Today, while making dinners for two couples that just had their first babies, I had a thought. Wouldn’t it be great just to help people all day? I am a teacher, so that’s what I do, but I get paid for it. Also, I feel like my teaching duties sometimes keep me from helping, hanging out with, or communicating with others–friends, family, and strangers. Sometimes my work keeps me from taking care of me. So, if I didn’t work, what would I do all day? Here’s what I would LOVE to do:

Keep a garden that would feed Justin and me. Donate the rest. Cut flowers and give to others. Cook for people who are too busy. Keep my house clean. Help others with their laundry, shopping, errands. Write letters, call people, send emails. Take pictures. Tutor elementary, middle, and high school students. Help with Ohana more often. Write letters to Compassion children. Knit scarves, hats, baby booties, bibs, socks, mittens, and gloves for people who need them and just for fun (baby showers, etc.). Read and journal. Volunteer at food banks. Exercise. Take people to coffee or to dinner. Work on my dissertation (at some point). Go for walks. Babysit for tired parents. Travel with a cause: building schools, building homes, teach intensive gardening, etc. Start cleaning out stuff we don’t use/need anymore. Write letters for Amnesty International. Visit family for long stretches of time. Host more get-togethers. Go camping and hiking. Travel anytime.

Can I be a millionaire without working so I can keep my house and afford to give to others?

Is this insane?

I made these for myself in 2007. Let’s see how I did in 2008 and 2007:

finish reading “New Testament and the People of God”: YES–2007
read the Bible (exclusively) during Lent: NO, in either year
look for more opportunities to serve: Yes, somewhat in 2007. In 2008–service projects at Ohana help with this.
visit other churches’ activities to get reconnected with our brothers and sisters in Christ: Yes, somewhat in 2007. In 2008, visited Emerald City Bible Fellowship and working to get connected with Christian coworkers.
sign up for co-rec soccer: Done and done in 2008; Probably won’t during the school year this year.
learn Mandarin Chinese from Lan this summer (keep in practice with my Spanish and Italian, for starters!): No, she moved!
more hiking and camping: No camping, but some hiking—still the same in 2007 and 2008–no camping
knit socks (NO), mittens (NO), baby kimono (Started it), baby blanket (No), baby bibs (YES), and wrist warmers (NO): Wow. I seem to be at a knitting standstill. Baby bibs and scarves seem to be all that I want to do.
run in more 5Ks and 10Ks; run more regularly: Totally didn’t run at all last year (2007). In 2008, I ran a 5K–the Fremont Oktoberfest. This year (2009) I have a treadmill, so I look forward to running indoors.
be more proactive with Mary Kay business: No, but doing OK. I don’t know if this is a goal I have anymore.
become more organized; get rid of several items a week (I hate having so much stuff that I don’t use just lying around!): YES! Doing that this year, too. I REALLY want to simplify what I have.
go to Portland (NO in 2007; went twice in 2008!), Vancouver (YES in 2007), New England/Northeastern States (NO in 2007; Went to NY/DE/PA in 2008), and San Francisco (YES!) with Justin
sing/play french horn again? learn bass (I picked up some in December!) and acoustic so that I am able to play (Not yet….): I am not sure that I will have time to do this, but I do enjoy singing. I will have to have a reason to play guitar or French Horn if I am really going to learn it.
garden (veggies and decorative) YES! I had a great garden this year, and I planted dahlias and other decorative garden plants
have friends over more often for dinner, etc. NO in 2007; Some in 2008, but not nearly enough!
become more professional as a teacher, as far as reading journals (NO in 2007; Yes in 2008), presenting more (YES both years), and getting published (NO in 2007; No in 2008); research PhD programs (YES!) in Science Education or other areas of interest–Accepted in 2008!
blog…with pictures! No….YES in 2008
be more money savvy: Started to become proactive, but we’re not there yet in 2007; In 2008–Started a Budget!!

2008: I did about half of the resolutions on this ridiculously long list, which I count as some sort of triumphant victory. Does anyone actually expect to do all of them?
2009: Looking Ahead: I am fairly optimistic this year when I look at what I set out to do in 2008 and what I want to do in 2009. I have stayed fairly consistent in my goals and with what I want to do in life, whether that is for better or worse. I know now that I have a habit of setting goals that are ridiculous for the year, but for a three year cycle, they aren’t so bad!