Happy New Year everyone!
We rang in the new year with friends and fondue, and not one photo was taken. We had a great time cooking and eating together until the countdown into 2015.
I'm most looking forward to finishing the courses portion of my optometry degree. I registered for my last classes for this upcoming semester. Starting in the summer, I will only be in clinic and at externship sites seeing patients!
A new year is a nice time for a fresh start in various aspects of life. While I'm not big into making resolutions, there are definitely a few things I would like to focus on improving this year that I've let fall through the cracks in 2014.
1. Prioritizing my time better. In March I will take Part 1 of my board exams. I have already begun studying some, but I've really got to get on a good schedule for getting through preparation material for this crucial test. Also, I need to be more mindful of my "free-time" and not waste it away on things like Facebook and Instagram when I could be spending quality time with Jesse or doing more productive things around the house.
2. This is also a time issue, but I'm looking forward to spending more time with God this year. I've really slipped on getting into the Bible on any kind of regular basis. And if I'm really honest this extends back beyond 2014. I think I made it more of a "chore" in my mind as something else to "study," which is the last thing I wanted to do after lectures and reading notes most afternoons. Obviously this is so far from the truth and the best kind of studying, knowledge, and wisdom I could pour into myself.
3. I'm sure the number one resolution is diet and exercise. And before you roll your eyes and say I'm skinny and should not consider a diet, I'd like to explain that I literally want to focus on my diet. What I'm putting into my body. And I wish everyone resolving to lose weight would think of dieting this way and not about depriving themselves of certain foods. We should use food as food - stuff to feed our bodies, but we often don't think of it this way. We want what tastes good, really good (fats and sweets) and not what foods are best for their nutrients. Don't get me wrong, you all know I love these not-so-good foods too...especially sweets. But this year I'm going to be more mindful of what goes in. Because as we all know, what goes in makes up your health, both present and future. Feeding our bodies nutrient-rich foods will let our organs work better, make us feel better and less tired on a regular basis, and yield a healthier future. As a society, we greatly fear deadly diseases like cancer, but what prematurely kills more people every year is heart disease, which is directly related to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity. These risk factors are often something that can be controlled. It may take more effort and regulation, but it's worth it for you and those that love you.
So with all that said, here's what I'm personally looking to do. I love food and I love eating. I love finding delicious foods to share with others. And I love dessert. I don't plan to give up any of these things. I do plan to be more mindful as I'm eating these things and stopping when I know I've had enough. For example, when we go out to eat and I find something really delicious I like to eat it all. I want more of that decadent flavor to flood my taste buds; plus I've paid for this meal and plan to get my money's worth. But then I leave full as a tick and uncomfortable, knowing I should have stopped several bites ago. Remember the serving sizes at most restaurants are over-sized.
Secondly, while we do a lot of cooking at home purposefully to eat healthier and cheaper, we could do a better job at it. Right now we have access to well-priced fruits and vegetables and even organic options. I'm okay with spending a little more on each grocery trip and thinking of it as an investment with lower healthcare costs in our future. So, cleaner eating - meaning more organic, natural, fresher options and less processed foods; more nutrient dense foods like fruits and veggies; less sugar (gasp!); and more meatless meals.
4. On top of #3, I plan to add some physical activity. A student's life easily becomes a sedentary life. And I've been a student for twenty years, y'all! ;) Seriously though, this butt needs to get off the couch and move. I'd like to develop a regular routine, even if it's just walking/running a few times a week. Jesse likes to tease me about my lack of upper body strength, claiming it's not good for survival skills if I can't lift my own body weight. Isn't he funny? :)
So when you see me this year, ask how these things are going. Because all of these things are important to me and I hope to do better at them this year. Plus accountability is powerful. If you care about the same things, maybe we can do them better together. I plan to share updates here on the blog throughout the year and likely some recipes we've enjoyed along the way.
Here's to a new year and the awesome times, challenges, and changes it may hold!
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