Personal Aims

I’m not normally one for New Years Resolutions. I’ll make a resolution but by the end of January it’ll be thrown away.

But with all the malaise in my life in the last few years, and feeling rock bottom, I recognise I have to make some changes and give myself some targets otherwise I’ll end up going into a very desperate downward spiral.

So I’ve made myself a list of things that aren’t New Years resolutions, but more just things I really want to achieve or do – not necessarily all in 2012 either.

• Make a Positive Difference
  This is a bit of a strange one, but it comes from a thought I had on a bike ride recently. If I died tomorrow – who would miss me? Very few people. Who would come to my funeral? Not many. But also I’ve not made a difference to many people’s lives. I’ve not inspired or been inspired. I need to change that. I need to find what my purpose is in life. Sure – I’ve raised a couple of grand in charity money, but I reckon there’s alot more I could do – I just need to work out what. As part of that I also need to;
• Make sure my kids are positive and happy. (not negative and unhappy).
  Nuff said.
• Do a Lands End to John O’Groats Bike Ride
  It’s a bit like the personal everest of british cyclists – I know quite a few people that have done it, but I want to see what my country is like before I’m too old to appreciate it.
• Compete in a Triathlon
  I’ll just be happy to finish – I don’t care if I come last.
• Become a better swimmer
  In 2010 not only did I do swimming lessons myself again (to learn to do front crawl properly) but I did the Swim for All open water swim at Pugneys – 1500m which felt like a long way, but I dug deep and finished and actually really enjoyed it (even if I did get wobbly legs getting out of the water!). I’ve entered again this year, but I’d like to do it faster and easier. I’m sure my stroke is poor and needs improving so I need to improve my swimming and do more open water swimming.
• Go diving more often
  I know it recharges my happiness batteries. I should go do it and become a more social animal again.
• Learn to Meditate properly / Join a local Buddhist group.
  If I can learn to focus more and find my inner self, hopefully it’ll mean some of the other things’ll slot into place. I’ve been umming and ahhing about this one for a while. I think I need to do this.