Sunday, January 1, 2012

#34: My New Year's Wookieelutions.

Happy New Year! I think 2012 is going to be a wonderful year (despite all the fuss about the Mayan calendar). One of my favorite traditions each New Year's Day is setting resolutions for the upcoming year. I usually fall short on most of my resolutions, but sometimes one or two of them stick and I feel really good at the end of the year. In order to keep me accountable this year, I decided to share some of my 2012 "Wookieelutions" with you.

Physical Goals:


1) Exercise six days a week:
I know exercising is the most common (and most commonly broken) resolution, but I've actually got some good momentum with this goal right now. Since October 24th, 2011 Diane and I have been in an exercise competition with some of my friends at work. Our goal has been a simple one: do some form of designated exercise six days a week. The exercise doesn't have to be strenuous; rather, we are simply trying to achieve consistency. Our minimum exercise requirements are as follows:
a) a one-mile walk/run (however, it must be a truly designated exercise walk--you can't just count your steps around the office during the day).
b) a three-mile bike ride (this has been my "cop-out" exercise of choice when I am tired and don't want to do anything more difficult or time-consuming).
c) weight-lifting/strength training for half-an-hour.
d) work-out with an exercise video that is at least 25-minutes long (Jilian Michaels kicks my butt).
e) play a sport for at least half-an-hour (even golf counts!).
f) attend an exercise class (although I refuse to do Zumba in public).


Someday...
2) Eat healthy five days a week:
This is going to be a struggle. As my coworker Tonya knows, I vow to give up chocolate every Monday morning, and I usually give in every Monday afternoon. Well, I am going to try to redouble my efforts to only eat "healthy" foods on the weekdays (except for Friday night). On Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday, I give myself permission to eat as much chocolate, cheddar cheese, Lays Potato Chips, Marshmallow Mateys, and Sour Patch Kids as I can get my hands on. Otherwise, it's spinach, turkey, tomatoes, nuts, and pears.
Lays Potato Chips, I love you!
Spiritual/Service Goals:

1) Memorize one scripture a day:

I enjoy memorizing scriptures. They provide peace and comfort in moments of difficulty. I have made some good progress on this goal already thanks to the iPhone app "Memorize Now!" (I talk about the app in Post #8 "My Favorite Mormon iPhone Apps Part #2" at http://www.mormonwookiee.com/2011/10/8-part-2-my-favorite-mormon-related.html).

2) Attend the temple twice a month to perform proxy ordinance work for those who have passed away:

One of my favorite acts of service is performing proxy baptisms and other ordinances in the temple for those who have passed away. Paul the Apostle asked the Church in Christ's day about baptisms for the dead: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:29). Paul is asking the Church to think about the importance of baptism for those who will one day be resurrected, but who did not have the chance to be baptized during their mortal lives. Essentially he asks, "Are people going to be dead forever? If so, then there is no point to baptism. But if they are going to be resurrected and live again, then they need to be baptized." Because members of the Church believe in the resurrection of all mankind, temple work is a sacred opportunity for us to serve people who were unable to be baptized during their own lives. Since I live within 30 minutes of six temples (Salt Lake, Jordan River, Draper, Oquirrh Mountain, Mount Timpanogos, and Provo), I have plenty of opportunities to serve in the temple. I just need to take advantage of them more often.
Mount Timpanogos Temple: Where Diane and I got hitched.
3) Visit my "home teaching" families at least once a month every month (also known as 100% home teaching):
Tom Cruise may not think 100% home teaching is possible, but I gotta try! (http://www.mormonwookiee.com/2011/11/17-tom-cruise-on-home-teaching-spoof.html).

4) Perform one "out-of-my-way" act of service a day:
It is easy to serve others when we are supposed to serve and it is expected of us, but it's not as easy when no one is watching and the service isn't expected.

5) Write in my journal three nights a week:
I love writing in my journal. It helps me to find perspective, to feel gratitude, and gives me a chance to write funny jokes for my posterity. I talked about my love of journal writing in Post #18 "Writing in your journal (the joys of being an 8-year old)" at http://www.mormonwookiee.com/2011/11/18-writing-in-your-journal-joys-of.html.
Personally, I prefer gel pens.

Other Goals: 

1) Work on my listening skills:

I admit it. I'm a bad listener. BUT I'm working on it. One thing that I have made great progress on this year is not interrupting people and not finishing their sentences. Here's hoping that I can keep improving in 2012.

What did you say?
2) Help Diane cook dinner at least once a week:
I'm a terrible cook. In fact, a couple of months ago I tried to be an adult and make spaghetti without any supervision. The noodles cooked just fine, but when I put on the bottled tomato sauce I ran into a little trouble. I asked Diane, "Why does the spaghetti smell so funny?" She came over to check it out and said, "Um, you just put on Pace Picante Salsa on instead of Prego."


This is NOT spaghetti sauce. 
Blogging on Mormon Wookiee these last few months has been a very satisfying experience for me, and hopefully I have been able to make a difference in somebody's life. I'm looking forward to many more years to come. Happy New Year and may the force be with you!
Thanks for reading!

7 comments:

  1. I've never had dinner rat before, sounds . . . interesting . . . ;)

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  2. Oops, this is Michelle Glauser posting from a new blog I'm working on with a friend. (I forgot to sign out.)

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  3. Dinner rat indeed! Thanks for the catch, Michelle!

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  4. Good luck on all your goals! And for what it's worth, I think you're a good listener!

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  5. Great blog! Thanks for giving me some things to ponder. Happy New Year!

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  6. Great blog! Thanks for giving me some things to ponder. Happy New Year!

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  7. What good goals...and what a good guy! Here's to your success in achieving them!!

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