2012 is here and Im trying to decide what my goals should be for this year. I managed to get some of the things done that I'd planned for last year and I had to leave other things undone. So this isn't going to be a list of New Year's resolutions but a list of the things I want to get done this year, and hopefully, some of my thoughts on why I want to do them.

1. I really must get my children's fantasy trilogy finished because one way or another, I'm going to submit at least the first book to publishers and agents before June. I don't think I have much time left to waste, I am afraid.

2. I want to play at least two Seniors tennis competitions - and hopefully - WIN!!!

3. I want to start selling my pottery professionally at local craft shops and markets.

4. I want to reach my target weight range of 180-185 lbs before I start playing tennis tournaments in April.

5. I have got to learn to keep things simple, not be too ambitious, set fewer but more important targets and focus on achieving them

Looking over my shoulder...

Another year ends and I can't help but look back on all I've done and everything that's happened before I start planning for 2012. This year, there were a few good things and then there were times when I felt like something about me needed serious kicking. Here goes -

1).My pottery skills improved sufficiently that the teachers at the ceramics class managed to sell not one but TWO medium-sized pieces of mine for rather more than I had thought possible.

2).I learned to try hitting the ball away from my opponent on purpose, instead of by accident when I was simply going for a killer shot. But then, I still haven't learned to resist temptation and avoid throwing away points by going for killer shots at utterly inappropriate times. 

3).I was ill or injured so often that my weight stuck between 192-196 lbs most of the time, and I lost a lot of lean muscle because I had to cut down on gym time and tennis training.

4). I managed to finish ghost writing the final draft of a 40,000-word book for a client 20 days ahead of schedule.

 

5).I finally visited Pattaya and had a really good time even though I was there for only 3 days and met a lot of nice people. I plan to be back. Something to look forward to in 2012, I guess.

 

And that's it for 2010...not really a year to be proud of anything I've accomplished. Time to think really hard about what I truly want to get done next year.

 

I never seem to learn my lesson...

I seem to be playing much better now than before but I never seem to learn my lesson about eating when my body needs it - instead of stuffing my face when I think I need a little pick me up to feel better.

Same thing jappened again today. I ate before going for pottery class and threw a proper vase with a 6-inch neck just to prove to myself that I have not only learned the skill but that I can do it better than before. And then, I had a light lunch because I was going to play tennis later...guess what happened...my blood sugar fell so badly, my timing went west and my game fell to pieces.

It isn't really as much of a dilemma as it seems. Really, it isn't just a question of do I eat enough to play properly - and pile on the pounds - or do I try to diet so that I can lose the excess fat I'm carrying. It's taken me a long time to realise that the best solution is to eat when my body needs it, and that means eating an extra small meal just before I start playing so that my blood sugar doesn't plummet. It doesn't mean putting in a lot of food at one sitting, just to keep my blood sugar up all the time I am playing. 

And yet, knowing that, I still went ahead and failed to take a small extra snack to the court with me. Sometimes, I can be extremely stupid!