2008. Mottoes. Themes. Not Goals!

As I mentioned at Lean But Not Mean, I don't do goals well. Or resolutions.

I get stressed.

Instead, I do mottoes and/or themes.


I write , in the front of my diary, my mottoes or themes for the year. I've been doing ths for over ten years now. I *do* think that this practice has made a difference to my life, to who I am, to my family. Each time I open my diary all year, evey day, I am reminded 0f who I want to be and of what I want to do.

The mottoes act as prompts.

Not as sledgehammers.

Today, I am transferring info from my 2007 diary to the shiny, new, 2008 diary.

As the I turn to the front of the old diary, I see my mottoes for 2007.

Did they help? Did they influence my life? My year?

Trust.

Be Not Afraid.

( Ooh, I haven't been so good at following and remembering these two).

Be More Than A Conqueror ( for fitness - I can do it - yes, this has been a help).

Every day Above Ground is a Blessed day ( another from Billy Blanks and Taebo. This motto, this saying, has reminded me to smile more. And more. Regardless. Even when I am sh**ty).

Where I am today is where my mind put me. Where I'll be tomorrow is where my mind'll put me. ( More from Billy. Very powerful for me, spiritually and physically).

So, what am I writing on the pristine, front leaf of my new diary?

You get out what you put in ( Effort. Be it in fitness, diet, family life, spiritual life, homeschooling, work...).

Joy. Time. Prayer

(From Fr.'s homily this Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family. Three important things for families and for individuals. To do. To follow. To remember. I don't hold much hope of ever being Mary ~like - yeah, right. . Similarly, our family doesn't look much like the Holy Family, or even like a holy family. But , as Fr. pointed out, we can try...I am hoping that these words will remind me of what I need to do, as a Christian mother and as a Christian wife. With the grace of God. With the help of the sacraments. )

Be a better example.

( Self explanatory. I can be a bit wild sometimes and, as such, a poor example to my sons and to others. But do I need a whole personality change? lol!).

And from the Lean But Not Mean blog , my fitness theme ~

Being Fit For Life.

Continue to make lifestyle changes and choices.

Continue to work out for about one hour each day with intensity, doing what I love, probably mostly cardio/kickboxing/AWT ( aerobic weight training).

Try to eat more vegan like - I already eat more vegetarian but want to eat less dairy and less processed, more whole foods. Well, only 80% of the time. I need my junk, my alcohol too, sometimes, you know. :-)

Watch portions - whether it be by eyeballing, food journalling, calories, points, food exchanges, whatever, it can vary.

Aim to lose another 3 kg ( about 6-7 lbs). Well, in my ideal I'd be super thin but I am trying to avoid my body image paranoia and low body self esteem trip. I am aiming to feel good about my more , well, athletic build. :-)


Do you choose mottoes or themes? Or make resolutions? I'll pray for you, friends, in 2008 and for your plans and dreams.