2014... Lets Go

Happy New Year to all readers, Thank You for coming back and not making it your New Years resolution to stop reading! :P

So, I've got quite a year ahead of myself. A dream of mine came true over Christmas, which entails an adventure I've wanted for nearly 2 years, unfortunately you'll all have to wait and see what that is. I've got trips across the worlds to look forwards to, some massive challenges involved in that, not just those which meet the eye. Continuing my Activator role, working hard to provide the best service I can for students. My coaching which has already taken off like a rocket over Christmas, opportunities which I couldn't have imagined a few years ago when I started. Volunteering when possible, feels weird that I've had to turn down 2 County FF camps because of Rwanda - lets hope a few others pop up! And this year I will also enter the final year of my degree. Scary stuff, my calendar is filling up quickly.. but I wouldn't have it any other way!

A lot of the above was thrown into my last blog post, so I don't really want to chirp on for too much. I'd like to use this post to outline my goals and targets for the year. I went through my little black book yesterday [for the first time since September] and realised how many targets I had hit. Things like my job, volunteering for 200 hours across the year, don't put too much stress on myself, do what makes ME happy, take every opportunity I can. I've even hit 2 out of 3 goals which I put up as bonuses if you like, things I can control, but ultimately come down to someone else's decision.

The last 3 weeks have provided me with the opportunity to reflect properly, not like I reflect enough already, but to do it constructively and put things up for this year.
Without further I do, this years coaching goals are:

1. Get out of this comfort zone: I've worked hard to get where I am.. but that isn't an excuse to stop. It's a reason to keep pushing on and see how far I can go!
        - Offer more ideas at the Skills Centre and within my grassroots club.
        - Set more, and different 1-1 challenges. Make sure that I revisit any challenges set, make sure that they mean something.
        - Create better and more open sessions. Don't put a lid on things, just because there is a topic or theme, doesn't mean that's what has to happen. Make sure there is a great amount of opportunities to be creative and have decisions to make.

2. Implement my reflection sheet. Which is something I've put together to make my reflections more constructive. I want to get away from just writing what I thought and then leaving it. By having something printed out and on my desk for when I get in, I have to fill it out and build on what's happened.

3. Talk time; gaining and maintaining attention. Make the most of the time available, use it wisely and don't take up time which isn't yours. Remember whose session it is.

I've nailed them down to three, after going over goals and targets I set last year. These 3 are the end product of putting old ones together and building upon them.. not ticking them off and running in another direction.

Last year I set personal goals including using eye contact appropriately, enjoy what I'm doing, get across to different county's FF events, apply for the National Youth Council, apply for my job, learn to say 'no'. Some I've achieved, others are still a work in progress.. but I'm getting there. Like I said, I've only get 1 aim left on my 'uncontrollable' list, which I'm doing all I can to get myself up there.. but the final decision isn't mine.

I've added a few new objectives,
-See how long I can go without drinking alcohol. I got to March last year, slightly spurred on by my knee operation. So lets see if I can get further without something like that to aim for.
-Apply for the Shropshire Youth Council when I can.
-Work towards my Level 2, which is a must!
-Start looking at a dissertation topic.

I've a couple of others which are staying private for now, but non the less, they are still there to be shot at.

Christmas was a welcomed 3 week break, but it's good to be back in the thick of it. I cannot wait for the 17th January, heading down to SGP for the first time this year to meet up with the Changing Lives team and get the wheels in motion for our trip in February.

I hope that you all have a fantastic 2014 and work hard.. in the direction of your dreams.