Goals
Every year, I share my personal goals as an example and encouragement to you. I don’t share to show off — my goals are not special and I never meet all of them by the end of the year. That’s okay, though. I am not ashamed. Sometimes those goals go onto the next list, sometimes I realize it wasn’t a good goal for me and move on. Either way, I would never have known if I didn’t try.
In fact — that’s my theme this year. Just try. This will be the year to see what works. I have a lot of ideas and my mantra for 2024 is going to be on repeat. Just try. Try something new. Try something old. Try the thing on your heart. Try what you resist. Just try. Kind of like Nike — Just Do It, only less cool and without a famous face.
Last year, my goals were broken into four categories with the word FOCUS at the helm. I will keep the same pattern for simplicity this year. Life is complicated enough, right?
Blog & Podcast — Every year I say I get better. I do, but these are still not where I would like them to be. If you listened to this podcast, then you know writing and podcasting is not my full time job, so just roll with me without high expectations. If you are looking for a woman with all her ducks in a row, you will not find her in this space. I have a plan, but sometimes the plan looks good on paper, and not so good when I start to flesh it out. I am not one to write for the sake of writing or to post for the sake of posting. If it doesn’t have a purpose, I am not going to publish. You can count on that. None of us have time for nonsense, so I commit to keeping it out of your inbox.
Writers are readers, so I always like to have a reading goal on my list. I enrolled in the Colson Fellows Program this past summer and I have had a huge reading list (of which I am behind). The intense schedule, combined with my editing and book coaching projects, has not left a lot of time for reading other things. I’m sure trying, though!
I won’t have a specific reading list to conquer this year, but something new I am venturing into for 2024 is a book of the month club. each month, i will choose a book to discuss with you. Sometimes it will be focused on a particular theme and content (like January’s fresh start), and sometimes it will be used as an example for writing. I’m excited about this added element and hope the content I bring will be useful.
In case you want to prep for January, we will dive into Chasing Failure by Ryan Leak. It’s the perfect book to kick off the new year! It is also the perfect companion for my 2024 motto: Just Try. I will be sharing thoughts about this book throughout the month on my social media (Facebook and IG), so be sure to join the conversation.
Health and Fitness — 2023 seemed to be the year of stupid, unexplainable, and extremely annoying health issues. Needless to say, I have been on the struggle bus with my fitness! I gained way too many unwanted pounds in 2023 and 2024 must be a rebuilding year for me. My sweet friend, Stephanie, reminded me not too long ago that I needed to make my health a priority. She is right. I have already started the process of getting back to my daily workout routine with my favorite Street Parking friends and I can’t wait to see what the year will bring as I rebuild my strength. I think this goal might be my most important goal. After all, I can’t go where God leads and be effective if I am sick. He calls us to be good stewards of our resources, and that includes our bodies.
Side note: If you have goals, any goals — but especially health-related goals, you need to be following Steph. She has a lovely blog and podcast, so be sure to sign up in your favorite places so you don’t miss a word. She will encourage and inspire you. She will tell you the hard truth in the sweetest voice. She will make you think and help you take the next step. She is as real as real gets and she is genuinely interested in helping women recognize their true value and worth as a child of God. I am a better person because of her wisdom. I can’t say enough good things about her and her business. Go follow her and you’ll see what I mean.
Now that I have shared my goals and some more fun plans for 2024, I want to hear yours. Comment below, on social, or send me an email. We are better together, so let’s cheer each other on in 2024.
What are you most looking forward to in the new year?
Deanna
