12 Changes in 2012

On Sunday, I sent out this tweet:

 

 

Which prompted Katherine to send me a DM, asking to gChat with me. I immediately accepted, knowing she would either be someone to vent to, or someone to give me advice. I needed both.

The chat? Prompted this:

As Katherine and I were talking about living a healthier lifestyle, she brought up an idea that had been floating through her head for a while now: making one big change a month to our lives for twelve months. At the end of the year, our lives will be drastically different but the process of getting there won’t be so harsh and tough. Little by little, we will chip away at those habits causing us to be less-than-satisfied with our lives to bring about amazing change and transformation.

At first, we thought it would be fun to have twelve people participate. Twelve people. Twelve changes. In 2012. But as we got the word out on Twitter, we found out a whole hell of a lot more than twelve people were interested. At last count, we had 36 (!!) people interested in joining us. Katherine sent out an e-mail about the challenge on Monday morning. There will be a website where we can share our twelve things and a place for us to find community and support. Making changes to your everyday habits and life is hard but I’ve found it to be so much more motivating when there are people behind you, giving you support and offering advice.

If you want to be added to the participant list, let me know! If you leave me a comment or tweet or email, I’ll make sure to forward on the email Katherine sent to give you more information on what this will all entail. I think this is exactly what I need to make 2012 the year I finally stop living a half-life.

I also wanted to take this time to write down my (tentative) twelve changes I want to make in the coming year. I’m sure as the year goes on, this list will change but here’s a rough idea of my “12 Changes in 2012”:

• January: Get off my addiction to soda, drinking no more than two a week
• February: Eat a healthy, filling breakfast every day
• March: Stop snacking on junk and instead find healthier, more filling options
• April: Have a normal bedtime routine, starting around 9:00pm
• May: Spend the first 10 minutes of my day journaling
• June: Have a “no spend” month, using this to catch up on all credit card and medical bills
• July: Stop the negative self-talk.
• August: Establish a “chore chart” and stick to it weekly
• September: Be more present in my everyday life
• October: Write fiction for at least 15 minutes a day
• November: Have a daily quiet time with God
• December: Take action and control over my anxiety

The biggest thing I want to focus on in 2012 is my health so many of my goals are specifically related to this, but “12 Changes in 2012” is about more than just health and fitness goals. It is about focusing in on areas of your life you are not happy with. Discovering the change you want to see happen in 2012 to make for a more happier you. Change is hard and scary and messy, but it is also wonderful and exciting and fulfilling. I know the changes I have listed above will not be easy. Some of them are a bit scary but I know as I look at my life now, I’m not happy with the way I’m living it. And as terrifying as some of these goals are, I know they will bring about needed and necessary change I need to feel more fulfilled in my life.

Are you taking the plunge and joining us for “12 Changes in 2012?” If you haven’t contacted Katherine or me about it yet and want to learn more, please don’t hesitate to send out a tweet to either of us! We’re excited about the venture and can’t wait to see the change that happens in all of our lives!