My Goals for My Black Belt

This is me, planting my own garden.

So here goes.....
I have set goals for myself that I will accomplish over the next year and they are requirements for my black belt. I am publishing them in order to stay focused and hold myself accountable.

1. Knit preemie hats and donate them to a hospital
-tell others about the project
-solicit help by having people make hats (crochet or knit) or donate baby yarn.
-teach people how to knit or crochet or how to make hats (share my patterns)
-call the hospitals to find out they would like them to arrive, all at once, or as they are ready

2.Read, learn, research about diet and nutrition
-what does my body need to perform the best it can be?
-how to fuel the body and not gain weight?
-how to lose weight and remain strong?

3.Self Image!
-can I change the image in the mirror?
-tools for that....books, self-talk, talking with others who have the same/similar issues

4.Run the 1/2 Marathon in Sept/09
-run three times a week, increasing distance, time and strength as I go along
-raise money and awareness for Suicide Prevention
-leadership - get others to commit to and train for the run

5. Read books on how to positively increase/improve my impact on the world
-use UBBT reading list
-ask black belts and students for ideas, suggestions
-check local library

6.Fitness goals to be completed by Sept/09
-33,800 push ups
-34,500 sit ups
-kicks - 9 different ones that I will change every three months - 8,450 each
-364 completions of each form that I know

7.Record acts if kindness each day
-do at least three acts of kindness per day
-record acts, impact on my thought process and the behavior of others around me


That's it for now! It has been a challenge in itself to put this out there, it feels good and scary all at the same time. I am very much looking forward to the next 11 months.

Here's the fun part for me:

Interested in being a part of my journey? I would like to gather a group of people interested in running the marathon next year. We could train together or share training tips, encourage each other and then run together sporting our Silent River t-shirts. We could also, as a group, spread the work about suicide prevention and how it affects more lives than one realizes and how important it is to raise money for this cause.

Are there any knitters or crocheters out there? You don't have to publicly come out of the knitting closet like I did, you can catch me at Silent River if you are interested in donating to this. I am also available to teach people who are interested, how to knit or crochet.

Know any good books to read? I will attempt any thing once, okay maybe twice, I am reading/listening to 'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance' for the second time. I am looking for anything on the topics mentioned in my goals.

I think that hardest part of this whole goal setting experience is going to be hitting that publish button. Holy risk factor, batman!!!!!