This is me in all my glorious imperfection.

I have been putting off writing my New Year’s post.  I usually make a laundry list of resolutions that I keep for maybe a month and then they trickle off into a distant memory until the end of the year when I realize that I did not really reach my goals.  Don’t get my wrong 2012 was an amazing year.  I became a teacher and landed my dream job right out of the credential program.  I officially moved in with my boyfriend.  In so many ways, I find myself becoming an adult.  And all of that feels good.  But there are still so many things I want to do.  So many more things I want to be.

My reading and writing life has largely been on hold this last year.  I made big plans to come back to Justice Jennifer stronger than ever but those fell away when I discovered how difficult first year teaching can truly be.  I found myself drowning in grading and planning.  Despite all the seemingly never ending work, I found myself feeling fulfilled and happy at the end of every work day.  And I gladly gave up huge chunks of my weekend in an attempt to perfect my craft.

So at the end of 2012 I think it was safe to say that I was happy.  But I know that i can be happier.  So this year, I’m going to be embarking on a happiness project inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s book The Happiness Project.  I haven’t completed all the details of the plan for my happiness project, but when I do I promise I will share it on here.  After getting a plan in writing and having people to keep you accountable are two huge keys to achieving your goals.

Before I get that official plan in writing, I am going to share some of the categories of my life I’m going to be working on.  I’d love to hear some feedback from my readers on these.  Any advice about concrete actions that can help in these areas would be amazing!  You guys are obviously more brilliant and put together than I am so I’m hoping to get a little help here!

• Accept my imperfections.  Be Jennifer.
• Strengthen my relationship.
• Build more meaningful friendships.
• Become a better teacher.
• Get more enjoyment out of my hobbies (focus on reading and writing).
• Accept help.
• Overall wellness: think fitness, spirituality, health, ect.
• Stop stress.
• Organization.

Obviously this is not at all an exhaustive list.  This is just my starting point.  Each “category” will be broken down for the actual project into three or four tangible goals and I plan to focus one month on each of these.  I will undoubtedly be asking for more help along the way.  After all, accepting help is one of the categories I know I need to work on!

2013 is going to be another exciting journey.  I know that the start of a new year doesn’t mean a blank slate per se, but I am erasing from my mind (for now and as much as I can), the “failures” of years past.  I’m accepting myself where I am right now and looking forward to making a few changes in the hopes of a happier future.  I think that is ultimately the spirit behind new year’s resolutions anyway.

© 2013, Jennifer Lesnick. All rights reserved.

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