Happy New Years!

One of my new years resolutions: To blog more! I have found a lot of websites that I find helpful, so I'll be sharing a lot more links in case anyone is interested in the same things as me... also so my sources of information will be clear. Usually I try to be fairly neutral on subjects I post on here(in contrast to my personality where I am very opinionated) because I didn't want those thoughts to be made public, but I've started thinking, "hey this is my blog, if you don't like it, STOP READING IT!"

I have finally hit my stride here in Baltimore, and having that under control allows me to focus on one of my passions, women's rights. I have been doing a lot more reading and even catching up on politics (if you know me, you know deliberately ignore politics)where women's rights legislation is involved.

As I continually work on myself, the new year is just another opportunity to set new lifestyle goals more commonly known as new year's resolutions (NYRs). I read on jezebel.com that one reader's NYR was to give out one new Kiva loan a month. It got me thinking.... http://www.kiva.org/about/how

I had heard about this program a few years ago. As one who made such little income at that time that I wasn't even required to pay taxes, it wasn't really feasible for me. Now it is! I think for money that I would be willing to donate to a cause anyway, lending it out through this organization in order to build small businesses and therefore build infrastructure may be more helpful (to the recipients) in the long run. I will try to focus on lending to women because I think it is important for them to get their small businesses off the ground and gain some independence. See, now I've written it down here for all of the blogosphere to read so I must do it!


The one guideline I set for determining my NYRs (or goals as I like to call them) is that they are bigger than me. It's easy to get caught up in "I'm going to drop 20 pounds by... like... tomorrow" or "I will get organized" or vices you will give up, drinking, smoking, etc, all things that start with me me me. I'm trying to focus on things that will help others, the environment, or are for the greater good. I think that focusing on things like that make the "resolutions" stick.

I have some general ideas but I don't know whether it's beneficial or harmful to get too specific. For instance in my mind saying a goal is "reducing my carbon footprint" without anything more specific means I will constantly work on this in different ways. On the other hand, it could be followed by specific goals I want to meet/maintain like "eat less meat: one day a week I will be vegetarian" or "walk somewhere each week instead of drive" or "begin composting by Feb 1", but I feel like these are definite accomplished or failed and therefore harder to maintain for a year, let alone as a lifestyle. However, if "reducing my carbon footprint" is the goal, then if you have a week where you slack off on doing things to support that goal, you can say "welp, this is motivation to do better next week!" I think I will focus on big goals and switch off how I choose to accomplish these goals.

1. Give 4 Kiva loans. (Ok I really had to be specific with this one or I wouldn't do it)

2. Reduce my carbon footprint through REDUCTION, reuse, and recycling, trying to buy local, consuming less meat, carpool to work?, walk more, attempt to compost food, using less energy.

3. Treat my body better by exercising regularly which is a given but I need to include more strength training because I'm getting old!, make time to practice yoga, slow down when I'm tired I believe it's called "listening to your body", make enough time for sleep, limit alcohol consumption, minimize stress, and make healthy food choices. This will come in handy in the long run because I will be solidifying a lifestyle that I can teach to my kids and it also is the best bet for living longer and happier.

4. Really commit to a volunteer project where I am a good fit. I have tried a few while in Baltimore, and I hadn't really found one that I could see myself doing for years and becoming more and more involved in. Right now I'm thinking House of Ruth http://www.hruth.org/. It's a shelter for abused women and their children in Baltimore, but after researching it, it is so much more than just a shelter.

In talking about change in myself, I wonder how I can inspire change in others. http://thefuntheory.com/ This might be a start!