How are y’all doing on your new year’s resolution, goals, and/or keywords? If you can believe it, we are almost at the halfway mark, so it seems to me to be a time to check in. Hopefully, you’ve got lots of lines crossed out and completed. Me, well… I’m actually not doing too bad, particularly since life’s biggest curveball came at me on February 16th.
As a reminder (that I am ridiculous), here are some successes and things I need to work on from my 2014 strategic plan.
1. Focus on just Eggroll, me, Randy and home for the first six weeks of Eggroll’s life.
Successes: I did it! As my list of awesome guest bloggers and piles of unwashed laundry proved, I focused solely on getting used to her for the first six weeks. I even gave myself a bonus two weeks before I forced myself to come out of my hole. The ridiculously cold winter sure helped. Who wants to do anything besides snuggle babies and binge-watch West Wing when it’s -10 outside?
2. Keep a daily gratitude journal with “what’s life like with Eggroll” notes from January 1 until Eggroll’s first birthday.
Successes: So far, so good! I definitely am not writing in it as much as I did before she came around, but I still jot down quick notes when something interesting happens. In all honesty, there isn’t much different day-to-day. One can only write “you are the best baby that has ever graced this earth” so many times before it gets old.
3. Develop the Truly, Margaret Mary brand.
Successes: I have only missed one day in my thrice-a-week blog posting schedule and that was a couple of weeks ago, so I can’t blame sleep-deprivation. Again, the guest bloggers made this easy earlier this year, as I’m sure the ongoing pictures of Eggroll shall continue to do through the holidays and beyond.
Need to Work On: I have a goal to create three products that add value to this blog this year. So far, I have just one, but it’s one I’m very proud of. The Gratitude Workbook came together with the help of a year’s worth of journaling and the editing and testing help of many friends. If you haven’t already checked it out, I highly suggest you give yourself an hour and go through the exercise. It’s a good one for a rainy day.
This means I still need to create two other things. I have three routes I could go – an e-cookbook for a summer party, a series of Yoga Off the Mat youtube videos, or another inspirational journal/e-book.
Readers – what would you like to see from me?
My last part of this goal is to host or teach in three workshop settings for women my age or high school/college/early 20s age women where we will talk about gratitude, inspiration, daydreaming and/or yoga. I haven’t done anything yet here. Looks like I have some work left to do!
4. Publish at least 12 freelance writing pieces, including guest posts on others’ blogs.
Need to Work On: Eek! I don’t have anything towards this list yet. MUST GET TO WORK! Who wants me on their blog? Y’all know I can write about anything, but I do sentimental nonsense and dessert recipes best.
5. Develop my group exercise teaching schedule.
Successes: I have already done the Barre teacher training and am looking at more prenatal yoga education later this year.
For the rest of summer, I will have three classes every week – Yogalates for New Mommies (Mondays), Barre Burner (Tuesdays), and Yoga (Fridays). Additionally, I am on the Saturday pilates rotation at the North Shore WAC and am subbing whenever I get a chance. I just need to add one more consistent class to my schedule to reach this goal.
Need to Work On: I’m still looking for folks to be my first personal training clients. I imagine that this will be easier once I’m teaching more.
6. Spend time on my personal health in 2014.
Successes: I only have five more pounds until I’m at pre-pregnancy weight and have read more than one for-fun book per month so far. I “blame” both of those on Eggroll. I can only get Maggie Time if I drop her off at the gym and when I’m stuck on the couch feeding her, I still have one hand free to hold a book. Thanks Baby Girl for making your mama a healthier lady.
Need to Work On: I have not been good about getting to yoga classes for my own benefit within the last month or so. I would say I hit up 3 every month, but I need to start going to more challenging practices.
I think the fog is starting to lift now that Eggroll is four months old so Randy and I will soon be able to get back on a one date night a month schedule again. We’ve done well taking her out with us, but we definitely need our own time together, too. And speaking of needing to get away from it all, I am currently working on a trip to South Carolina this fall and we are going to Michigan in July to see Amber. YAH!!!
Experience, Teach, Inspire
These were my three words this year. The three words I said I would live by. So far, 2014 has been mostly Experience. I’m OK with this. I love this new sensation of being a mom and even though I’m on Facebook A LOT more than is healthy, I still get lost watching Eggroll taking in the world and Randy watching her.
I’ve had friends from different circles talk about how they are incorporating #therealgoodlife into their life this last month. Looks like i am inspiring folks to look at the world differently.
There has been classroom teaching for my fellow man, exersaucer teaching for my little lady, and blog articles for my internet friends. I like to learn almost more than I like to teach, but you know that old phrase us only children always heard at Christmas time – It’s better to give than receive. I may not have believed it when it came to Barbies, but I do when it pertains to education.
