I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. Years ago I realized I was using them to chide myself and, more often than not, just setting myself up for further failure. It was an ineffective way to encourage change in my life . Instead, every year on my birthday, I come up with a list of goals for the year ahead. And the only rules I have are my goals must focus on the positive rather than the negative and shouldn’t be impossible to achieve.

Well, my birthday has called to say it’ll be here in ten minutes, it’s time I get serious about this year’s goals. Especially since I’ve slacked off the past two years and I’ve definitely noticed the lack of focus. Even if you don’t achieve all the goals you set, they at least get you moving in the right direction. More importantly, you don’t wake up 33 one day and wonder, What the hell have I been doing for the past three years?!

My actual goals are too pedestrian to share here. But I’ve been thinking a lot about my approach to the year ahead and I’ve decided… 2010 will be the year of the Three M’s: Moderation, Meaning, and Movement.

Moderation
Everything in moderation, right? Basically I want to trim the fat (both literally and figuratively). I don’t mind having multiple pans in the fire as long as I don’t have so many that my entire meal ends up burnt. I’ve gotten into the bad habit of starting a lot of things and finishing very few of them. If I practice moderation going forward, I am confident I’ll be more focused and accomplish more.

Meaning
This one seems kind of obvious but I find it’s easy to forget as you go. Which is why, even after I’ve set my initial goals, I’ll have to keep asking this question, "How much does this mean to you? Why are you doing this and what do you hope to get out of it?" Plus, by cutting down on how much I do, I’ll be forced to assess the value of the things I am doing and the meaningful ones should be more valuable. Not only will this help me with my moderation goal, I’m hopeful it’ll also increase my happiness and sense of purpose.

Movement
Weirdly this goal may become a great deal more literal than intended. But, ignoring that vagueness, mostly I’m just tired of spinning my wheels. Time to give myself a push and get moving forward again. Regardless of whether I stay on my current path or decide to take another road, I’m done standing in one place watching the years slip past. As my mom would say, "Shit or get off the pot, Rae."

Ok, birthday, now I’m ready for you.