Dec 282012
I subscribed to a holiday email gift from Courtney Carver of Be More with Less. Every day, in December, she sent an email out with inspiration. Sometimes it’s music, other times it’s a simple thought, and on December 5, she encouraged us to make a love list.
Instead of resolutions, she encourages us to write a list of things we’d love to accomplish. It’s a free writing exercise, one that opens ourselves up to the possibilities of a fresh start. She suggests next to pick ten percent of the love list, and really focus on those. This brings focus, clarity and peace.
Let’s start with step one.
Things I’d love to do in 2013:
- Add yoga back to my life. The other day, I did yoga for the first time in many months, and it took me from stressed and tense to strong and relaxed. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get back into some semblance of an exercise routine, and this fits that goal, along with the added benefits of quieting my inner dialogue.
- Do a pull up. Didn’t quite get there in 2012, so I’ll aim to do a pull up in 2013.
- Give away 100 Nicer Notes. Or however many I have left.
- Keep the phone in the living room. Drift off by reading, not by browsing to see what I might have missed.
- Start cataloging fun, frugal Portland activities. Fun neighborhood spots, good happy hours, great coffee shops, where to visit when you come to see me, etc.
- Pay off student loan. This will not take long — it’s under $2000 as of today!
- Pay off car loan. Or sell car and switch it for one of those car subscription services where you just take the car when you need it.
- Visit Nana. She lives in east Tennessee, and I’m going to visit her in January.
- Speak at a conference for work. Knock their socks off.
- Speak at a conference for Frugal Portland. Not sure what I’d say, but I’d like to speak, and tell people what I’ve learned.
- Guest post on Get Rich Slowly. But remember that the readers over there can be a little harsh, and try to stay away from the comment section.
- Host 50 giveaways at BeautifulGiveaways.com. I’ve been working with Shannyn, and am seriously on my way to becoming a blogging rockstar. Honestly, if you have ever wanted a company to send you something, you should buy her e-book and use the pitch example verbatim. Okay, perhaps you’ll want to change a few things here or there — but the essence of that pitch has easily landed me several hundred dollars of fun things. Read my full review of her e-book here.
- Get naked with my finances over at Consumerism Commentary. I can’t wait to see what kinds of doors will open with my spreadsheet over there for the world to see.
- Complete the Yakezie challenge. Switch my challenger badge out for a real member badge. Wear it proudly. (No idea what this made-up word might mean? Click here — they’ll tell you everything.)
- Max out my IRA again. This time they changed the rules, and upped the limit. So, in 2013, I’d love to put $5500 in my IRA. I’m keeping it traditional, though my resolve might wane after getting all kinds of advice over on Consumerism Commentary.
- Save 50% of my after-tax income. After maxing out the IRA, and paying off both debts, and assuming my income stays relatively stable, that should mean that I end 2013 with around $4000 in my savings account.
- Create things. The opposite of destruction is creation, and I’m interested in being a creator.
- Increase net worth by 50%. It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to increase my net worth by 253% again, but that’s okay by me.
- Spend more time with my friends and family. Host more dinners.
- Determine the non-negotiables. I find that I too easily let go of things in order to please others. Especially in romantic relationships. I’m much more comfortable now that I’ve had some time to myself. I need to consciously adjust my life to match my values, not the other way around.
- Learn to ride a bicycle. Also, buy a bicycle. Commute to work. As long as I’m living one mile from my work, I should do my best to always commute by biking. Try not to get hit by a car and die.
- Take a picture a day. Participate in some sort of challenge, or set up my own. I’m thinking that it would be fun to always take a picture at the exact same time every day. I can call it the 6:00 project.
- Help my sister plan a frugal wedding. This space will discuss some frugal wedding options in Portland, Oregon.
So, that’s my love list for 2013. According to Courtney, then, I can choose to focus on 2.3 things on the list. Since I’ve automated my finances, I won’t focus on those. I think I’ll choose numbers 17, 20, and 1.
Good luck with your goals! I really want a guest post on GRS as well, I need to start working on that.
Great list! You are certainly on your way to blogging rockstardom!
Thanks!
I love how you added "Do a Pull up". That gave me a good laugh for the morning. :-)
HEY — I can do it!
Sounds like you've made some really interesting goals for the new year! I might have to look into a few of these things too!
I'd add to #21: Buy a helmet. Definitely do NOT get hit by a car and die.
What an ambitious list! Small changes yield a great deal. I cycle 90 minutes a day from 2-7 days a week. I started out walking and still walk 30 minutes a day. Then I started cycling 45 minutes a day. Once yu create the habit, it is easier to add to it. Good luck!
Agreed! Thanks, Larry!
Great list! I just bought the blogging rockstar book recently so I hope it helps! I would also love to do some kind of speaking about what I've learned. I'm looking into some toastmaster meetings to get started. Good luck with your goals!
