#19for2019

Last week I shared about my #18for2018 project.  A few days into 2019 I’m ready to unveil my #19for2019 goals.  Credit for this project goes to the podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin.  The idea is that rather than one huge resolution, we tackle nineteen things that will add to our well-being.

What I learned reflecting on my goals in 2018, was that unless the goal could be clearly defined it was hard to track.  So I tried to make goals more measurable this year, but also left some room to adapt.

Career

The first three goals are related to some of my vocation goals.  I started my first round of seminary in September of 2008.  After I graduated with my M.A. in Community Ministry Leadership in 2011, and got married to Richard, I took three years off of school before enrolling in the Master of Divinity program at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. My head injury in 2016 put my studies on pause for two years while I recovered.  One of my victories in 2018 was returning to school.  It’s been a long holy journey.   Lord willing, I will graduate in 122 days, get a job, and apply for Commissioning as a Provisional Elder in 2019.

• Graduate
• Get a job
• Complete Board of Ordained Ministry Paperwork and apply for commissioning as a provisional Elder.

Holistic Health and Well-being

Having an understanding of health that is more than weight, size or shape has been an important area of growth for me.  I’ve really loved connecting with some body-positive movement groups, and am really interested in exploring Health At Every Size.  I had an initial interview with a dietitian specializing in Intuitive Eating and body liberation this month and hope to work more with her. My mom and I spent the morning snow-shoeing, and I’m looking forward to finding other ways to move my body in nature.  The next category of goals

• Complete the 2019 YWCA Women’s Triathlon Super Sprint again.
• Practice my swim endurance.  Be able to swim 300 yards without stopping
• Go to at least 24 yoga classes
• Go on at least 24 hikes
• Drink enough water every day.
• Plan my lunches the night before at least 4 days/week when home.
• Find a good therapist

Special Days

I get so much happiness out of getting Christmas cards from my friends and family, but have never sent cards myself.  I also found myself longing for a real Christmas Tree this year, there’s nothing quite like sitting by the tree in a quiet house.  While there are lots of ways to make every day life special, it’s fun to celebrate the special days.

• Get a Christmas Tree and Send Christmas Cards 
• Celebrate my birthday.
• Take at least two trips.  (Maybe Trinidad and New York but TBD).
• See six shows (concerts/plays etc.) or exhibits.

Learning, Action and Reflection

During my CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) unit last semester, I realized that there are some very colonial aspects of my ministry practice.  I recognized how my desire for control and order was perceived as constrictive and oppressive by others.  I am committed to continuing the work of decolonizing my ministry practice in 2019, there are lots of layers involved in this but two specific goals in my #19for2019 are.

• Read twelve books that will help me decolonize my ministry practice (Fat, Native, Black, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQ+, Disabled authors).  Use this reading to inform my life and ministry practice.  (Do something).
• Journal in words or pictures at least twice each week.  I need some time to do a brain dump.  Other times a journal helps me to discover a connection that I hadn’t thought of before.  Sometimes words are best.  Other times using art supplies helps me to bypass my inner-censor and figure out what I’m actually feeling and thinking.

Home

I spend a lot of time at home.  I love nature, but we live in an apartment, so aside from a few planters on the balcony we don’t have much “garden space.”  To make my home a bigger source of joy in 2019 I will:

• Buy a pot of spring bulbs to watch grow during the ugly part of winter/spring
• Buy three new houseplants and keep them alive
• Buy a new couch and chair for the living room (my couch and chair were hand-me-downs from my cousin, who told me at Thanksgiving that they were hand-me-downs for her too).