Resolutions

I am one of those people that likes to make resolutions.  I do my best work when I have some sort of external driver, even if I create the external driver my own self.  Plus, it’s tradition.  So, in the spirit of the yearly tradition of trying to be better, here are my 2012 resolutions:

1. Be vegetarian for the month of January, and only introduce minimal meat meals thereafter.  This is a mini goal designed to support an overall weight loss goal, which is:

2. Get back to my normal weight by June.  This means losing 20 pounds in 6 months – a reasonable goal, I believe, especially now that my thyroid situation seems to be sorted.

3. Compete in two running races and one cycling race this year.  I’ve gotta tell you – I’m tempted by the half ironman here in New Orleans in April (it’s a triathlon – a 1 mile swim, 56 mile bicycle ride, and 13.1 mile run).  If it consisted only of the bike and run, I’d do it.  But the swim makes me nervous, and I don’t think it is logistically possible for me to make the time to practice my swimming on a regular basis between now and then.  The kids, the poverty, the finishing-up-law-school nonsense – it would be a bigger burden than I could carry.  Even if the swim came last, I’d do it, and then maybe just drop out before the swim!  But it’s first.  If I drown in the first leg of the race, it will be really hard to finish the other two.  Also, the transitions make me nervous – I’ve never done them, and I don’t know how people do it – do you wear your clothes under your wetsuit?  Do they not get wet?  If you wear your wet bathing suit under your clothes, doesn’t it chafe?  And finally, I cannot afford the fairly steep entrance fee, nor can I really swing the purchase of a wetsuit (or even a practical swimmer’s bathing suit) right now.  If it weren’t for the money, I think I’d do it anyway, but the cost is the final nail in the coffin.  So I think I’ll volunteer to work the competition this year, just to see what it’s like, and maybe do it next year.

4. Stay focused and disciplined in my study for the bar.  I am fairly confident I can pass it – as long as I can study.  But 10 weeks of studying (basically memorizing a bunch of stuff) 8+ hours a day, by myself – these are not conditions in which I normally thrive.  Lawyers write a lot in their offices alone, but at work you can step outside your door for a sec and see who’s around, or wander down to get coffee once in a while to say hello to someone.   This bar studying will be much more lonely.  Ten weeks.  Blerg.

That’ll do.  This is a big year for us – we’ll have a lot going on, a lot of changes, a lot of work.  Four resolutions, most of them having to do with health and fitness, are enough!