Each year (or at least the years I remember to do so), instead of making resolutions at the start of the year, I pick a theme for the year. I prefer themes to resolutions because themes serve as overarching, guiding principles. They help focus me on what’s important, at least in theory. If an opportunity arises, or I need to make a choice about something, I see if it fits with my theme. If it doesn’t, it’s usually a sign that I need to pass on the opportunity, or make a different choice.
Some of my past themes include “healthy”, in 2017, and “defining”, in 2010.
2018 was a challenging year in many ways. There were some highs — completing my first triathlon and my first open taekwondo tournament, getting accepted to and starting the HERS Institute, teaching Intro again after a long hiatus — but many lows as well — breaking my elbow, and having to cancel our highly-anticipated camping trip; injuring myself AGAIN last month in taekwondo class. As much as I hate to admit it, injury dominated my year. My year was a year of can’ts, of carefuls, of wariness, of modifying. Many times, I felt like I’d be injured forever.
This year, I want to focus on strengthening my core: my core skills, my core values, my resilience in general, and my overall physical strength.
- Work-wise, 2019 is a transitional year. I’ll be taking on a new and exciting opportunity (more on that in a later post) where I’ll get to learn and practice new skills. But it’s also time consuming. So I’ll need to be clear on my priorities and how I choose to spend my time, to make sure I’m spending it on the right things.
- From a health perspective, I’d really like to STOP being injured in 2019. To do so, I need to make sure I have a strong base: strong muscles, a strong core, a solid cardio foundation. And I need to be smart about gaining strength and ramping up my cardio. I eat pretty healthfully already, but my body is changing as I age, so making sure the food I eat fuels me well is also important, so that my body can stay in one piece for a change.
- My kids and my spouse are the most important people in my life, and the ones who usually get the worst of me, the end-of-the-day-I-have-no-reserves-left me. As my kids get older, they need me differently than they did when they were babies and toddlers — bigger kids, bigger problems, as they say. And my spouse and I are like two ships passing in the night lately, which is not really conducive to a healthy marriage. My relationships with them, and my friends, are important to me, and I need to start treating them as such.
So my word for 2019 is FOUNDATION. My focus this year is on building and strengthening my foundation. Clarifying my priorities. Building up my physical strength and health. Focusing on relationships. Acquiring new skills and practicing weaker skills. Preparing myself for future challenges.
Do you have a word or theme for 2019? Please share it in the comments!
This is what a computer scientist looks like 