Looking Forward

January 1st. When you get right down to it, it’s just a day. Just another date on the calendar… There isn’t much separating it from January 2nd, or even April 14th for that matter. But in our world, January 1st is possibly the most inspiring day of the year. The day to look forward with hope. The day to vow your unwavering commitment to accomplishing personal goals. The day to set out on a journey toward becoming a better version of yourself. The day to dream big.

For dreamers like me, January 1st is the perfect excuse to devote time to doing exactly what you love most… Imagining all of the possibilities that the new year could hold. While the events of a year are, for the most part, out of your control, the progress of yourself as a human being is totally and completely up to you.

My goals and dreams for 2012 aren’t outrageous by any means. I’m not wishing to win the lottery or to be the achiever of world piece… Although I wouldn’t object to any of those happenings, I prefer to set new year goals for myself that A) are worthy of my time, B) are possible to achieve within the time constraints of a year, and C) don’t require divine intervention to accomplish. So here are my simple, but worthy goals for 2012.

1. Make time for myself a priority.

I am guilty of being a compulsive workaholic while school is in session. To make matters worse, I am a self-admitted perfectionist. While this means that I am a very driven and dedicated student, I often find myself exhausted and drained from giving everything I have to other people. I think that if I made more time for myself to create, to relax, to explore, and to just have fun, I would probably accomplish a lot more than I ever dreamed of, and enjoy the journey.

2. Stay positive.

This is actually a continuing goal from 2011. It allowed me to evade the infamous end-of-semester meltdown that I would typically fall victim to, and it allowed me to open myself up to new friendships when it seemed like old ones were crumbling. Staying positive, and forcing myself to see the light on the darkest of days, was the best thing that I ever did for myself. I think it is absolutely worth sticking to for many years to come.

3. Graduate from college.

Yes, readers, in May I will FINALLY be graduating from college with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education. I will actually begin my final internship in just a couple of weeks, and I couldn’t be more excited. Up until this point, it has seemed like an endless cycle of courses and exams and textbooks. But now, I’ve finally reached the final stretch. I will finally be able to take the lead in teaching a group of eager students. I will finally be able walk across the stage and claim my diploma. And that pivotal moment is just a few months away. Pardon me while I squeal and do a little happy dance…

Okay, I’m ready to continue.

4. Have a classroom of my own.

Since I will be graduating in May, I will have the rest of the year to get an official teaching job. This means that I will have a classroom and students of my own. I remember playing school when I was a little girl. My little brother, stuffed animals, and dolls were my students. I made worksheets with paper and markers, graded those worksheets with a coveted red pen, and excitedly wrote on my chalkboard. It’s amazing to me that within the next year I will probably have a REAL classroom and REAL students. I. CAN’T. WAIT.

5. Volunteer my time to others.

I think what I love most about teaching is the fact that I’m putting my time and effort toward helping children learn and find their way in the world. In between teaching, though, I often spend my time working on MY homework, or worrying about MY problems. Even though I do need to make time for myself, I think that it’s good for the soul to put effort into making life better for others. There’s always something you can do for someone. You just have to pay attention to the world around you and be kind. Kindness is the greatest legacy one can leave behind.

6. Get into better shape.

To be quite honest, I HATE exercising. Well, to be more accurate, I HATE running… And I’m intimidated by a gym. I don’t know how to use have of the equipment found in a gym and the other half looks like a torture chamber. However, I do like walking. And I tried a dance cardio workout last night that turned out to be a lot of fun. I am determined to make being healthier and getting into shape more of a priority. Finding fun ways to accomplish this will be a challenge, but I’ve always liked a challenge.

So, those are my goals. As simple as they may be, I know that working toward these goals will make my life richer and help me to grow as a person. I can’t wait to share my progress with you over the next year… And I also can’t wait to encounter all that is still unwritten.

All my best, Amy