Goal Setting for the New Year

I don't much believe in New Year's resolutions. I've never kept one, and I haven't made one in a long time. But this time of year, people always ask about them, and I respond that I think setting goals is better than making resolutions. At my hippie dippie open elementary school, every trimester we had parent-teacher-student goal setting conferences. The student, with the support of parents and the teacher, set goals in each of these areas:

1) Intrapersonal
2) Interpersonal
3) Creative Expression
4) Math and Logical Reasoning
5) Verbal Skills
6) Physical Fitness
7) Community Action and Social Justice

I think these 7 categories do a nice job of breaking the "self" into manageable compartments and so I have decided to set goals for 2008 in each of these areas.

1) INTRAPERSONAL: My attention will be drawn in many directions in 2008, and my goal is to make sure I have one hour of uninterrupted peaceful solitude per week in 2008. Time for me to think, write, blog, breathe.

2)INTERPERSONAL: My goal is to be a good listener. While the time I have to talk to friends on the phone might be less than it was in much of 2007, I want that time I do have to be quality and so my goal is to not be one of those people who interrupts someone in the middle of a sentence to announce that the baby has pooped. Having good listening as a goal will also ensure my marriage(s) stay strong. In 2008, it will be important to make sure that Eduardo and I have our evening pillow talk as much as possible. Finally, being a good listener will help me be a better mom- understanding the cooing, crying, babbling language of Johan will allow us to communicate and me to meet his needs.

3) CREATIVE EXPRESSION: I would like to write poetry again. This is one of my loftier goals but might fit nicely in with my intrapersonal goals outlined in item one. My goal is to write one poem before January is over. Then, maybe 1 per month for the rest of the year.

4) MATH AND LOGICAL REASONING: Well, lawyers don't do math. I suppose I could repeat my goal of 3rd grade when my goal was to memorize all my multiplication table, but that seems a waste of time since I have a calculator on my desk. So, my "math" goals are really financial, and there are two. First, my goal is to save at least $50 per month in my savings account. I know this sounds very small but with our mortgage, student loans, and daycare payments, this year will be tight financially. Yet, saving just a bit every month will add up. Second, and related, my salary is partly tied to a bonus system and so my goal is to be an aggressive and pro-active attorney who creates enough revenue to maximize that bonus.

5) VERBAL SKILLS: In 4th grade, my goal was to read the newspaper every day. That's a good goal to have, and is one of my goals for 2008. And reading it online counts as the newspaper because daily subscriptions are a waste of paper and money. In the verbal arena, my goal is also to be a good communicator to my clients. It is so easy for attorneys to talk about legal problems and their potential solutions in legalese that no one else understands. I am pretty good at explaining things in lay terms (I think this comes from my Montessori teacher background). What I am less good at is taking the time to fully and thoroughly explain WHY my advice is what it is - what the law is and how the way the law is makes my advice the best choice. So, my goal here is to be a patient and thorough communicator with my clients.

6) PHYSICAL FITNESS: I always hated this one in elementary school because I was clumsy and had crappy large motor skills, and that was never going to change. Alas, I am still clumsy and have crappy large motor skills. I have, however, mastered the treadmill. My goal for 2008 is to treadmill at least 4 times per week and to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet.

7) COMMUNITY ACTION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: One word: ELECTION. Hillary, Obama, Edwards...whichever one rises to the top, I intend to do everything in my power to get one of them elected. My goal is that in November 2008, someone will be elected to the White House that will make this country better for me, for you, and for Johan.
Also, in September of 2008, the RNC is having its convention here. My goal is to take advantage of the national spotlight being on the Twin Cities by helping mobilize major protests against RNC policies. I think I will do so by being a legal observer at the marches.


Those are my goals for 2008. I think most of them are within reach. Happy New Year. Over and out until 2008.