2012 – A Fresh Start

I love New Years. It always feels like a fresh start. A time to put the shortcomings of the previous year aside and begin with a clean slate. It’s probably the idealist in me that loves New Year so much.

I always begin the New Year by setting goals. Big goals, small goals. It doesn’t matter. I like goals. I realize that during the year, sometimes circumstances change, and my goals need to change, but I still like the process of mapping out what I want my year to look like.

With that in mind, here are some of the goals I’ve set for myself.

Read 52 Books

This was one my goals last year, and it’s a goal I set by the wayside when life got hectic. I realize that 52 books is a lofty goal, but I’m excited to join the challenge! And I figure even if I fall short, the important thing is to read more. If I accomplish that, I will consider it a success.

What will I be reading? Well, I’m pretty eclectic in my tastes. I like all kinds of books from academic, to fluffy fiction, to how-to books, and I’m sure I’ll be reading a combination of the above.

However, I do have a few mini-goals in mind. I’d like to read the Bible all the way through this year. And I want to work through some of the books listed in 25 Books Every Christian Should Read. I’ll be starting with On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius. It’s on my Kindle and ready to go!

I have a few Kindle freebies loaded, also, but beyond that, I’m open to suggestions.

Improve My Diet

It seems my diet falls apart every November and December when the holidays hit. It’s time to get back on track, so I’ll be working my way through Refined to Real Food, putting some of the suggestions in place. (That should also count as one of my 52 books, right?)

I already own the book, so my goal is to get started this week. However, after I pulled it out yesterday, Boo walked off with it, and I need to locate it again. It has to be around here somewhere, right?

I’ll also be putting a low-carb spin on my diet. I went low carb last summer, and after my initial withdrawal, I felt great! So it’s time to cut down on the carbs again.

Blog Regularly

The last couple of years have been crazy busy, and I’m hoping to slow it down some this year. With that in mind, my goal is to set a regular blogging schedule and keep an editorial calendar, so I am consistently writing 4-5 posts a week.

I also plan to be more engaged in my blogging community, by reading and visiting other blogs and keeping in touch with bloggy friends. I didn’t participate in the blogging community nearly enough last year.

And as you may have noticed, I changed up my blog design a little. I really want to focus on learning this year. Not only homeschooling, but on my own learning. I always said I could be a professional student, and I am of the firm belief that everyone should be learning everyday until the day they die.

So, of course I will blog about my homeschool adventures, but I’ll also blog about what I’m learning these days through my experiences.

I think those three goals should keep me pretty busy in 2012. What are your goals?

Photos by liza31337, Charleston’s TheDigitel, and Iain Buchanan.