Recap

January 1, 2012 I set 12 goals for myself. I did not get all of them done, but I think I was pretty successful. As I bring this year to a close, I have decided to look back on these goals and begin the next list for 2013!

12 Goals for 2012

1. Graduate from college… (should be easy… right?) DONE!
2. Get a job teaching … (this one is kind of a duh! but with the way jobs in the teaching field are going this one could be tough) DONE! Kindergarten in Bryan, Texas!
3. Eat healthier… (avoid fast food, sodas, and fried foods) I did much better in this area earlier in the year... after summer and student teaching I let this one go. I am ready to get back on track for this goal!
4. Begin a regular exercise schedule… (occasionally I go for a run, but I want to be more consistent) Again, I did better on this goal at the beginning of the year and the best during the summer with Crossfit... but as student teaching came around, I did terrible!
5. Run a 5K, 10K, and a half marathon … (eek. This may be hard because of how busy I am going to be this year, but there is no excuse not to get this done! This was one of my goals for last year… I ran a 5K but never made it to the 10K or the half.) I think I ran 5 5ks this year... Which is AWESOME! But I really wanted to get to that 10k! I think part of the problem is that there are so many more 5ks than 10ks (excuse #1 and the list goes on). This goal will again be on my list next year and I hope that I can achieve it! I have got to get on a regular running schedule... with a full time job? I need help! How do people do it?
6. Be positive ALL of the time! … (this is something I harp on a lot because I think it is one of the most important qualities of being happy… but sometimes I struggle with being positive in stressful situations.) I think I have a pretty positive outlook on life. I think this quality is what helped land me my first full time job! I always try to look at things from a different perspective. I can ALWAYS get better at this though! With my new job and a new chapter in my life, positivity is going to be the key to being happy!
7. Be patient … (this includes all areas of my life… school, family, friends, and faith) I would say I was pretty patient this year. As a student-teacher, a lot of patience were tested, but for me that is the easiest situation to be patient. I really hate being patient, but it is a fact of life.
8. Be spontaneous … (or maybe even plan-taneous) I did really well on this goal during the spring and summer, but once school started in the fall... spontaneousness went down hill. I figure eventually I will find a way to be spontaneous and work at the same time, but I will have to build up to that point.
9. Go on fun dates … (this kind of goes along with spontaneous) I have been on some very fun dates this year! It was hard in the fall because matt and I lived 2 and a half hours apart, but we still were able to do fun things on the weekends. Football games, movies, dinner, etc.
10. Do my hair and make up more … (aka don’t look like a zombie when I go to class) Like I said in July, I didn't do very good on this for my A&M classes, but now I have to do my hair and make up for work. I think I went to school maybe 2 times this semester with my hair in a ponytail! I have never been one who wakes up early to fix my hair, but I think times are changing.
11. Communicate more with my friends that don’t live near me … (this is so hard but it is something I HAVE to get better at!) I think I have done relatively well on this goal... Not good, but okay. I have really enjoyed seeing my friends from all over this winter break! 
12. Strive to live and love like the Lord has taught us to. I think that thoughout out  this year I have grown closer to the Lord and built a relationship with Him that has taught me how to live and love the way He does. Of course, this is a NEVER ENDING goal that can always be improved.

For me to be able to completely cross of 3 of my 12 goals I would say is pretty good. A lot of my goals are ones that you don't just "complete." They are lifestyle goals that need to be in place to remind me of the way I want to live my life. Being healthy, exercising, being positive and patient, being spontaneous, etc. 

This year has been such a blessing. I made new friends! I traveled to a country I had never been to! I accomplished things I could have never imagined! I graduated from a prestigious university with honors! I got a "big girl" job! This year really was full of decisions. I ended one chapter of my life, but the best part is that I get to start a new one! I am so thankful for all of the people in my life that have supported me throughout this year. 2012 was a great year, and I am anxious to see what 2013 holds for me. 

Its not about where an adventure ends, cause that's not what an adventure's about. 

So anything that happens from here on out is a bonus. 

-Benjamin Mee