Goals, not resolutions: Hiking into the New Year

New Year’s Resolutions. I used to set them, and know a lot of people who still do. What is the root of the word “resolution”? Resolve. Which to me translates as “to fix a problem or issue”. I’ve decided this is a rather negative way to begin a new year, talking about things we don’t like about ourselves and want to “fix”. We all have things about ourselves that we don’t like, and denying that isn’t healthy, either. But rather than resolving to “fix” myself, I will be setting goals to help me move closer to becoming the best version of myself.

Today I completed the first hike of 52, the 1st reflection hike of 3, and the first 1.3 miles of 365 in 2018. I participated in the national First Day Hikes movement, though I chose to do an unofficial hike to accommodate my mom. She had brain surgery a week ago, and is in recovery mode. She wanted to get outside, despite the cold, so we picked an easy and short trail: The Swamp Island Boardwalk Trail at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This trail was beautiful and allowed me to reflect on what is important to me and the importance of setting goals. As you may have read in my last post, I did not accomplish all of the goals I set for myself in 2017. However, I see this not so much as failure but as opportunity for growth. I will continue to set challenging goals for myself in 2018. Most of my goals center around hiking, so here it goes:

Hiking Goals for 2018

365 miles

100 new Appalachian Trail miles

52 hikes

6 overnight or multi-night backpacking trips

5 waterfalls

3 reflection hikes

2 hikes to bodies of water

2 states I’ve never hiked in before

1 solo backpacking trip

1 forest

1 National Parks, Monuments, Preserves, Recreation Area or Historic Trail

1 stewardship hike

1 group hike

1 introduce someone new to hiking

1 sunset or Sunrise hike

1 hike from your Bucket list

1 thru-hike (Foothills Trail)

Additionally, any backpacking trip that consists of more than one day of consecutive mileage will be considered one hike. I also want to do at least one overnight hike on a trail that is not the Appalachian Trail (which should be accomplished during my thru-hike of the Foothills Trail).

 

Non-Hiking Goals

Apply to and work toward gaining acceptance to nursing school

Install a new floor in my camper

Blog at least twice a month

Take 1 non-college class

Participate in 1 new outdoor adventure sport

Once weekly statements of gratitude.

{Side note: my first goal was originally “get accepted to nursing school.” I decided this wasn’t a good goal to set for myself because its accomplishment depends on someone else taking the action that I want. I reworded this goal so that it is accomplishable, whether the nursing program I apply to offers me acceptance or not. Fingers crossed though… I really want to get in!}

I may add more, but for now I think this is a fairly good list to start with. What are your goals for 2018? Please comment and let me know, because I’m always looking for inspiration.