reflecting on 09 and pondering 2010

New Year’s resolutions have never been my thing but Heather and Granola Girl have captured me with their reflections on 2009 and their hopes for the year ahead. I always thought September was more my time of year but suddenly I’m in the mood to take a look backwards and forwards.  There were some significant changes in 2009 and so many yet to be defined in 2010.

In 2009 I took care of a few items on my bucket list:
– learned how to use the pottery wheel (it was so good to use my bowls when I was home for Christmas!)
– starting this blog
– training for triathlon
– trying dragon boating
– going to Glacier National Park in Montana
– dipping candles
– visiting New England
– going back to school for teacher training
– getting involved in the (Vancouver) Olympics – I dreamed of volunteering at the games but the logistics didn’t work out and carrying the torch was closer than I ever imagined I’d get

Plans are already in place for a few more items to come off the list in 2010:
– attending the Olympics (I still regret that I didn’t go to Sidney where I knew 10 people who were participating!)
– finishing teacher training
– starting a new career
– taking a cross Canada road trip

There are some things I’m really proud of from last year but need to go a step further with this year so I can truly say I love this life!

Getting fit. Getting into a cycling and swimming routine last year was great but it took a lot of work for me to get to the point where I enjoyed it (and these were both sports I loved when I was in public school and university). Then I lost momentum when I spent half of the summer without my bike and away from a pool. I’m not sure that triathlon competition will fit into the plans this year but I need to get back on the fit routine so I can enjoy hiking, photography, and whatever 2010 has in store for us. I think the key here is to remind myself of why I want to get fit and starting my day with exercise.

A decade or so ago I went so far as to run a few nights a week so I could develop the endurance to hike longer and higher. If I could handle that, surely I can handle a few pilates, swimming and yoga sessions a week now!

Finding rhythm. I know that I need to get to bed earlier so I can get up earlier and do more with my day but I can’t believe how hard it is to do when my days aren’t jam packed with activities outside of the house or something to proove in a competition. I’m hopeful that regular glimpes at this post will help keep me on my game but I’m also going to need to find a way to limit my time on-line. The rhythm I’m still struggling to find needs to squeeze my computer time out but make space for fitness, socializing, sleep and healthy eating so I can be ready for a summer of outdoor exploration.

Doing what I love. Taking leave from the career I felt was destroying my soul was a big move last year but finishing my training and starting afresh are going to be big too. There are still a lot of questions about where we’ll be and what we’ll be doing seven months from now and beyond but the most critical thing for me is it to find what I love no matter what situation we end up in. That means being open to whatever our future holds and rediscovering the outdoor activities we enjoy but haven’t done much of lately. I also need to be open to enjoying new things and doing what it takes to love the work I’m doing.

Having goals are a big help and so this year, I resolve to get outside, get to bed early, get fit and love life. Have a great 2010!

I’m tri-ing

Last week, in addition to starting my blog, I made a significant step towards another of my bucket list items – completing a triathlon on my own.

Up until almost four years ago I was fit and not much stood between me and the triathlon goal.  There was rarely a weekday where I didn’t have at least one sporting activity planned.  Then I got hurt.  Again.  And I let laziness, disinterest in the available programs, and health issues stand in the way.  Last week I put all those things in the past when I started my triathlon training.

I know it’s only been a week but I can feel the difference already.  It’s been so long since I was able to feel “good” muscle pain.  You know, the kind that tells you you worked those muscles but not the wicked ache of doing too much?   It was so nice (and probably necessary) to have a day off yesterday because there was a lot of that good pain.   I feel much better today, ready for tomorrow’s bike and swim.  Woohoo!

There are still many months between now and my first triathlon but at least I have something to work towards.  I just need to decide which triathlon will be my first.  There are so many to choose from.. women’s only, pool swim, lake swim, close to home, far from home, etc.   And they’re a lot more expensive to enter than I expected – probably because the last team tri I did was circa 1992.

I’m so excited… in 8 more months I’ll have one of my most important  items off “the” list!