New decade....and not a year too soon....

Some say 2009 sucked (and it kinda sorta did) but I'm part of the group that thinks that the whole decade deserves a re-do. When I really started looking back I found a lot to not be happy about:

health issues (damn clots)
earthquake (and ensuing panic attacks)
heartbreak & betrayal
financial issues (just like everybody else)
loss of a friend
really crappy job
first layoff and first time on unemployment (and, unfortunately, not the last)

But then I started looking at all the things to be happy or proud about and that list is pretty good too....

made new friends (not easy when you're an adult)
got myself to a more reasonable weight (keeping 60+ pounds off for 7 years is pretty good)
doing things I never would have imagined (triathlons and half-marathons??? WTF???)
realizing that I am not the three-eyed medusa I picture myself as
finally finding myself doing what it is I was meant to do.

My first goal for 2010 is to maintain a positive outlook even when it's really hard to do. I find myself getting mired down in negativity (what ifs?). I have to take "one day at a time" and not worry about next fall until this school year is over. I need to set up my summer job and that's it.

I'm going to focus on being healthy and not so much what I weigh. I need to start a training regimen (now that I'm not a gym member, should be interesting) and work on my running. I know that this will help my mood big time. My first goal is going to be consistency and then working on speeding things up. My event schedule for this year (assuming that I am able to register for them) is pretty full:

2010 Events:
February - Love 'em or Leave 'em 5K (#1)
March - St. Patrick's Day Dash 5K (#7)
April - Boardwalk 5K for Kids (#2)
May - Beat the Bridge 8K (#1)
July/August - Triathlon (#3)
September - IronGirl 5K (#6)
October - Nike Women's Half-Marathon (#5)

My 3rd goal is a little bit me and a little bit out my hands (sort of). To begin with I need to get out more. I need to make time for friends and socializing. This doesn't need to center around food and, if it does, I need to get over it and learn how to moderate. Hand in hand with that is, I'm really tired of being single. Logically I know that I'm not going to meet anyone hanging out in my apartment with Jethro (even though he's very cute and loves me unconditionally). I've got to stretch my Cougar wings - lol!

Finally, I've got to keep working on improving my odds at getting hired as a full-time teacher. I'm going to take all opportunities for professional development. I'm going to read one young-adult book a month - I want to be able to speak to these in interviews (well known authors but not necessarily the first books you think of). I may even write reviews of them. I've read a couple of really good ones already:

Sherman Alexie "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" - middle school +
Kate DiCamillo "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" - 3rd-5th
Lois Lowry "Number the Stars" 5th + (a great alternaltive or addition to Anne Frank)