2014 Resolutions (a month late)

^^a pretty sunset from last night, just because^^

I'm late in making goals for this year, because I've still been thinking and articulating how I want to improve myself this year. But one thing that I keep thinking of is something I read the other day on this blog. How many times I turn on the tv, or start perusing my phone, when I could choose to read instead, and how much more I could read if I did that. So my goal is to always keep my kindle charged and nearby before I turn on the tv, or to read something on my gospel library app before I start mindlessly perusing social media. To read instead. 

I've also been thinking about the kind of environment I want to surround myself with. I want to be in a positive and uplifting environment. So yes, I need to make sure I myself am being more positive and uplifting, but that includes the things that I am exposed to. So I have been much more nit-picky about the things I see and follow on social media. I've stopped following comedians on twitter who tend to post more crude things than funny things. I've removed things from my facebook feed that may leave me more frustrated than edified (political posts, debbie downer posts, too many celebrity posts, and anti-religion posts {more rare}, I'm talking about you). So far it really has been making a difference. 

I re-read a wonderful talk today, called "No Other Gods." Man, what a good talk. I really really want to always be improving in putting God first in my life. To never let non-essential things distract me from this goal. To me, serving God more devotedly means serving His children more consciously and deliberately. So really, my goal is to be less selfish. To be much more intuitive and proactive about helping others. Too often I think about myself or feel scared to go out my comfort zone. I really want to be better about this. So that's the goal: Serve God by serving my fellow beings. 

My last goal has a deadline for my 27th birthday, in six months. I have six months to get my crap together. To get past my enormous anxiety about things that totally change my life. To try and become someone worthy and qualified to raise another human being. Because it's happening, whether I'm ready or not, so I'd much rather try to be ready. 

Baby Castro July 2014. Man, it's scary. But I feel oh so blessed. 

Happy 2014, everybody!