Young and Full of Running

New Year’s Resolutions:

• Love my body: 2011 was a great year for me health-wise. I have fallen madly in love with yoga and running while also learning to fill my body with healthy food. All of this has taught me to respect both my body and mind. My wellness journey has made me a better, more grateful person all around, and I hope to continue. 
• Start keeping a journal: I think a journal will help me acknowledge my feelings and help me maintain mental health. I’ve always been a rather internal person- not sharing or even really acknowledging my emotions. A journal will be a good first step in my attempt to pay closer attention to what’s really happening in my life, both externally and internally. 
• Pay more attention to myself: Going along with my previous two points, it is my goal to continue on the path to a healthier lifestyle. I am reaching the age where I realize the importance of health. Little things, such as going to the dermatologist to have two abnormal freckles removed, have opened my eyes to the fact that I’m not invincible. Although they are incredibly important, diet and exercise are not the only things I need to pay attention to. 
• Pay more attention to loved ones: I used to be a much more social person, going out drinking and partying all the time with friends. My lifestyle change has greatly reduced such things. I rarely drink now, and rarely see friends outside of school or at the gym. I am proud of the changes I have made, but they have greatly reduced my social life. When friends invite me out, I often decline because I want to wake up early to work out or I don’t want to be hungover all day. At the same time, I need to realize that it is absolutely okay to indulge every once in a while. I also want to make more of an effort to see friends. I keep to myself, and often go long periods of time without communicating with some of my best friends unless they reach out to me. I need to make more phone calls, write more e-mails, and send more text messages, just to show them that I still care. 
• Run a marathon: Now this resolution, I have no choice but to complete. I’m registered for my first FULL marathon in April! I’ve done halves, but never a full, so…here we go!!
• Find a BOY!: As I mentioned before, I’m incredibly independent. I don’t need to be with a bunch of people all the time, and I’m content being alone- most of the time. I have brushed aside the opportunity for relationships many times solely based on the fact that it’s too much work. Dating makes me uncomfortable. I want to meet someone who I can be myself around. I want to be able to brush my teeth in my underwear in front of him and kiss him whenever I want. I don’t like the effort that dating requires- the clothes, makeup, conversation, and especially the awkwardness when it comes to sex. All things considered, a comfortable relationship is going to require some searching. So I think it’s time that I become more open-minded when it comes to guys. 

Happy New Year to everyone! Be safe, and I wish you all the best in 2012.