Looking forward to 2023

Audio version of this blog post is available by clicking here.

I don’t plan on doing any resolutions for 2023.

Rather, I have a Big, Scary Goal for 2023.

I also selected a theme song and theme word.

The Big, Scary Goal is to get back into trail running.

To achieve the goal, I’m working on a training plan and overall plan for how to best achieve the goal.

Since the first race is a mid-year goal, I am also looking to work toward a goal in October/November.

To achieve this goal, I’m doing something called the Merlin method. You look at the goal and the endpoint. Then you figure out what you need to do along before the goal and when you need to do it by.

For example, usually people have a 12- to 16-week training plan for a race. I have to have that plan in place by a certain time. I have to have other things in place by certain times as well.

I always have a song of the year. I tend to switch it out during the year as the circumstances arise.

The song is by “Armor,” by Sara Bareilles.

Oh, my, my, my, my armor comes from you. You make me try, try, try, try harder, it is all I ever do, ever do. … You make me stronger, stronger hand me my armor.

This song makes me think of my kids, especially my daughter, the oldest of the mountain kids. She will graduate high school in 2024.

Each day, I see my daughter spread her wings a little more, and I realize how much little time I have left to be a good example for her and her siblings.

So, do you believe in believing?

My word comes from Apple TV’s “Ted Lasso”: Believe.

“Believe” is a word I’ve been planning to use for a while as a word of the year.

• Believe in others.
• Believe in others who believe in you.
• Believe in yourself.

There are other ways I plan on using “believe” throughout the year.

No matter what happened in 2022, let’s look toward a brighter, better 2023.

Do you have any plans for 2023? If so, what are they?