2011 Plan of Action check-in

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

2011 Plan of Action...sort of

I wrote this plan of action, or in other words the things I wanted to accomplish this year, back in January. Since it is August now, I have been thinking about a lot of these things lately and have decided to re-visit them and see how much I've accomplished, with about 4 1/2 months left in the year.


1. Read through the Bible again exclusively using The Message.

I am so working on this. I decided early on not to exclusively use the Message, because I still enjoy reading the NIV for study. I still use The Message as a parallel quite often because it does help me understand it. I haven't been as consistent as I like with my time in the Word, but I am trying.


2. Live and work only to please God and not worry about what people think. I guess this is my "theme" for the year stemming from several Bible verses and conversations with God.

It's hard to gage where I am with this one. I think I have come to a point where I don't really care that much what others think about me. A lot of that has been God working on me and my self-esteem. I feel I've come a long way. I always hope that what I do is pleasing to Him, but I know being human it doesn't happen as much as it should.

3. Believe in myself enough to go for the things I want.

This one I'm still working on....
4. Be happily teaching SOMEWHERE.

I love the school I work at, and my new position as a resource teacher. Definitely accomplished this one.

5. Get my finances back in order and make smarter financial decisions. Be more thankful for what I do have and more generous with what I've been given.

I've been budgeting and trying not to spend more than I need. I began sponsoring a child from Bangladesh back in April, and hope to buy a water filter through them very soon. (Probably more than one).


6. Pay off ONE of my debts. At least.

I paid off TWO debts back in February. :-)


7. Deepen old and new friendships.

I think this has definitely happened, but I think it's mostly just because of time. Which works too.


8. Allow myself to become more transparent and not hold everything in.

Eh...

9. Be increasingly able to find JOY in the small things and the big things.

Working on my 1,000 Gifts list (Ann Voskamp's book), making sure I write some down everyday. Making sure I thank God for everything.

10. Acquire a roommate (I hate living alone!). I'm an extrovert for crying out loud!

Kacey will be here tomorrow! :-D



11. Get a phone that doesn't look like it barely survived a nuclear war.

Got my iPhone back in April and love it!


12. Exercise regularly. Run.

I was doing pretty well with this but then it got so HOT and my schedule got so crazy....I really am going to start back when it starts to cool down a bit.



13. Eat more fruit.

I've been eating a lot of smoothies and buying fresh fruit.


14. Learn how to cook better and do more of it.

Progress, progress.



15. Go on another roadtrip (preferrably to Montana or out west). They do my heart a whole world of good.

This may have to wait until 2012.


16. Care more about others, become increasingly less self-centered.

An ongoing effort.


17. Read a bunch of books.

I've been struggling a lot lately with reading and I don't know why. I used to read tons of books all the time. Makes me kind of sad.

18. Blog at times

Even have a blog for positive-ness.


19. Treat myself to shopping once in a while. It's good for a girl's soul.

Every once in a while, if I can. I do buy myself a season of Friends every payday.

20. Devote more time to drawing/painting etc.

I have been painting more and am working on a sketch. It will be the second I've done this year.



21. Print some pictures!! It's been a year and a half since NYC/DC/Boston. Still no prints.

I did!
 
Looking back, I think I accomplished a lot of things already.
 
The special educator in me wants to analyze my progress, check for mastery of goals, and set new ones.
 
We'll see.