I'm Back, Baby (The Year 2012)

2010 was the year of Change.

2011 was the year of Goals. I accomplished a lot of them. Most notably, I completed all of my college coursework. Jots and tittles aside, I am a college grad. I shall walk in May. When I submitted my last final, with DH asleep beside me, I sat in my bed and cried in pure elation, relief and pride. It was an accomplishment I'd all but given up on a few years ago. My English professor, who has taught me four separate courses in the last two years, told me he'd miss my writing. That was a nice little ego bump. I also taught myself to run in 2011, running my first full 5k, as well as completed 50,00 words of fiction in a month. A year of goals indeed.

2012 has been proclaimed the year of Health. I've known for a while now that something is not right with me. I am unbalanced. My blood work has revealed abnormal levels of a plethora of hormones, including, but not limited to, thyroid, adrenal, testosterone and estrogen. My weight fluctuates strangely and there are abnormal ... happenings ... down there. *ahem* I've had several discussions with my doctor, whom I adore for taking the time to really examine my overall health instead of just handing out fix-its for symptoms, and I'm determined to do whatever it takes to find Health and Balance. I capitalize them because they are that important.

One of the first steps I'm taking is completing a 21 day detoxification/cleanse, a specific program created by Dr. Alejandro Junger. (See book on book list.) I have always been mighty skeptical of words like "cleanse," "colonics," "detox," and such, but much of what I read in the book was in keeping with things I've been discussing with my doctor, and I decided that I'm willing to give three weeks of eating/drinking ULTRA healthily a try. Apparently fixing your guts can fix a lot of things, including things like Depression. Even if it doesn't make me feel amazing, it certainly can't hurt me. TLee recommended the program to me with a positive testimonial, so here I am, three days in, enjoying my organic blueberry/avocado/cinnamon smoothie and three pounds lighter than I was on Sunday.

I've also committed to run (as team captain, even!) in the Red Rock Relay in Moab, UT this May. This is a 65 mile race run by teams of 6 members each, every member running two legs, each leg anywhere from three to eight miles. Yes, people, I, Joni, who was a sworn non-runner, have committed to run 10 miles in ONE DAY. With hills. DH is running too, as well as four other members of his family. The training has already begun.

Here are my hard and fast goals for 2012 to help me achieve Health and Balance in body and mind.

- Run 366 miles (I thought averaging a mile a day for the whole year felt nice. And it's leap year.)

- Attend the temple at least 12 times

- Read at least 60 books

- Clean every closet, drawer, nook and cranny in my home. PURGE.

- Complete my book.

I have other goals that are more like mantras, such as:

- Focus on food as fuel as opposed to food as pleasure

- Focus on being strong as opposed to being skinny

- Explore new avenues of food/recipes. Try some vegan recipes. Cut back on trigger foods such as sugar and dairy.

- Learn to balance time. Learn to say no to things that are unnecessary and cause extra stress.

- Play with my children.

- Serve DH. Date him. Kiss him.

- Limit screen time (Don't worry. Blogging will actually INCREASE this year.)

I've grown a lot in the past couple of years. This is going to be the best one so far. I can feel it.