Starting off on this wobbly foot

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Is this an inauspicious way to start a new blog?

Today was even declared (sort of) inauspicious in the NYTimes article about the Chinese New Year. The year of the Ox started today - a year of improvement through fortitude, industriousness, patience and reflection.

Here's part of what Wikipedia says about people born in the year of the Ox:
People born under the influence of the Ox are kind, caring souls, logical, positive, filled with common sense and with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do.

That's interesting. I was not born in the year of the Ox, but this year, these are the qualities I think I need to turn my life around.

So here we begin.

On the outside, I look like a pretty successful person. I have accomplished a few of the things I set out to do in my life, and maybe later I'll get onto what those are, but for now I want to talk about the things I haven't achieved at this time in my life that I feel I should have:

- Have a financial plan and savings.
- Be able to focus on tasks at hand, and get them done
- Have a plan - for life and projects and stick to it
- Control my emotions (particularly my temper) better
- Get healthier: body, mind and spirit
- Be a good wife, friend and family member (sister, daughter, grand-daughter)

I don't know exactly how I achieve each of these things, but I'm going to set tasks every. single. day to try and fulfil these goals. And then at the end of the day report how I went - what I got done, what I didn't and anything else that inspires me, distracts me or what I learn along the way. Oh, and have some FUN while we do it - otherwise, what's the point!

Hmmm... I might have to find an easier way to classify everything. Perhaps someone else has come up with one I can adopt. I'll see. For now:

- Daily work, ongoing work, paid work (DW)
- Project work, new projects, things to achieve (PW)
- Finances (F)
- Body, Mind, Spirit (BMS)
- Family/Friends (FF)

The emotional stuff, the achieving of daily tasks and dedication - well, we'll just have to judge that as we go.

I expect to have setbacks, tears and triumphs. I just want to get a little better at living this life I have.

Let the game begin...