It seems like every year I make a few new New Year's resolution goals and fall short of completing them each and every time. However, I was able to follow through on the ultimate goal of quitting smoking a year ago. Wow, was that hard!
I also have to consider that with every year comes new life changes that often effect the outcomes of my goals. Okay, maybe that's not a great excuse, but it does seem to happen. So, with all that being said, I have a few reading and personal goals I'm going to attempt:
1. Get caught up on a couple of series that I love, but am behind in.
- The Midnight Breed series: At this point I've completed through book four. I had originally asked Santa for the complete ebook series, but he seems to have misplaced my list because I didn't get it. Hopefully I will be able to purchase it myself in a couple of weeks.
- Immortals After Dark series: I've completed book three and am anxious to get caught up on this one.
- Lords of the Underworld series: I've completed through book three and, again, am anxious to get caught up.
- Guardians of Eternity series: I've completed book two, but I may go back and reread it because it has been awhile.
- Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh: Read the first one and loved it!!
- Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon: Yes, you need a week or two to get through just one book, depending on how much time you have to invest, but they're worth it!
- The Hathaways series by Lisa Kleypas
- Doomsday Brethren series by Shayla Black
- Rough Riders series by Lorelei James
2. Start a new series -- or twelve!
It seems like every time I turn around I'm being recommended a new series, not to mention that there is always a new one that pops up every year that I can't wait to start. Here are a couple that I would like to during 2011:
- Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
- Highlander series by Karen Marie Moning
- Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
- Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Yes! Still!)
- Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep
- Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
- Dark Days series by Jocelynn Drake
- Breeds series by Lora Leigh
- Brown Siblings series by Lauren Dane
- Elemental Witches series by Anya Bast
There are actually so, so, so many more books/series that I want to start, but I'm now realizing that there are so many that this could go on forever! LOL! I think this is more than enough to get me started in 2011!
3. Complete at least 70% of each one of the reading challenges I've signed up for for the year 2011.
4. Stop getting so hung up on the way I review a book and just review!! Am I the only one who over analyzes everything?? *rolls eyes at self*
4. Stop getting so hung up on the way I review a book and just review!! Am I the only one who over analyzes everything?? *rolls eyes at self*
5. Make time each night to read -- even if it's only ten minutes. I really need to follow through on this resolution simply for my sanity! This time last year, I let my career and personal obligations dominate every second of my life -- so much so that I gave myself no time for me!! I'm learning that it is absolutely imperative to make time for yourself, away from the mundane, hustle-bustle of life.
6. Set a reading budget! Looking back at the amount of money I've spent on books for myself and others, I can't believe I even had that much 'extra' money to spend last year. Oh yeah, I didn't!! *rolls eyes at self....again* This year I've budgeted no more than $25 per month (but the goal is only $20), unless I get the job I just applied for, then I may move it up to $40! LOL!
7. Read at least some of the books that I've purchased that have yet to be read. I would love to know just how many other readers have purchased books -- whether print, audio, or ebook -- and have yet to get to them. Wait, I'm not the only one am I?? :)
8. Personal goal this year --- get married! :) If all goes well financially as we have mapped out, sometime towards the end of the year I plan on getting married -- we've been engaged for far too long. Right now we're still deciding where to get married. Our careers have taken us away from both of our families, so the place is still being ironed out.
9. Personal goal number two: Tone, tone, tone! I guess it's only natural to want to tone up and lose weight after mentioning number eight!
10. Personal goal number three: Complete my master's ahead of schedule.
11. Personal goal number four: LIVE & Laugh so much more!!! It's so easy to get caught up in the yucky, time consuming aspects of life and work that so often I forget -- or rather take for granted -- the happy things around me that make life so fulfilling! This year it is a goal to take time for myself to enjoy my family and friends more, remember to laugh, let go of the things that I can not change, and humbly enjoy all that I have and have been given!
9. Personal goal number two: Tone, tone, tone! I guess it's only natural to want to tone up and lose weight after mentioning number eight!
10. Personal goal number three: Complete my master's ahead of schedule.
11. Personal goal number four: LIVE & Laugh so much more!!! It's so easy to get caught up in the yucky, time consuming aspects of life and work that so often I forget -- or rather take for granted -- the happy things around me that make life so fulfilling! This year it is a goal to take time for myself to enjoy my family and friends more, remember to laugh, let go of the things that I can not change, and humbly enjoy all that I have and have been given!
Happy New Year to you all!
