2008 Goals and Resolutions

Every New Year, I toy with the idea of participating in goal and resolution making. In the end, I think of things and even speak of them, that I want to achieve. Yet, they are more dreams. Meaning I hope they work out, but I am just not the type to focus on the item and bring it to fruition. February comes and I forget all about what I was hoping to attain in the New Year.

So, in an effort to push myself and I have been seriously thinking about what I want in 2008. What I think I can feasibly accomplish. This is not an easy task. I'm amazed at how many of you do this every year, with great success. I love reading your lists and silently rooting you on to victory as the year progresses.

It is time for me to make some clear cut goals and see if I can push myself to success. What do I want???? Where do I want to be?? How will I get there?

• Residential Rental - Install quality, rent paying tenants, by 3/31/073/31/08.
• Residential Rental - Spread the word, without the cost of a realtor that the building is for sale. Follow-up on all interests - old and new.
• Decrease debt load (was l.o.c. now is 0% credit cards) - 06' debt ended at $15.1k, 07' is currently @ $17.9K - 06' we received a $10k bonus, which we did not in 07' - yet. So, this may not be an increase. If the last year is any scale for the future, we should be at or near ZERO come 12/08 without any effort over 07' effort. Without MEDICAL BILLS, we should do this with great ease.
• Take at least 1 vacation - My DH's nephew is getting married in 08' in South Carolina - although it is our obligation to be there, it may be our best chance to also squeeze in a couple extra days of r & r. I hope to be working on this in January and to set up all our reservations.
• Spend a portion of the rental income from the commercial rental on a new lighted sign. Estimated costs between $5k and $7.5k. Of course, this will be determined on Residential Rental being self-sufficient. Which I have yet to accomplish in the 2 years I have owned it.
• Lose 35 more pounds - or in an effort to please my trainer, who despises my need for low numbers on the scale - to get into a size 8 again. I'm currently at a snug 10, so I see this as achievable by June at a slow pace, with my knee problems. If my knee could be freed of pain, I bet I could accomplish this by February 29th.
• Fully Fund our IRA's for the 2nd year in a row. This is so exciting. Hope we can do it. With all the college checks going out in 08' - 3 kids in college - one never knows.
• Cook more meals at home - 2007 was a year of work. Too much work. My home and my family were neglected. I believe dinner is an important item to building family relationships and strength. We lost this glue in 2007, as I struggled to maintain all our businesses and ventures. In 2008 I plan on rebuilding this and bring my family back together in a clean and maintained home.
• Run the Turkey Trot in 33 minutes. I want to finish the 5k closer to the rest of my family.
• Bring Church and God back into my life, full-throttle. My back breaking schedule has removed this peaceful place in my life. And I feel it. We have missed, because my family follows me, Church many times this year due to my schedule. I want 2008 to get back in line with a regular schedule - I need my weekly rebuilding and stress elimination that only get from prayer and reflection.
• Give More - we always seem so strapped, since all our money is in real estate and investments. I want to gain more financial control and less bondage by eliminating debt. Then giving to any and all causes I see, feel and chose to give to. I would really, really like to adopt a family and see where my help is going. I love the "personal" feel of giving straight to a family. No face entities.

I'm sure there is much more to my wants for 2008, but I am a firm believer that sometimes, less is more.

You may wonder why the Residential Rental is at the top of the list. I did not place my wants in any particular order, except for this one. This property has caused me great stress, sleepless nights and countless panic attacks. Leaving me mostly feeling like a failure in the land lord business. I have quickly turned into a "Don't wanter". Not because the property is bad, but that I am a terrible land lord.

So, in an effort to keep my health moving in the right direction, this is my primary goal. To fix it, would be to add new life to my world. A life of freedom from the consistent stress I have felt for 2 years. With very limited down times. I know this is both aging me and cutting my life shorter. I can't afford it, physically.

2008........needs to be easier and less stressful for me and for everyone. I have seen 2007 reek havoc on so many that I can not even count anymore. I've watched folks lose their jobs, lose their homes, lose their credit. For reasons as numerous as the folks involved. I can only hope that we all find peace and pleasure in the year to come. That alone would be a fantastic goal for 2008.