Everyone has New Year’s resolutions. Some people may not mention them, others resolve NOT to resolve, but everybody has a New Year’s resolution. I, too, have those, but don’t ask me to recount them in May. I don’t remember what they are. In May, you see, I begin to think ahead to the summer, a TIME, when I actually HAVE time, to figure out what to do with the TIME I actually have available to me. As a teacher, I have more flexibility to do certain things during the summer. This allows me to accomplish a number of things if I plan properly. Having four kids it is sometimes tough to find (you guessed it) TIME to do the things that one has to get done, especially those things that YOU want to do for YOU. So instead of a New Year’s resolution, I am going to make a list of the things that I resolve to get done during the summer. And I give anyone who reads this permission to hold me to what I am writing here. Accountability is important when you are out to accomplish any goal you set your sights on!!
1. I am going to blog a minimum of three times a week. Last year I was really good about using my time to get my thoughts down where I can go back, read and reflect on them. I want to do that again. 3 TIMES A WEEK… MINIMUM!!!
2. I am going to actually make it to confession at least once this summer. Fr. Jordi was at St. Tim’s for a year, and he created MORE opportunities to partake in the sacrament of Reconciliation, and I failed miserably (EPIC FAIL) to take advantage of that (QUE FALLO!). So, I resolve to get to the confessional at some time. Lord knows I got enough junk weighing me down . It’s time to ditch the burden!!
3. I will continue to work out, because I am going to get that 6-pack if it kills me!!! (figuratively of course). I feel like I’m getting close. But those DAMN OREOS!!! I will have to figure out a way to finally see those abs, and hopefully before I get to Sarasota this summer. (I have 7 weeks left)
4. I will run a minimum of three times a week throughout the entire summer. the summer is brutal for running, long distances in particular. But if I can manage to get used to running in the heat, it will only make it that much easier to run in cooler weather when it comes. I have a goal of knocking off 30 minutes off my marathon time, and the only way to do that is to start training now!
5. I will be available to help anyone who wants to start training to run a marathon. I will be training my good friend Javi starting in June, and am willing to bring a few more on for the trek should they choose to do so. It won’t be completely hands on, but I will be more than happy to give pointers, set up schedules and give verbal support to anyone who wants to join us on this quest to 26.2!!
6. I am going to start swimming a minimum of 2 times a week. My goal is to be ready by the end of the summer to do a sprint triathlon. the only way to do that is to start swimming regularly. Lucas is going to be doing swim team again this year. I’m going to see if I can take advantage and possibly swim with him so that I can improve my (currently nonexistent) durability in the water.
7. I resolve not to let these resolutions get in the way of me doing what I’m supposed to do at home. Yes, I need to continue to work at being a responsible family man. (Not easy to do)
8. Finally finish making my Math Tutoring Videos… the ones that I’ve talked about doing now for three years!!! I gotta set 2 weeks aside to just tape during the day and get the material on tape so that I can get them to my main man, Mr. Editor, Ivan. Then maybe I can begin distributing and selling CDs of me teaching Math. (I feel I’m quite good at that, you know)
9. Start once and for all writing the books that I keep telling myself I’m going to write… a novel that’s been stuck in my head for 18 months, a book on Young Adult Ministry that I’ve compiled information on, and two kids books that I’ve written that I have to find someone to illustrate. I MUST finally get to working on these!!!
I know, I know, that’s a lot, but in the least I should be able to do the exercise stuff without a problem, and I have no excuse but to be able to START some of the other projects that I haven’t given sufficient attention to. And this summer I resolve to get these things started and/or accomplished. Beginning date? JUNE 1st. Some of these I will begin beforehand. But come June 1, I will concentrate on making a daily checklist to make sure I’m doing these things weekly. And remember, you have a say in how this will ALL pan out. You can be my coaches. Just keep me on task. Annoy me if you have to!! It should be an exciting summer. And hopefully come the end of August I  will be able to look back and say, “This was one productive summer. It’s a good thing I took advantage of the extra TIME!”