Yes, another resolution post, like we haven’t all seen enough of them in the last week or so. I know, how cliché, but I love any opportunity to take a look at where I am, where I want to go, and develop a plan on how to get there. I want to share a few of my 2023 goals just for some inspiration because I know I love to hear what everyone is excited by lately even if I don’t want to achieve their same goals.
I like to pick at least one goal for several areas in my life instead of just getting stuck on one type that can seem overwhelming.
- Fitness: Work up to running 6 miles/5 days a week. It’s been forever since I’ve had a true running plan and I miss the consistency and love how my mental toughness increases when I do a workout no matter my mood. Plus I am working on building muscle through strength training. It’s never been my favorite so I’m making it my mission to commit to it this year and find what I like most. I like pushing myself physically and it’s been awhile.
- Health: Focus on small habits to up my wellness game. Specifically I want to have protein at each meal, pay more attention to eating intuitively, especially with portions/stopping when full, and delving into personal habits (why I do what I do). Researching wellness/health trends is one of my favorite things so I know what to do.
- Finances: Create a new income stream. Ideally something I enjoy as a hobby that can be monetized.
- Adventure: Travel at least once a month. I haven’t been on a plane since December 2019 and I’m going stir crazy, but road trips to little towns not too far away count as well. I want to explore more.
- Food: Cook more actual recipes. I love to bake and watch cooking shows. I am the master at roasting vegetables and protein and making easy soups but when I follow recipes I’m amazed at how much better my food tastes. I also want to experiment with new techniques, ingredients, and trying classic recipes I’ve never made.
- Bonus Challenge: Only buy clothes that are thrifted (thrift stores, Poshmark, etc.) as much as possible. This one is part eco, one part finances. It will obviously help me save money if I’m not buying new items but also make me get more creative in “shopping my closet” to create outfits. I’ve felt guilty for quite awhile with being such a consumer of new clothes when most of my favorites are from thrift stores anyway. Obviously I’ll allow myself to buy new undergarments (hah!) and if something is needed out of pure necessity.
Even though I love the goals I’ve chosen to work on I still give myself grace and not make them too absolute. If I slip up a day or even a week, it is my choice to get up again and restart. If I had said on January 1st “I will work out every day” for example, odds are I will screw it up and feel like a failure. However, I made my goal more about the overall process. I used to think the 80/20 rule with wellness was stupid because, what am I supposed to do? Be tracking my meals and calculating if I ate correctly exactly 80% of the time and splurged the other 20? That just never felt doable or sustainable. Lately though I’ve realized that the 80/20 concept is more like a figure of speech to not take literal. It is about sticking to your goals most of the time and allowing yourself that wiggle room for the more fun moments, the treats, and the mistakes. I think many people don’t set “resolutions” because they don’t want to be disappointed when they “fail.” In my opinion, if you are committed to a goal you truly desire you will be motivated to keep going. Make your goals personal. Don’t start January with a typical resolution that you hear everyone and your neighbor making. That will not excite you. And never forget that even the biggest goal you wish for the most will not always sound exciting and you will not always have the motivation. A little bit each day, one step at a time is how we grow and change.
I love this quote when I feel like my daily habits aren’t adding up: “Your days create your weeks. Your weeks create your years and your years create your life.”
~Whitney
P.S. I have other goals that I’m keeping more private. Plus, I realized I was rambling far too long on each of my bulleted goals above when I really wanted to stick to a simple post. I think I’ll go into each one more in depth later on.
We all know it’s a cliche now, but I truly believe in the Law of Attraction. Turns out, almost everyone successful, famous, happy, etc. does too. Einstein, Tesla, Will Smith, Oprah, the list goes on and on. It doesn’t have to be some hokey principle that you follow like a cult, although you can be as open about it as you wish. Basically every athlete sees themselves making the shot/goal/play before they do it. They’re visualizing themselves as a success. They feel themselves being who they want to be before it happens in real life.
There’s a free community you can connect with on Facebook, Instagram, or the TIU site. Anyone doing the workouts and eating the same food, can “check-in” and talk to other members. Everything i’ve experienced has been positive. I’ve never tried any sort of eating plan that had such range but was also easy and clean. This is not an infomercial! I’m just into it.
I’m ready to have a go at a new lifestyle instead of a “challenge” with an end date. Even though this is technically a 21 day feat, the entire premise is for life. Periodically they do these types group challenges to kickstart your habits and/or get in touch with girls in the same mindset. It’s not very gimmicky. It’s more of a way of living.
Holiday decorating! Before: It took me 20 minutes holding up flowers and accoutrements together in AC Moore for me to pick out the supplies. Next time I’m going for the bigger wreath.
After! It’s a little different for “fall” colors but that’s what I was going for. As much as I love oranges and leaf hues, this season I was ready for something new.
Sorrelli has a jewelry store in Kutztown that all about the glitz. There’s a reason their instagram handle is @sorrellisparkle. The whole store glitters and is full of pieces you want to try on and fantasize about wearing to a gala. There are cuter, more dainty collections too if you’re not all shine all the time. Everything has a unique shape and look that just screams Sorrelli. You can tell. 
There were snacks! Free food is always a draw for me. I had a baby biscotti and a kir Royale…totally never new what it was until I drank it. Now I think I love them! It’s champagne and Chambord. There’s something classy and magnificent about carrying around a champagne glass. 
If you bought something at the event, you got a signed tote or jewelry role from Lisa. Obviously, we bought things! I’m going to use the tote, I’m over that stuff you keep somewhere, because it’s special and then never enjoy. 
There just so happens to be a fabulous 
We split two so we could both try different flavors. They’re small but in a good way.
French Toast!
Even a plain doughnut would be great because the dough is that flaky, and delightful. Mmmm.
Sunday morning meal planning at Giant before shopping! I had an Americano and tiny hits of gluten for breakfast. Two French Toast 
Sunday night meditations. I mentally prepped for getting back to my healthy status. It’s long overdue and I can trace it back to around January when I stopped being motivated to my natural level.
Enjoy your Monday everyone!