New Year’s Resolutions are for losers. Yeah, I know it’s good to reevaluate and all that, but really, it’s just an excuse to put off something you should have started doing a long time ago. I do, however, like setting goals; for the year, for the summer, for the month. It keeps me motivated and always working toward something. This year I have three goals… Okay maybe only two; I’ve already allowed myself to give up on one of them. (I fully realize that I’m posting this 6 weeks into 2015. I’m busy; give me a break.)

#1: Run a 5K, a 10K and a half marathon.
Last year I started running and I’ve come to really enjoy it. I get up at 5:00am two days per week to run on the treadmill, but much prefer my outdoor runs on the weekends. I ran my first and only race in October 2014 – a 5K all by myself because I couldn’t find anyone to join me – and barely managed to run the entire time. This year I set the bar a little higher. I’ve recruited friends and family to run with me in the Atlanta St Patrick’s day 5K, the Peachtree Road Race in July (I even joined the Atlanta Track Club for guaranteed entry), and the Disney Wine and Dine half marathon in November.

Hike #1 of 12: Sawnee Mountain.

#2: Hike a new mountain every month.
I’ve always liked hiking and I frequent the Indian Seats Trail at Sawnee Mountain Preserve in my hometown of Cumming, GA. But, after reading some of my friend Lesli’s adventures on her website, I decided I need to stretch my legs and explore some of the other great trails in the metro Atlanta area. I’d love to hike one of the mountains visible from the top of Sawnee Mountain and wave back home.

#3: Visit a new church each month so I can objectively decide which Christian denomination is the best fit for me… someday.
I feel kind of bad that I’ve given up on this one already but I’m just not feelin’ it right now and it’s not the kind of quest one can force. I grew up attending a Methodist church in a small town, but also spent some of my teenage years at a non-denominational Christian Fellowship “mega-church.” In my household we’ve got an agnostic, an atheist, a person of strong faith who dislikes organized religion, one will believe anything a persuasive person tells them, and one who once saw a photo of George W. Bush and asked if he was God. This leaves me feeling like I’ve failed a little bit at exposing my kids to religion and allowing them to make their own decisions about faith. So, yeah. That’s some heavy stuff and I’m not ready to go there yet. Someday.