1. Learn guitar
2. Work out consistently--at least twice per week
3. Study more for grad school-- shot for a 4.0 GPA from now on
4. Be more aware of spending so I can save more
5. Move out
6. Forgiveness

Those were my goals for the year 2009.  I opted for "goals" rather than "resolutions," because it seems more daunting to not meet something you resolved to do rather than something you aspired to do, don't you think?  I actually glanced a look at these goals sometime in June, when my aunt mailed them to me.  You see, every year my family writes these New Year's Resolutions/Goals and then my aunt mails them to us in the middle of the year so that we can see if we've made any progress (and catch up if we haven't).  I am proud to say that I followed through (to a degree) on all of the goals I set for myself.  It's also interesting to look at these goals and see a sample of what my concerns/interests were at the time of their creation.  I will admit that the goal that carried the least of my resolve was item #4 and in a manner of speaking, #5.  This is simply because after a while, I gave it all up to God and then later, moving out became this wonderful mess of fortuitous and blessed circumstance.

Today I sat with family and constructed my largest list of goals yet.  Can you guess it?  Fifteen.  The number is daunting, but when I look at the list, each individual item seems challenging yet doable.  One of my favorite items was to "a) do something new, b) eat something new, or c) go somewhere new every week."  Sounds a little daunting (and expensive!), but I figure that 50% of the time I cook for myself, anyway, it's something new to eat.  This particular goal sent me on a mission to construct yet another list with my cousin and aunts of new things for me to try.  It was actually quite fun and exciting, dreaming up the little and big possibilities, and hearing my family volunteer to join me or help me.  Some were quite ridiculous, though, like my aunts forcing me to add "Meet Miles Austin," the wide receiver for the Cowboys ("But that's impractical!" "What?! He's a regular guy!  It could totally happen! Just put it down!")  I'd love to share with you my list of goals and "sub-goals," but those will have to come at another time.

On another note, I'm ready to get back to being busy.  (Apparently, I can only revel in being a total bum for about two days.)  I'm tired of all the things running through (and falling out of) my head.  Though I'm not ready to go back to my part-time job, I am glad that I'll be using my time to earn money instead of spending it.  Worry has gotten the best of me these past few days, and I found it so refreshing today to discuss possibilities, goals, and dreams.  It quelled all my thoughts of the worst possible outcomes, my limitations (present, future, real, or imagined), and fear.  Oh Lord, do make me strong enough.  Not necessarily strong enough to always win, but strong enough to find the will to do everything I can and strong enough to find peace, even if I have to surrender. 
That, is my resolve.

"Don’t think that love, to be true, has to be extraordinary. What is necessary is to continue to love."
-- Mother Teresa

I finally filled all 8GB of my iPod nano. 
Time to start deleting songs .

It's been a wonderfully busy past week or so.  So much so that I think I became intoxicated with the elation and ended up very sleep-deprived then grumpy (Sorry, Mom.)  Entering my 24th year of life, I am once again reminded how very blessed I am.  I think sometimes I feel left out, or I become too eager for everything (and I mean "everything") to be just right, just perfect, but don't we all do that?  Throw off our contentment and beg for something more (see previous post for a read-between-the-lines hint)? 

Anyway, not enough time to right write now (harhar).  Must fly, much like St. Nick.  Which reminds me...

Merry CHRISTmas, everyone.