda other than to connect.  I've been going to student organization meetings and finding other ways to connect.  It has been great and what I love about the work.  It is the reason that we do it.  I think the further away from on-the-ground student work we get the easier it becomes to forget that they are the reason for the work.  Student learning and well-being is our why and it is what needs to be at the forefront of our minds all the time.
• Practice Kindness - Every day I am practicing kindness and compassion as a mind set.  One of the things that crystallized for me is that practicing kindness doesn't mean that I don't say the challenging things, it means that I say them in the right way, to the right person, for the right reasons. 

Stalled - Going to try and pick these back up in February...

• Research and work towards becoming a Zumba instructor.
• Hang stuff on walls.
• Read the New York Times on Sundays and attempt the crossword puzzle.  
  
• Take myself on a date once a month.  
• Paint the wood furniture. 

Off Season

• See firewater in Providence. 
• Spend more time in Ogunquit this summer. 
• Ride a roller coaster. 
• Go to the Big E. 
• Go apple and berry picking.  
• Buy a bike. 
• Run in the Electric Run 5K in Boston in October.