A lovely morning

I didn't have to be up early this morning, but I was done sleeping at 5:30 AM, so I headed to the gym.  I know that most people (including me usually!) go to the gym to work out, but I had a different agenda today.  My back and neck are still quite sore, so I just went in for a quick tanning session.  I know that tanning isn't good for you if you do it all the time, but I think if you just do it a few times in the winter, it can't possibly do long term damage...at least that's what I tell myself!  :)

As I laid in the tanning bed, I closed my eyes and pictured that I was lying on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, with the big green waves crashing on the shore, and the sun beating down on me.  Ahhhhhhhhhh.

This is the first winter (in as long as I can remember) that I haven't planned a trip south (Dallas and Atlanta don't count because I said so).  I know there's still time, and I probably will, but I don't know....Darcy really doesn't have any time off, so it would have to be a weekend thing, and I don't know if I want to risk getting sick on the plane (which ALWAYS happens) for just a weekend away. 

It doesn't hurt that we have Paris and Tuscany to look forward to in April...

So every once in a while, I go for a tan, and I pretend that it's not winter, and that it's the sun making me warm, and not gross synthetic bulbs.  I think we all get a touch of seasonal affective disorder, and it's a good idea to find those things that help us escape the winter blues.

When I came home, I decided to go into the hot tub, and while I soaked, I watched the sun rise over the frozen lake, and I thanked God for all the beauty and the blessings in my life.

Imagine One Voice

As many of you know, I recently created a group called Imagine One Voice to raise up solutions to pressing social issues to political leaders.  Today I will be meeting with some members of Senator Shaheen's staff to discuss some of these solutions.  My hopes for this meeting are really just to leave with a plan to push some of these solutions forward. 

I have drafted a very simple presentation that outlines the objectives of the discussion, as well as some very high level descriptions of possible solutions to the current jobs crisis in the US.  I have a unique skill set, and I think my experience in Human Resources and my interest in the economy and bipartisan political initiatives should suit me well to being part of the solution.

I am willing to wager that there are probably many people like me who have skills and interest to contribute to solving some of our nation's toughest problems.  Right now, too many hands are in the pot in Washington.  Fixing something as simple as no longer offering tax breaks to US companies off shoring work and business, is ridden with implications to agendas on the right and the left. 

We need to take the politics of the issues out of the issues alltogether.  We need to give some control back to the people who aren't worried about getting campaign financing or re-elections or deals that have been made - people who just want to see this country set on a course for success and wellness. 

The idea behind Imagine One Voice is very simple - it's just the concept that one person's voice can be heard.  One person can make a difference.  Right now, our group has 69 members, and we are growing every day.  I'm hoping that the meeting today will lead to new opportunities, and that our voices can unite as we identify real, relevant, meaningful solutions to the issues we face today.

Web site:  http://www.imagineonevoice.com/
Facebook group:  http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=192305551694&ref=ts

New year, New Clothes

I have been working hard to lose weight, and I want to feel good about myself in the process.  I ended up buying some shoes, accessories, several shirts, a few blazers, jeans...I think that was it.  Here are a few of the items:

I ordered them all on Amazon, so I won't have them for a week or so, but I'm really looking forward to their arrival!!

New Year's Resolutions

I think we all know for the most part that New Year's Resolutions do not generally stick, but that doesn't stop me from taking time each New Year's (and at other points during the year) to assess where I am, where I want to go, and put goals in place for myself.

Let's see how I did on the goals I had this last year:

• Write 4 songs to sell  - I started at least four, and I finished a few, but they aren't ready to sell yet
• Finish Documentary - I need to learn how to use my iMac and iMovie first, but I am about 30% done
• Record a CD - DONE!
• Stick to my budget - Eh...not so much, but probably 80%
• Eat whole, locally grown organic foods - 50% so far
• Spend lots of time outside - DONE!
• Launch my business - DONE!
• Publish 6 articles - DONE!
• Write 2 books in the next 12 months - No, but I have about 60 pages of one book done so far
• Read 3-4 books each month - DONE!
• Write every day - DONE!
• Work out 6-7 days/week - about 25% of the time
• Lose 80 lbs - 0% done

Overall, I accomplished the majority of my goals, and I made headway on some of the others.  I am sure I did more than I would have without the goals, so I will continue setting goals! 

Here are my goals for 2010:

• Complete my current degree program
• Lose 80 lbs
• Complete at least one sprint triathlon
• Complete writing one book
• Complete one film, no matter how short

I'm trying to be more realistic with myself, which is why I have fewer goals this year than last.  I was going to try to just pick one, but that's silly.  The first three items on the list are already done in my head - they are must do's, so the last 2 are the stretch goals.  If I can write a book, complete one film, lose all the weight I have to lose, finish my degree and complete a triathlon in 2010, I will be thrilled.  That will be a good year.

There are other things I hope to accomplish, such as my work with Imagine One Voice, financial goals and career goals, but those ambitions will be the gravy to the core essential goals I've listed above.  I feel it's important for short term goals to match long term goals, and I've been giving a lot of thought to my long term goals recently as well.

I want to be financially stable enough that I am not limited on life choices due to financial obligations, as I am currently.  I own 2 homes, one of which I'm significantly upside down in, and another which I may be somewhat upside down in.  I bought them both right before the market crashed...back when I still thought real estate was a no brainer investment.  Silly me.  Right now, I am tied down to my current location and current income bracket due to my financial obligations.  Someday, I would like to return to the place where I could make life decisions based upon what I believed I should do, not based upon what I had to do.

I am not alone.  I think most people I know are really owned by their homes and debts.  I would like to free myself of any chains that may hold me down.  Thankfully, I work in healthcare, and I find meaning in the mission behind the work I do, but I still know my financial obligations have limited my choices to some extent.

My long term goal is a bit vague...I just want to leave this world a little better off than it was when I found it.  I want the people in my life to live better lives because of the impact I had on them...  I want to always strive for justice and fight for human rights, globally.  I want to help feed people who are hungry, help the unemployed find work, and make peace. 

I know that may sound naive, but that's what I plan to do.  That's what I do now when I can, and I'm hoping that with age, I can spend more and more time accomplishing those goals.

To feed my soul and spirit, I will continue to embrace the arts, search for beauty everywhere, travel to the ends of the earth, continue my spiritual journey, and function as a relentless student of life.

I really sound like an idealistic 19 year old here...it's funny to think that part of me is a 33 year old yuppie, card carrying member of the rat race.  I keep myself from being too grounded by embracing a youthful spirit and wonder, coloring outside of the lines, and taking very little seriously. 

Anyway, I is who I is, and I like myself.  I hope you can say the same for you.  :) 

Happy New Year to all!!