My 2024 Resolutions

My 2024 resolutions

Theme for 2024: Love and joy 

Relationships:

Michael: 

Sexual:

• Have sex at least once a week
• Give him surprise oral at least once a month
• Send the kids to our parents for our monthly sex day 

Intellectual:

• Finish writing our book together 
• Start developing our new tracking app 
• Take an Arabic class together with the kids

Adventure: 

• At least one romantic getaway without the kids
• Monthly date days with new activities
• Go cycling weekly 

Connection:

• Quarterly happiness survey
• Do our best to connect before bed for a few minutes each day
• Plan a big party to celebrate our 15 year anniversary with loved ones

Evi and Dale:

• Monthly one-on-one connection time with both of them
• Read at least one parenting book – focus on being present in my parenting
• Work on managing my frustrations and being more patient
• Remember to role model the behaviors I want them to have
• Get a dog? 
• Travel to at least one new country as a family
• Plan something special for Evi’s 13th birthday
• Help Dale find an activity that brings him joy - karate? horseback riding? singing?

Family: 

• Call my mom and stepdad every week 
• Call my dad every month
• Call Michael’s mom every week
• Call Michael’s dad and stepmom every month
• Alternate weekly phone calls between my two sisters
• Annual family road trip with my family, my sisters, their spouses and kids - consider California this year? 

Friends:

• Make time for dinner with at least one set of couple friends at least every other month
• Make time for my girlfriends at least once a month - walking? drinks? bingo? 

Health:

• *Limit myself to one drink a week* - find a support group?  
• Meditate daily
• 150 minutes of cardio a week
• Yoga at least once a week
• Lift weights at the gym at least twice a week
• Practice gratitude daily – take photos and videos of meaningful and joyful moments
• Take time to reflect on what it means to turn 40
• Properly celebrate this huge milestone

Job:

• Finally move into that director role I’ve been working towards
• Learn more about generative AI and its application in HR
• Rollout the new HR software globally
• Determine if there is value in getting my PhD

Progress towards my long-term goals:

• Finish out my 40 countries by 40 years old goal
• Continue gaining fluency in Greek and Arabic

Personal ambition:

• Publish my first book
• Do the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride? 
• Crochet matching hats for the family 
• Take a pole dancing class
• Start gardening 

Frontier Goals:

• This year I will try a new type of food every month
• This year I will talk to at least one stranger a month
• This year I will listen to a new band or album at least once a month
• This year I will try at least three new activities

My mantras: 

• I am a strong and capable woman, wife and mother!
• I feel amazing when I’m not drinking!
• I can achieve the goals I set for myself!
• I am an amazing leader and will be chosen to be an amazing director!
• I will be the person I want my children to be!
• I choose to live in the present and appreciate the small moments of joy and connection! 
• I will cherish the time I have with my family!

New theme for 2024: Healing 

Michael: 

Research alternative burial options and choose one:

Tree burial pod? 

Jewelry?

Ashes in urn? 

Make a plan for his body

Plan the funeral 

Evi and Dale:

Pick the kids up from my parents 

Research how to tell kids bad news

Tell the kids what happened – do I tell them I’d been drinking?

Help the kids understand 

Let their school know and ask for support and understanding for the kids

Find a child psychologist for them

Grief counselor for kids?

Does our insurance cover this? 

Do I attend with them?

Determine who I want to care for the kids if something happens to me

Get guardianship paperwork in place to make this easy

Spend 1:1 time with each of them every month

Research how to support grieving children

Be there for them while they grieve 

Revisit my former aspirations when I have the emotional capacity to do so

Health:

Finish healing from the car accident 

Second surgery

Physical therapy

Cosmetic surgery?

Do my best to walk again

Never drink alcohol again

Try to have gratitude

Finances:

Figure out where they took the car

File a claim on our auto policy 

Is our car a total loss? If so,

Get cash from insurance company

Buy a new car

Find the financial login information – user ids and passwords

Where did he put these? 

Figure out how much money we have 

Call the bank and credit cards to transition to my name 

Figure out my pay and return date for my leave of absence

Can I take longer for bereavement AND physical disability?

Ask my parents for money? 

Find a cheaper place to live? 

Make a will

Tell my parents where to find the will and guardianship papers

My heart: 

Get out of bed at least six mornings a week

Allow myself to cry no more than 10 minutes a day

Don’t spend all day looking at photos and videos of Michael

Find a grief and guilt counselor

Does our insurance cover this?

Find a support group for widows and/or alcoholics? 

Ask my doctor for anti-depressants?

Do my best to find joy where I can

My mantras this year:

• I accept and own my imperfections and my mistakes!
• I will continue to work on myself!
• I choose to never drink again!
• I am a strong, capable woman and mother!
• I accept my feelings and emotions!
• Everything is temporary – even pain and guilt!
• I will not give into the despair, rage and guilt!
• I will choose to look for joy – even when it feels impossible!
• My kids need me now more than ever and I will be there for them! 
• I will keep moving forward, one step at a time!
• I can overcome this guilt, shame and grief!