2012. Goals or Resolutions. Creating your Canvas for 2012

"People with goals succeed because they know where they're going." Earl Nightingale

Goals and Resolutions, these seem to be the topic of conversation the last week as we have entered into a new year. I love new beginnings. New places, New faces, New destinations. Fresh starts, Second chances and New beginnings!

Sometimes we NEED a fresh start or a new beginning. Sometimes we need second chances. So for many that is what 2012 is. A big blank canvas ready to be designed and  detailed. 

But we don't just go at that canvas slopping paint all over it..Although I have had a few years looking back at my canvases where they are a undeniable mess. Where I didn't take time to plan my year, I didn't take time to set goals and aim for something more than I had and I didn't get much more than the mess I had created. I ended up with a canvas over a years time that was disorganized, dysfunctional and destroyed by MY Hands.

"The most important thing about goals is having one." - Geoffry F. Abert   

• SO SET GOALS: It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Simple goals, You can't fly to the moon if you have never been in a space ship. So start out SIMPLE! Start out from the beginning. Remembering that if you set your expectations TOO high and can't achieve them, you are the one discouraged and disappointed. Set yourself up for success not failure.

"In achieving your goals, you may run into roadblocks. Don't let that stop you, go around, over, or under. If you are committed to your goal you will find a way." - Catherine Pulsifier 

• DON'T QUIT. Just because you slip up or have a few hurdles DON'T GIVE UP.  Some of my  biggest messes have turned out to be my best Masterpieces. There is always a learning curve, Be patient with yourself.

"Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take small steps." - Helmut Schmidt

I did a post on Facebook about a week ago asking people about Goals;

Different Ideas On Goals:

• Health: "Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well. " ~Marcus Valerius Martial               

  It is so much easier to stay healthy then to get sick and try to recover. I personally like the quote that says "You are what You EAT!" Especially when it comes to running. Your performance is defined by what you put into your body. A healthy  diet in running not only is good for your performance but also your RECOVERY! Thank you Patti~ 

• Self Improvement: "Good, better, best; never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best."                                                                                                                             

I know that we are all in need of improvements. I have yet to meet anyone who has "arrived".  I find a great way to help me be better than I was the day before is to encircle myself around others that have the same goal..."Birds of a feather Flock together"! Jill  is a teacher and her students are so lucky to have her, I know I am as her stylist~

• Marriage: "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." Proverbs                                                                                                    

Marriage is not for the weak! It should always be your daily goal to work hard together growing together. This is one of the hardest races you will ever run, But you are not running it alone~    Andy and I are like Desi and Lucy from I Love LUCY...We are one of the weirdest couples in the world, but we WORK!   Andy you are learning!     

• RUNNING: "I run so my goals in life will continue to get bigger instead of my belly." Bill Kirby                                                                                                                                Tiffany a girl after my own heart.. When we set running goals we learn how to persevere, we learn how to set goals and often face many obstacles and even disappointments. I know for Tiffany she has been a warrior. Tiffany has struggled with severe shin splints and has had to hang the shoes. With 3 little kids at home she has not quit no matter how bad she has felt defeated. Running is the definition of Goals. For new beginners it is setting a goal of often 1 step at a time. And Eric setting racing goals wanting to kick it up a notch. Running requires a plan and the great thing about setting running goals is that there is a plan scattered all over the internet for just about any goal you want to set..step by step.
• Planning a Variety of Goals: "If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else." Yogi Berra                                                                                                              I was so impressed with the organization of Maria. There was a message Maria sent me that was clear,precise, and well thought out. She not only took the time to think this through she took the time to write it out.  She made the time because it was part of her. It was important for her. I love that as a mother, as a wife as a woman of Gods, Maria takes all her roles very Serious and wants to achieve greatness in each of them. Maria really inspired me.                                  

• Knowledge:"Whoever acquires knowledge but does not practice it, is like one who ploughs a field but does not sow it."                                                                                                                                    When we have a teachable heart we are a open vessel. Like Derek we can learn from even our children, There are so many avenues to learn and grow from. When gaining knowledge it does not always come with having our hearts open, sometimes we have to open our minds as well.  It takes humility to seek knowledge. Derek's goals are to learn more about this horrible disease his daughter has. But Ultimately what he is wanting to do is even bigger than the knowledge he will gain..it will help him be a good support to his daughter and another tool that puts him up of  a nominee for Daddy of the Year.   
• Growing in Christ: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  Jeremiah29:11-13                                                                                                                          My direct relationship with Christ holds the reigns to everything else.   When I am strong in the Lord I can feel his presence in everything else. Linda and Lisa know that putting him first means that everything will be blessed by HIM. I can achieve MY GOALS because his promises say I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM. I know that he helps me paint my canvas. He is my teacher, my director and my canvas is painted inspired by HIM.  

My Goals you may ask. I have been so inspired by others that I feel like I am grabbing theirs. Danielle my running partner has inspired me to run my own race. In life and in running. She doesn't even know it. Our last run together we talked and she was very transparent about her goals. One of my Goals is to remember those who set goals and pray for them. We make Goals because they are important to us. So it is equally as important to remember the importance of others and lift them up in prayer~ 

• I would like to run with my sister in law Deb at her first 5k. 
• I want to run a race in another state.
• I would like to be more organized with my thoughts and actions. 
• I want to grow more in Gods word. By myself and with my family

What about you? Have you followed your Goals for 2012? Or did you set them? Did reading others goals inspire you like me to set more?

Rundown:

Snap fitness: 4 miles run intervals, elliptical, Bike, Core

BTW: UGHHH this post took me 3 hours cause I  can't get the font right..I put bullets in it and UGH..It is a bit JUMBLED..cause I can't fix...Hope you could follow. I wish I knew how to FIX it

Anita