12 in 12.

Earlier this month I mentioned that there was a great blog challenge that used word prompts to spark an idea or thought process, and though I haven't been participating in this daily like some may be, I really liked today's prompt:

Take today to talk about 12 things you would like to accomplish in 2012. These 12 things can be 12 resolutions, 12 changes in your life, 12 wines you'd like to drink, 12 cities you'd like to visit, or 12 monthly goals.

I think it's good to look forward to next year, even though I don't really believe in resolutions. January is kind of the natural starting-over point for some, and it seems to make more sense to go in 12 month cycles with the calendar than make your year start, say, on your birthday.

So here are my 12 things I want to accomplish in 2012 - if you know any of yours (even if you don't have 12) I'd love to hear about them. Maybe we can do something together!

LindsAy's 12 in 12

1. Run more races. I feel like this is pretty self-explanatory but I want to at least double the number of races I did this year and run at least two half marathons.
2. Train better. This is kind of about running, but kind of about getting up and being active in general. I wish I had trained myself better for my half marathon, and that includes the cross-training I was supposed to be doing to supplement the running. Next year will be better. More serious.
3. Try something new in sport. This year was the year of running, and 2012 is going to be a year of swimming and biking too. I know how to swim, obviously, but I need to make regular dates with the pool (see goal no. 2) and I need to get on my bike. I'm going to try to do at least one triathlon and a friend is encouraging me to do a bike race in June. Maybe I'll even do something like participate in a RAGNAR Relay...
4. Visit a new place. Preferably this would be a new state, so I can eventually get to my goal of visiting all 50 states, or it would be a new country (like France. Please?), but even a new city or a new "destination" (like DisneyLand) would be okay.
5. Spend less money. This year (and probably last year) I spent entirely too much money on stuff I wanted. Because I wanted it, and why shouldn't I have it? I need to knock that off. You heard it here. I guess this would also help me be less wasteful.
6. Step away from technology more. This is not going to be easy but I think it's important to remember that it's okay to be unplugged every once in a while. This means I can write more snail mail letters, read more books and use my brain for more than texting or tweeting (even though I love those things too).
7. Learn a new language. I wanted to do this at some point this year, but I never followed through. Maybe I should just try to re-learn Spanish. 
8. Stop being late. I have a bad habit I picked up somewhere along the way (ahem, sorority) that has led me to be late. A lot. Not extremely late, but often times I am 1-5 minutes late meeting someone for dinner, getting to work, etc. Grown-ups can't be late.
9. Wake up earlier. This should help goal 7 but I need more sleep. Plain and simple. My schedule needs to improve so this can happen.
10. Stop worrying so much about what other people are doing. Look, people are going to be jerks and they are going to piss you off. The only person you can control is yourself. So no one else and their bullshit should matter.
11. Listen. I think a lot of times people have such interesting stories or important things to say, and we rarely take the time to find out what they want or need to say. I want to be a better listener, and hopefully I will learn something.
12. Be better. Smile more. Be a better friend. Be smarter. Be caring. Be someone that people respect and want to emulate, just because you're you and they like you for it. (That sounds kind of Mister Rogers but I don't care.)

There's a lot more to reflect on from 2011 and goals to set for 2012, so stay tuned!