New Year's Resolutions

 

Since 2011, I’ve posted my New Year’s resolutions at the end of each year.  It’s a good way to do a year-end check-up and see how I did and what I need to recommit to into the New Year.  So without further ado:

 

1. Body - run 720 miles, swim 120 miles, lift 240 times, bike 600 miles; eat better. 

Actual counts for 1st 11 months of 2025: run 618 miles, swim 109 miles, lift 220 times, bike 505 miles. I’m glad to have prioritized this and to have done a pretty good job making it happen. Aging plus tweaking my back has meant adding some stretching to my routine, which is good cue for slowing down and taking care. And keeping a food journal on my public social medias is also a helpful accountability mechanism to make good meal choices. Grade: A 

 

2. Civic – leverage skill/opportunity for maximum social impact, make a difference on the hard issues. 

Feeling good about speaking up where my impulse might be to keep quiet, and saying no where I might be tempted to overcommit. Grade: B 

 

3. Friends and family – quality if not quantity, be there when needed. 

I wish I had more time, but I appreciate the time I do make, and have learned to be present and seek quality. Grade: B 

 

4. House – an ounce of prevention, making it a home. 

I’ve continued to pay my ounce of prevention to avoid pounds of cure, which keeps me busy but minimizes fire drills. Grade: B 

 

5. Kids – 1-on-1 times each quarter. 

Two are off at college, and the youngest is growing into greater independence, so the quantity of time and the amount of influence is less. But happy with moments to be together, to show love, and to impart wisdom. Grade: B

 

6. Marriage – three kid-free trips. 

Fewer longer times, but many more special moments. That said, I wish for more longer times. Grade: B 

 

7. Mind – read 50 books. 

This was the year of the long read. Loved me some incredibly moving narratives, which were good for my body and soul. I’ll post my titles tomorrow. Grade: A. 

 

8. Self – three hours per week of uninterrupted me time, three personal day getaways. 

I made time for 4 personal days, but I didn’t do as good a job at carving out slivers of time most weeks even for a 10-minute walk, so that needs to improve. Grade: B 

 

9. Spiritual – 100 Bible memory verses, time each morning for Bible/prayer. 

Spent the year in the Psalms and Proverbs, a great way to begin a day. Grade: B 

 

10. Work – do good projects. 

Our higher ed practice was particularly busy, and it was fun to work with so many great institutions across the country, and in the process to see both similarities and differences in their impact stories. Grade: B