Awesome — Toastmasters is a fantastic idea. Let me know if you need any encouragement about the \”getting free stuff in the mail\” plan.
Not getting hit by a car is a great one. I hope you do come up with a list of Portland activities. We hope to visit this summer. I've never been to Oregon. Does your Nana live in near the Smoky Mountains. Beautiful area.
Near the Smokies but not near enough to call it a pretty area! :) Please tell me when you\’re here — I make a great tour guide!
I love your list Kathleen! Seriously!!
I've always wanted to do public speaking/toastmaster stuff. My dad did it when I was a little kiddo and he loved it.
Oh, and yoga? Count me in girlfriend! I am adding that to my list for 2013 too.
ugh you really need to move to Portland! :)
Nice list Kathleen! Gotta learn how to ride a bike if you live in Portland! Isn't that what Portland is all about? Green and bicycles? :)
It is — it just looks really scary! I know, I need to learn. :)
this sounds like a great list! i bought the ebook through your link!
Awesome let me know what you think!
Good luck with your list! If you ever learn to ride a bicycle we can go for bike rides! It's fun to do it with ladies sometimes because my boyfriend is Mr. Speedy Bikeman. You can do it!
Fun! I\’m in!
Wow, big list! Want to buy a bike? :)
have fun in 2013. I need to make a list like this too.
Yes do you have one?
This list is fantastic! Learning to ride a bike should be number one. It is so fun. Good luck with your list and Happy New Year.
[...] Kathleen has some Awesome Goals for 2013. [...]
I like all of these….especially #11! A lot of crabby a$$es comment over there for some reason!
Yeah, Holly, I don\’t know how you do it! :) I\’m a bit thin skinned for it, but I think I can submit something and not want to cry in the corner.
My mom always calls me upset after reading the comments section, lol.
I want to hug you sometimes after the comments section — is that weird? Oh it is? Never mind. ;)
Weird….I think my comment got eaten!
not a huge fan of this commenting system b/c people like you should not be \”pending\” every time!
Inspiring idea, I think I'll make one too, and stick it to my wall for everyone to see.
Awesome!
#2 Do a pull-up is great. Glad to know that is a big deal to others too. I think I may have given up on that one forever though. Also, I love your new design for the site by the way.
Yes, please don't get hit by a car and die, that would make me a very sad person. BTW you are so totally a rockstar- your giveaways are so good and I'm totally impressed with how fast you've developed your blog and personal brand from when we met back at FINCON…you're on the fast track girl- so proud of you!
Thanks much!
Great idea! And great list!
Have to second Sean's comment. Doing a pull-up is a great goal!
I know! It\’s hard, though!
I love the picture a day at the same time each day! I am positive I've seen an app for that. Maybe Photo 365 or something like that?
oh! cool!
[...] For 2013, I’m going to follow Frugal Portland’s lead and make a list of things I’d like to do. [...]
Sounds like some awesome goals!
I never did yoga, but I would be willing to try it someday.
I love it so much. It\’s much more than exercise to me. It brings peace.
Loved it! You are going to knock all our socks off. Just one pull up is going to do it. And speaking at the conference! Happy New Year!
Happy new year to you too! :)
Great list, Kathleen.. #2 made me crack up!
I also like #4.. I am trying to only look at my phone far less often, and to somehow introduce more REAL reading into my life…
-jefferson
I can\’t wait to meet you in person~! Come bring the fam to Portland after your credit card freedom date.
I read #2 and kept wondering, "what does she mean by do a pull up? Like, pull up her roots and move somewhere else?" Then I realized you meant just do a pull up like we had to do in 5th grade gym class.
HAHA perfect! Yeah, it\’s a lot harder than it was when we were kids. See also: monkey bars.
Great list. Some of your goals match mine. How cool is that.?! I too want to add more yoga back into my life, do a pull up and cultivate better relationships. I like how balanced your list is. That is really important. We try to pick goals for each part of our lives because they all need to be focused on. Best of luck with everything.
Thanks Miss T! I feel like we would get along swimmingly — I hope I get to meet you in the new year!
Goal setting queen! It's amazing how inspirational your goals/thoughts have been this year. I really used one a TON the other day….helped me get through a pretty bad situation. Thx.
are you serious? awesome!
Well I'm certainly looking forward to number 13!
Me too! :)
Definitely a great list, but I also love the three you chose to focus on. I think if you can manage those, 2013 will be a success.
Great list overall and I'm definitely with you on your #18 & #19 goals!
[...] Kathleen@FrugalPortland looks like she will be out from under her student loans this year! [...]
[...] love list item number one is to include more yoga in my [...]
[...] December, I created my love list for 2013. Now that it’s March, I’d like to see how I’m doing, where I can focus [...]