I was contemplating 2009 yesterday and kept returning to the idea that it would be hard to beat. But let me digress for a moment... As I think of it now, 2008 was hard to beat (getting off crutches, running again, getting married, big party for wedding celebration, etc...). But back to 2009. I ended the year with a feeling of complete satisfaction, the way you feel after a good meal -- satiated, but not over-stuffed. As I really thought about the year in its smaller parts, I was surprised. I spent 9 months of the year being pretty much miserable in my job. In January, I "unfriended" someone who I had considered a best friend -- and who was also my boss. My job became a black hole to me and I struggled with some of the feelings I had in high school and college as I figured out what and who were "real" in my life. But alas! None of these things were at the forefront of my mind as I looked at 2009 as a whole. I was able to put that negativity aside and focus on the positive things from the year, and how I had brought those things to myself:
- Instead of continuing to slave away at the job for a man and a company who are going nowhere, I chose to put in my time and focus my efforts elsewhere -- largely my training schedule.
- I chose to not lie to myself, my boss, and everyone else and opted to take control and assume the risk of being Unemployed In This Economy.
- I completed two triathlons, one adventure race, and one half marathon. I was (am?) probably in the best shape of my life at age 34.
- I spent a lot of quality time with my family, making two trips back to the Midwest during the summer and spending a week with them at Christmas.
- I am happily married and I have wonderful friends who know the meaning of the word.
I have said out loud that I have no intention of going back to a desk job just for the sake of having a job. If I find something that I really care about OR if things get really dire for us financially, I'll take a job with "the man." Otherwise, I have my sights set elsewhere:
Number 1 Resolution for 2010:
Write my book
There, I said it. I wrote it down and now I have to do it. I'm working on a plan, and even working on transforming our second bedroom into an "office" with a real desk and everything. I am not scared of failing in terms of not finishing it. I WILL get it done. I am more fearful that it won't turn into anything or that I'll find someone to publish it and it will otherwise be poorly received. The thing I'm trying to focus on is finishing the task that I have said I would do for several years (and finding the positive in how many calories I'm burning in the meantime, just worrying about all this mumbo-jumbo).
Number 2 Resolution for 2010:
Complete the Vineman Half Ironman
Burning calories is what you want? Train for a triathlon, that's what I say! I was surprised at how many calories my body required just to stay nourished when I was training for the Santa Barbara Triathlon last year. The Vineman is a Half Ironman, which will be my longest event to date: 1.2 mile swim + 56 mile bike ride + 13.1 mile run. Greg signed up to do it, and then I was "encouraged" to do it by our friend Mike Kidder when I saw him in Kansas City just before Christmas. I agreed that this will be a good challenge for me and I psyched myself up to do it -- but not psyched enough to actually REGISTER that day (December 18). No, I waited until January 1 and found that the event has filled up and that the wait list closed on December 24. Hmmph!
Mentally preparing for a race like that is difficult. Physically preparing for a race like that is grueling. Worrying how you're going to get a registration ticket for that race is the worst. I was/am all set to find a swim coach to help me with my weakest link. I've been steadily improving my times on the bike and run. I love Kidder and his family, and it would be a great event to do together in Sonoma in July. I just need a ticket!
Happy New Year!
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