My New Year's list

I know many people have already posted/announced their New Year's resolutions, if they are doing any this year. And I am sure that some people have already broken theirs.

I have been thinking about my list for the past couple of weeks. I know what I would like to accomplish this year, but I am also intimately familiar with the fact that life has a way of throwing a monkey wrench into the best-laid plans.

Therefore, I give you my list of things that I would like to do this year:

First off, I would like to spend more time doing the things that bring me true happiness; being with my family and riding my bike, in that order. Unfortunately since my commute to/from work is a little more than an hour each way, that seriously cuts into any time that could be used for both. I don't have any control over the traffic (oh, if only...) so I can only strive to make the time spent on both that much more worthwhile.

I would like to spend less time yelling at my kids, and more time playing with them. I would like to help my kids with their homework and I would like to be there to help them with their problems in life. I would like to continue taking my wife out on weekly dates, even if the date consists of Taco Bell and Wal-Mart. I would like her to know that she is my best friend, and I would like to continue to be worthy of her, and to continue to be that person she said yes to all those years ago. I need to remember everyday how truly blessed I am that I have such a loving and supportive family, and never to take that for granted.

I would like to ride. I realize that "more" may not be a reality, so I would like to maximize my time on the bike. But, I don't want to be so focused on training that I no longer enjoy riding. I would like to remember the pure joy I find in riding. I would like to ride more centuries this year, but I realize that due to finances or time constraints, that may not be in the cards.

I would like the two things that make me happy to converge more this year. Last year, the time on the bike that I enjoyed most is when I was riding with my kids. I would like to get my family out riding more this year.

I would like to loose weight, but I realize that if life throws one of those previously mentioned "monkey wrenches" I will reach for the nearest bag of chocolate because food and eating is a coping mechanism, and it is much easier, and usually more convenient to reach for food than the bike. That being said, I would like to try to change that behavior so I am more apt to reach for the bike than the chocolate.

I would like to be a more pleasant person. I realize that I cannot change other's behaviors, but I can change my responses to their behaviors. I would like to be better at letting those people who matter to me know that they do matter to me. I would like my friends to know that I value their friendship. I would like to keep better contact with family and friends that are far away.

Well, there is my list. If you are making your own list, I wish you luck, and hope you are able to keep your resolutions throughout the year. I hope you all have a Happy New Year.