When we purchased our house earlier this year I had to go back through old paperwork to find necessary paperwork for the mortgage company to examine with a telescope.  In doing that process I came up with a printed out page of my former 1001 things I wanted to achieve.  That old list can be found here.

I wrote that list in 2006 and on the top for Financial was

1.    Clean up credit report

2.    Become debt current/free

3.    Move up one level at work

4.    Open a savings account for a rainy day

5.    Open a Christmas Club account

6.    Prepare a will

7.    Buy a house

8.    Pay off car

9.    Get rid of truck and buy a new vehicle for Rick

I achieved 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8.   When I pulled out this antique list I was amazed.  I even took it to my mortgage broker and showed him that I was achieving 1, 7 and 8 all in one shebang.  It felt amazing.  I’ve done a lot of the other things on that list but without even going back to the list.  Much of my wishes have changed and much of what is on that list seems silly to me now.  But those financial ones still seem quite important to me.   I need to work on 5, 6, and 9 now.

While I didn’t look at that list it was somewhere in my subconciousness.  Last year my resolution was to “have more fun”.  I put a Mary Engelbreit poster print in my cubicle at work and looked at it all the time.  I also had a theme going on of Grattitude. I don’t think Grattitude is a one time for one year thing however so that’s not really a resolution for me, it’s a way of life.

This year I have so much to be grateful for and yet as I peruse that old list from 2006 I realize that I still have things on there that I really need to do for myself.  However, there are some new things I would like to do.

1.    Order prints of favorite photo’s and hang on wire/clip from Ikea

2.    Organize hallway closet with pretty/funky accessories

3.    Clean out library room and set up

4.    Hang photos in living room FINALLY

Those are small things.  Things that are perpetually on my list of things to do that I just need to DO and get done with them.

I have many goals for the new year and they include

1.    Work on career goals

2.    Re-write resume before graduation

3.    Find joy in what you do for work, do not settle

I think this year will be a big year of changes.  I am still as of yet undecided about my education goals and desires.  I am on the fence so to speak, waiting for a clear message to surface. I am at a crossroads.  I would like to reach that crossroad and make the decision that is best for me. I am seeking solitude in an effort to find a peaceful resolution to my anxieties about the decisions I am facing soon.

Next year I want to

1.    Save 3 months worth of income

2.    Pay down credit cards in increments to further improve credit score

3.    Keep all bills current (as always)

4.    Live with a less is more mentality.

On the personal side of things I want to

1.    Read more

2.    Travel more

3.    Stress less

4.    Enjoy more

5.    Simplify belongings, clean up house, declutter.  Give excess to charity.

I think that overall what I am seeking is a stronger sense of balance and peace.  Peace being the biggest goal.  So next year in one word I want Peace.  Personal peace, financial peace, peace in my direction.  Peacefulness in my actions.

Peace.

This is my overall goal for 2009 and my wish for everyone that matters to me.  I wish you all PEACE in 2009.

The new year always brings us what we want

Simply by bringing us along-to see

A calendar with every day uncrossed,

A field of snow without a single footprint.

–DANA GIOIA