2012 -> 2013

Yes, yet another "year in review" blog post. Everyone does them, and yes, they can get repetitive, and filled with navel gazing, but I like the idea of a summary...

Believe it or not, I went in to 2012 with a plan. I was going to continue my late 2011 exercising push. I was going to spend more time with the kids. I was going to eat better. 

I spent a lot of time in 2012 focusing on health.

• I ate less, and what I ate was better for me.
• I exercised quite a bunch (178 "workouts" or activities, including over 26 thousand crunches and over 10 thousand push ups). I even managed to do 20 pull ups in one set.
• I took up some new "skills" with the intent of keeping my mind sharp (learned to juggle and started crocheting).
• In November I moved to a standing desk at work.

I'm giving myself an A on the health goals. 

I did spend a bit more time with the kids, though my older daughter stopped playing softball so I stopped coaching her, running practices, etc. We found other ways to spend time together, though. I'm going to give myself a C+ on this goal and will certainly carry this one forward into 2013.

For 2013, I'm going to adopt two mottoes and see how that works out for me.

Motto 1

The first, I admit, scares the pants off of me. It's far too ambitious and will certainly require too much of a commitment, but I'm adding it here anyway:

“Make no little plans: they have no magic to stir men’s blood.” - Daniel H. Burnham

Yes, that's a bit over the top. I've always been a guy who takes small, sure steps. I'm not afraid to fail, but I don't like it at all. I'd much rather reduce a lot of the risk and take the safer bet.

Maybe I'll make some larger strides in 2013.

Motto 2

The second motto is something I read last year from Paul Graham:

"Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy."

He says he keeps that at the top of his To Do list and I like it. It's much more approachable. I especially like the part about friendships. I don't have enough of them. I'm too shy to make new friends, it's such hard work!

Now, those two goals can be at odds, but I think that they can work together, too. It's all in how you look at it.