My 2014 Resolutions

I love the feeling of a fresh start at the beginning of a new year. I believe wholeheartedly that everyone should do their best to better themselves everyday; not just at the start of a new year, but at the start of every new day we are blessed with. I do think that a new year is a good place to start -- not to become a new person, but to be a better me.   

That is the basis of my New Year Resolutions. I think that all of my Resolutions (with the exception of the last one) are all things that I can work on every. single. day. 

My Resolutions are: 

1. Stay more committed to my studies. Strive to make A's in every class. 

I think that every college student has this goal at the start of every semester, but this semester in particular for me has a heavier weight on it. I'm taking 17 hours as well as doing my online teacher certification, working 13.5 hours each week, and volunteering at a local elementary school. With this being my last semester of college I am going to do my best to stay on top of my schoolwork.  I am most definitely guilty of starting the school year out strong and then slacking off after the first test week and stressing throughout the rest of the semester when I'm trying to catch up. I hope that this semester is different. 

2. Stay active and devoted to my health.

I have a kind of love/hate relationship with the gym and I have a really big love of carbs and sweets. With that being said, I often ditch going to the gym and go to dinner with my friends instead. With that, I often put on pounds instead of losing them. This cycle makes me feel worse about myself and lowers my self-esteem. This is a completely vain and selfish point of view, I agree, but I think that when I'm healthier and feel good in my own skin I do feel that I'm happier. 

3. Focus more on my relationship. 

I am beyond blessed to have found someone like Lovebug, and I have realized that I don't appreciate him nearly enough. I know he knows that I love him, but I don't always voice how appreciative I am of him and the little things that he does for me every single day. He treats me like a princess (very cliche...but it's true!) and in return I should treat him like a prince, right? On Saturday the 4th we will have been together four years (!!!!!) and we no longer have that fun, new relationship we had in the beginning, but we have something so much more substantial and meaningful and I hope to let him know everyday how happy he makes me. 

4. Strengthen my relationship with Christ. 

I think that all of us can stand to strengthen our relationship with Christ. He gave us His one and only son so that we can all be saved and spend eternity with Him...can you imagine a love like that?! I know, without a doubt, that there is nothing as selfless as that. I hope to strengthen my relationship with Him more in this year. His love will never let me down, and He has the power to protect me and save me unlike anything in this world. His love is never ending and I hope to live more like Him. That is something I will have to work on everyday.  

One of my favorite quotes is "Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that, through you, others can see Him." That is completely true! As Christians, we need to be overflowing with our love of our Lord! We should be glowing so much that people who don't know Christ will seek to build a relationship with Him! Isn't that really, truly the best gift of all? 

5. Lastly, I hope to travel more this year.

As much as I wish that I had the money, time, and ability to, I cannot travel everyday. So this is more of a goal of mine this year. I hope that I am able to travel more this year. Since I'm graduating this year and I won't start teaching until August, I have the summer to travel and explore. I will have to save up exponentially to go to all of the places that I would like to go, but I pray that my travel plans will all work out. 

There are my plans for the year, and I know that I will have to work everyday to keep up with these resolutions. What are your New Year Resolutions? 

With all my love, 

M.