Monthly Archives: December 2011

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Preparing my 2012

December 31, 2011 10:54 am / 2 Comments /

As 2011 comes to a close I’ve been looking back on it and trying to find those memorable moments that stand out to me the most. There have been a few moments, some good and some bad, that I can immediately associate with the term ’2011′, and while I could easily get into all of that mess, my preference is to not look back and instead focus on what lies ahead of me. With that, I figured that to bring some reality and tangibility to my goals for 2012, I would write them down, make them public and leave them here for me to come back to when I am feeling like I need a refresher.

I’ve been thinking for a few months now about what I want my 2012 to be like. In past years I would think in terms of what I don’t want, but something I’ve learned in 2011 is to look at what I do want and pursue that rather than attempt to evade what I don’t want. My thought is, if I know clearly what I am pursuing I will have something clear to aim for as opposed to just trying to outrun what I don’t want to be a part of. That began to make a lot of sense to me in the last half of 2011 and it is something I plan to continue in 2012.

In keeping with that principle, I am also of the mind that if I speak something enough I have to power to see it come to fruition. As I put my thoughts to work and turn them into words I have a chance to put my words to work and turn them into actions. And, the more action I take, the better the chances of my original thoughts becoming reality. So with that in mind, here are some of the things I will do, achieve, accomplish or complete in 2012 and, where feasible, when.

  • January
    • Drink no alcohol
    • Eat no refined sugars
    • Exercise six days a week
    • Don’t eat what I can’t accurately measure the nutrition on
    • Sign up for Krav Maga with my daughter Rebekah
    • Get started with CrossFit
    • Lose 10 pounds
  • February
    • Drink no alcohol
    • Exercise six days a week
    • Don’t eat what I can’t accurately measure the nutrition on
    • Lose 10 pounds
    • Finish Chalene Johnson’s book PUSH
  • March
    • Start P90X2
    • Start distance running
    • Exercise six days a week
    • Don’t eat what I can’t accurately measure the nutrition on
    • Lose 10 pounds
  • April
    • Hike Mission Peak at least once
    • Throw Sarah an awesome 16th birthday party
    • Exercise six days a week
    • Don’t eat what I can’t accurately measure the nutrition on
    • Lose 10 pounds
  • May
    • Help the kids give their mom a memorable Mother’s Day
    • Hike Mount Diablo at least once
    • Complete P90X2
    • Start Insanity Asylum
    • Exercise six days a week
    • Don’t eat what I can’t accurately measure the nutrition on
    • Lose 10 pounds
  • June
    • Enjoy a family filled Father’s Day
    • Complete Insanity Asylum
    • Exercise six days a week
    • Don’t eat what I can’t accurately measure the nutrition on
    • Get under 200 pounds for the first time since high school
  • July
    • Earn my 32″ waist
    • Give Alaynah her own birthday party
    • Give Rebekah her own awesome birthday party
  • August
    • Take the family to Yosemite
    • Run a Yosemite trail
    • Have all school shopping done
  • September
    • Give Adriannah a great birthday party
    • Run Tough Mudder NorCal
  • October
    • Run Warrior Dash NorCal
  • November
    • Host Thanksgiving
    • Have all my Christmas shopping done
  • December
    • Attend a New Years Party outside of my own city
    • Finish the year under 210 pounds
  • Some time in 2012
    • Pray daily with my family
    • Find a church and become a member
    • Read at least two self improvement books
    • Own a motorcycle
    • Replace my car
    • Complete a 5K
    • Complete a 10K
    • Run a sub-six minute mile
    • Attend a software developer conference
    • Give a talk at a meetup or conference
    • Go to a concert
    • Go to an NFL game
    • Travel out of state
    • Learn a new programming language

I know it seems like a lot of this is wrapped around health. I’m of the opinion that I need to continually work on my health – physically, emotionally and spiritually – so I can continually improve myself. If there is one thing that I gleaned from 2011 it’s that I need to become a better human being. I need to learn to be more patient, more kind, more understanding. I need to improve me. 2012 will be my year for that.

I expect some amazing things this year. And I am determined to see these through completion. My prayer is that I can look back on these things a year from now and be able to say that I’ve done them all. I’m certain that’s possible.

Posted in: Personal Messages / Tagged: , ,

Be grateful in all things

December 19, 2011 8:27 am / Leave a Comment /

I woke up this morning with a feeling of anxiety. This happens from time to time, but more recently it has happened more often. I’m not talking about clinical anxiety but more the anxiety that comes as a precursor to the culmination of a great journey coupled with major change in the usual surroundings of your life. Like when you’re getting ready to start a new job or when you’re entering into a new relationship.

But as I thought about all that could be causing me anxiety I began to realize that this feeling, this nervous energy that seems to overtake me, stems from the knowledge that where I am in life is simply not good enough. It’s because I want more – I need more – out of life that I seek a higher level.

I’d be the first to tell you that if you are not happy where you are go find your happiness. Seek out with all your might that which you so greatly desire and aggressively pursue it until you’ve acquired what you seek. You only have one life to live and you’re not getting any younger. So stop living your life wondering and wishing and start making the necessary moves to find that place in life you want to be. But today I’ve decided to change my attitude. Today I choose to be grateful.

As we enter into the last few days of Christmas and, realistically, the last few days of the year, I am reminded that there is so much for me to be thankful for in my life. I have a beautiful and amazing family. My children are all healthy, brilliant, creative, thriving children who have shown me this past year that they are tough as nails and soft as silk. I have a great relationship with them and they, with me. We live our lives together as harmoniously as a family can and we have shown over time that we are a tight knit family that is capable of withstanding the worst possible situations while still being able to celebrate the best ones.

I have a skillset that is heavily sought after and positions me to be able to take care of my children financially. It’s good to be a tech head in Silicon Valley at this particular time in history. I love what I do and because I’m in a rather niche market, I am actually pretty valuable. This is a good thing.

I have a wonderful home for my children that is warm, inviting, filled with the sounds of playful screams, craftily composed piano tunes and strong voices that are right on pitch. The creativity flows through my house in every aspect but none stronger than music. I am reminded every day just how blessed I am to be surrounded by such musically inclined kids.

The basic necessities of life are always at our disposal. We literally want for nothing. No, we don’t live a high roller lifestyle by any stretch of the imagination but very seldom do we have to tell ourselves “no”. All in all, life is pretty good.

So as the week winds down, and Christmas lists get poured over and things get bought and the “want meter” is showing elevated readings, I want to take a minute to slow down, consider what I really want the most and enjoy the last few days of this year with an attitude of gratitude. Yes, there is going to be an extraordinary amount of change coming very, very soon. I am preparing myself for the coming year because it will open with change right out of the gates. But for now, or at least the next couple of weeks, I will be thankful. I will choose to be happy with what I have and I will choose to enjoy my life exactly as it is.

Posted in: Personal Messages / Tagged: ,