Bring on 2021!

Looking back over my resolutions for 2020 is insightful. There were some fails, but also some successes. No, I didn't start kneeling for my prayers. Oops. But, I killed my reading goal to finish 30 books. I read 56. Big surprise here--I didn't floss all 365 days last year. I did read the second volume of Saints though. I meant to earn credits to renew my teaching license, but that didn't happen either. I did write birthday cards to Andrew's family (ages 8 and up) and I'm going to give myself a big pat on the back for that one. It was a lot.... 40 cards if I counted correctly. In addition, I also wrote birthday postcards to the primary children (and teachers) in our ward. Please note that this year I did not make a goal relating to cards. I'm the one who suggested the primary birthday postcards and this year I happily suggested boxed cereal.

Resolutions are all about change and becoming better though, not being perfect. I definitely wasn't perfect in completing all of my goals. I can confidently say that I am a better person though which is why I want to give this goal-setting thing another whirl. Here they are, broken down into categories for your convenience:

Spiritual:
1. Listen to a Come Follow Me Podcast each week.
2. Read the Doctrine and Covenants.
3. Make scripture study a priority. Read my scriptures BEFORE allowing myself to read a leisurely book.
4. Read the book "Saints" volume 3. (It's expected to come out this year, but there isn't a release date yet.)
5. Use a hard copy of my scriptures instead of my phone, so I'm less distracted during my study. 

Personal:
1. Surround myself with positive, uplifting friends and people.
2. Worry less about what others think. 
This is hard for me. I delete so many "Marco Polo's" because I stress far too much that I said the wrong thing and I don't ever want to upset anyone. Even writing a book review on Goodreads worries me because I don't want to hurt the feelings of the person who recommended the book.
3. Blog at least twice a month.

Physical:
1.Run Strawberry Days (or another 5k) and get a PR.
2. Figure out my hurt knee, so it doesn't hold me back.

Educational:
1. Earn points towards renewing my teaching license. Sub or take a class. 
(Repeat goal from last year...) I will definitely be doing this though. If my professors in college taught me one thing, it was to never let my license lapse. Knowing that I have a teaching license helps provide peace of mind. Who knows if I'll ever need to start working.
2. Read 55 books and rate them.
Rate them and not care about others judgements. 
3. Read the second book in the Mistborn series By: Brandon Sanderson. (This is for you, Andrew!)

I don't know if I've ever seen Andrew as happy as when I was reading "Mistborn." He has been wanting me to read this book for ages and loved discussing it (and looking over my shoulder as I was reading it). Fantasy isn't my favorite. I actually thought it was well-written and that the characters were really interesting. It did have more magic info than I ever wanted to know though.

Joint:
1. Do family scripture study and prayer each morning.
2. Use Mint regularly.
3. Buy a new house?
4. Go on a vacation to somewhere other than WA or to see family.
5. See a play at Tuacahn. 
For Christmas in 2019, I got Andrew tickets to go see "The Count of Monte Cristo." We were scheduled to go in July and it was cancelled. We rescheduled for September and it was cancelled again (understandably). Hopefully Andrew will finally be able to use his gift!
6. Read a book together.
7. Get a treadmill. 
Andrew says this isn't a resolution which is true and made me laugh. I'm leaving it on here though because I want it to happen.
8. Work on family history together once a month.

James:
These are adorable.
1. Learn how to draw an airplane.
2. Learn how to write my name.
3. Learn how to ride a bike without training wheels.

We are going to print out our goals this year and put them in a place we see regularly, so we forget less of them. Here's to 2021! Bring it on!