Celebrating my birthday last week. 
If I had to be completely honest with myself and accept responsibility for opportunities passed up or passed by, for not being persistent or consistent or for just being totally clueless and lacking any direction, then that would probably sum up the 12 months that were 2011. Now don’t get me wrong, there were some highlights. Thrift shopping in Florida, going back to Jamaica, appearing in the Post, volunteering, making new friends, and moving out of my parent’s house just to name a few. The drive was there, but it quickly burned out. I did not pace myself. I put more work on me than I could handle. I was exhausted. I was hungry for success, but I didn’t take the time out to map the path to get there. I played most of 2011 completely by ear.
It was a learning experience and I never regret any day, week, month or year the good Lord has blessed me to live. In fact, I’m thankful for these mistakes because that means I won’t have to relive them later. Thank you God for such an emotionally tumultuous year and thank you for the future opportunity to make it all right. With much talk about vision boards lately and making goals a focus of life, it wasn’t until I stumbled on a post by my girl Christina of LoveBrownSugar. She freaking mapped out each of her goals and accomplishments she completed this year. I won’t go to much into it because you can read her post right here, but let me just warn you, you’ll either feel like a worthless piece of crap or super-motivated. I choose the latter. So here I am ready to draw my path for 2012. As much as love to gab about fashion, beauty, and entertainment these are only considered trimmings on the full plate of life. I want to be so much more.
I was totally inspired in 2011 by the fierceness, originality and entrepreneurship exhibited by these women.
1. Eat Healthier and Get More Active - I was the queen of health scares in 2011. Not me personally, but from all these crazy celeb deaths, sicknesses, and working for a newspaper can also take a toll on your mental health. For the past few years my health awareness has heightened, but I haven’t been particularly pro-active in making sure I live my best life. In 2012 I want to take regular exercise classes — whether it be yoga or zumba and cut out all the garbage I eat. Well, most of it. lol. I also need to learn how to cook.
2. Stop Second Guessing Myself – There really isn’t any valid reason to live life in fear of what people may think of you or what the outcome of situations might be. Instead of taking on a mindset of ‘I must win,” I’m going to think about going after what I want. Whatever pulls me in instinctively is what I’ll go after. I realized that no matter how good of a person you are, people have a choice on whether they love you or hate you. I’m okay with that. I’m going to be me in 2012.
3. Be Free and Let Go – Real talk, if you were to look up the word prude in the dictionary my picture would be right there lurking in the shadows. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to say or do something, but decided against it. This year I’m going to try new things and just try to be more adventurous.
4. Make a Career Impact – I’ve been hanging in the neighborhood for a couple of years, but now I’m trying to get directly on that street. I have enjoyed writing all of my life. I think this is something I was born to do. I have an interest in many things. By this time next year I hope to look back and be in a different place. Closer to what makes me happy. In 2012,I plan to be more specific when it comes to what I want from my career.
5. Be Punctual and Organized – This is something that I start working on from time to time and fall off when it seems too difficult. I’ve noticed when I’m more organized things get done and I’m less stressed out.
6. Build Strong Relationships – I can be really standoff-ish at times. Again, always thinking about the way I come off to people. My guard automatically goes up when I feel vulnerable in a situation. Well, I’m not going to worry about that. This year has taught me that people need people. You can’t do it alone. Sometimes you do have to reach out to get help and that source may initially view you as someone trying to take what they have. That’s okay. Be genuine. Eventually, you may end up being something they want.
7. Date But Be Sincere – I dated my ass off in 2011. lol. But, I didn’t do it with the right intentions. Rather I lied to myself. I may have wanted something more from a guy I dated, but was too afraid. I think I’m ready to have a special someone in my life. No one’s ever going to know if you’re available if you don’t make it obvious.
8. Be Straight Up – All of my friends and acquaintances can probably vouch for the fact that I’m a hopeless “Yes Girl.” I say yes all the time even when I want to say no. I’ll say yes to dinner when I know I have to work. My problem is I don’t like seeing people hurt and I enjoy helping people. After I burned myself out to nothing I realized I can’t do it all. It’s okay to say no. Be honest from the start.
9. Support My Family – I love my family. They’re great. There’s always opportunities where I can lend more support. I want to be more visible to my family members and let them know I care.
10. Things I’d Like To Do: Attend the NABJ Conference, kick debt to the curb, be an active soror (DST), travel, visit a new state, hire a new writer or two, cover New York Fashion Week, write more, read more, walk more and put more effort into everything.
11. Upgrade My Life – Move into a new place and design it to fit my personality. Be a Grade A representation of myself at all times.
12. Stop Marking Myself Down – The moment you settle you get less than what you deserve. Stop settling.
Have you created a list of goals for 2012?
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