My 2011 Letter of Commitment

About 15 years ago, I attended a workshop that allowed me to see what was working in my life and what wasn’t.  Part of the program was that we got to create Letters of Commitment, contracts between us and ourselves, based on several areas of life.  These LOCs weren’t resolutions.  They were blueprints of how we would manifest our goals for the coming year.  Goals had to have a “how many by when” component, and they couldn’t be things we were on target for doing anyway.  Most years since then, I have created a new LOC.  I haven’t always been successful in fulfilling each category, but I do know that I wouldn’t have done some of the things I did without the LOC.

Here, then, is my 2011 LOC:

Family: I will remain a loving, accepting, supportive space for my children and their significant others.  I will make two trips to see my daughter and her family in London, two trips to see my son and his girlfriend in Charleston, and one or two trips to see my son and daughter-in-law in Seattle.  My husband and I will visit his family in Turkey.

Family/Friends: I will send greeting cards (not emails) for birthdays, births, anniversaries, etc.  I will acknowledge people immediately for what they have done.

Monetary/Professional: I will have six settlements this year.  I will continue my work with On Purpose Networking for Women, hosting events twice a month.

Giving Back: I will host a Dining for Women dinner (www.diningforwomen.org) each month and will volunteer twice a week at the Family Center in Arlington.

Physical/Health: I will go to the gym: 5-7 days per week to walk on the treadmill, 5-7 days per week to ride the bicycle, 2 days per week to attend Pilates Reformer classes.  My goal will be a 5 lb loss by June 30, and a 10 lb total loss by December 31.

Physical Challenge:  I will take on one physical challenge I have never done before.  I will declare this challenge no later than March 31, 2011.

Writing: I will write at least two articles a month for online and print publications.  I will conduct a minimum of six workshops based on our book.  I will actively promote our speaking at the 2011 National AARP Convention, the 2011 National AAUW Convention, and at least one more national convention.