New Year, New You!

Happy New Year! Hello 2008. I have a feeling we're going to get along nicely.

I am so glad I'm over the whole "New Year's Eve has to be exciting, fun and last well into the early morn." I've wasted some New Year's trying to make it "all that and a bag of chips." I've matured....obviously because Becky, Russ & I were the youngest amongst the grey-haired at the movies on New Year's Eve. We had a lovely dinner and then went to see Charlie Wilson's War (a fabulous movie that I highly recommend...and not just because you get to see Tom Hank's toosh). We were back at their house by 11:45 pm and welcomed in the New Year by saying sleepily, "Happy New Year!" Then their welsh corgie, Fatty Lumpkins, gave me a kiss. It is indeed going to be a wonderful year.

I'm also rebelling against the get fit craze that begins on January 1st. I'm never one to go along with the crowds, unless it involves stylish shoes or a good meal, so I'm going to wait until most people have quit their resolutions before I begin. Too much pressure at the beginning to be perfect and succeed, so I'm going to wait a couple of months to be perfect and successful.

I just ate a Milky Way Carmel mini-bar. Take that society!

Of course I do have some goals for 2008. I am my father's daughter after all.

1. Get an agent: I'm going to get on this PRONTO!

2. Run two half-marathons: I love them, I can't help it.

3. Do a triathlon: Another love/hate relationship.

4. Cook a nice meal once a week: Scratch that, too much pressure, so little joy.

5. Write my own show.

6. Get to a place where I can quit my job and act full-time.

7. Volunteer consistently.

8. Pray for my family consistently.

Those are 8 for 2008.

Anyone have goals they want to achieve? Feel free to share. I wish you the best of luck. Don't get down because it's January 2nd and you've already failed with one of your goals. Start again tomorrow.

Dear Diary...

I started a new journal last night. I finished the final pages last week of a journal made by the hands of Nepalese women who were rescued from human trafficking. Where does one go from there? It took me a while to pick out a new journal. I don't want to spend too much because no one will ever read it other than me (until they make a movie out of my life). But I also want it to speak to me. This one has drawings of happy frogs on it. I'm not really sure what that says to me or about me.

I love starting a new journal. It's almost like you get to start over in life. Empty pages await a story written by me about my life. Some entries are about the day to day happenings of my life. "Today I had rehearsal and tore my hamstring...." Others are about my hopes, prayers, and desires. Then there are those entries where I am really honest with myself. "I am so mad, frustrated, hurt, and disappointed..." or "I'm eating like I'm a high school football player in the middle of two-a-days; except I work in a cube and am therefore going to bust out of my pants if I don't get a grip."

It reminds me that I need to look at my goals that I set back around New Years. How am I doing with those? Some good, some not so good. I need to have goals, vision, and dreams or I will shrivel up and end up on the couch watching terrible reruns of reality television shows.

Last night I wrote out some ways I want to live my life:

Dream Big
Take Risks
Love Openly & Passionately
Embrace Opportunity
Speak Truthfully
Pursue Adventure
Leap Outside of My Comfort Zone
Leave Room for Spontenaeity
Surprise Myself
Stop Being Afraid

2007

I have a feeling that 2007 will be a great year. First of all, the number 7 is God's favorite number. How do I know this? The Bible told me so. I mean, He uses the number 7 in almost everything. So this is the BIG year! Second of all...there is no second of all. It just is.

My parents have no t.v. at their lakehouse and this makes us do crazy things like sit down as a family and write out our goals for the year. I actually was excited about it and am happy to be starting the year reaching for some attainable and lofty goals. I will share several of them and maybe they will inspire you to do the same!

1. I will weigh __ __ __ pounds by 12/31/07 (this is my little secret)
2. I will run two half marathons and compete in 1-2 triathalons this year.
3. I will audition 3 times a month.
4. I will write and perform a one woman show by 12/31/07.
5. I will bring my lunch to work 3 times a week.
6. I will read one spiritual book for every two fictional books I read.
7. I will take a vacation with my friends and not just use my vacation days to visit family.
8. I will be involved with four paying acting gigs this year.
9. I will go on 25 dates this year (My dad set this goal. It appears that he's ready to marry me off).
10. I will pray for my family everyday. (this should have been a given)

So I've got much to do this year and now you can hold me accountable!