Being inspired by this post from Jen on the Edge, I decided to update the list to reflect my current sentiment. Items in green are 2010 additions.

• More than 3 inches of snow (we have had 58 inches so far this winter). I used to love snow. This past December I had the nerve to complain about how here in Northern Virginia we never get “real” snow storms. Well, be careful what you wish for!
• Mean, negative people. Really no reason for this. Ever.
• Air travel, airports, airplanes. Air travel is so very stressful and unhealthy.
• Big, honkin’ SUV’s. No better way to ‘flip the bird’ to the polar bears.
• When the temperature is above 80 degrees farenheit. I prefer more moderate temperatures.
• Pantyhose. ‘Nuff said
• Flavored coffee. yuk.
• Cigarettes/smoking. more yuk.
• Aggressive drivers. Like mean people, there is really no reason for this. Ever.
• Business suits. Even ‘back in the day’ when I was fly – I hated these.
• Wegmans. It’s just too much – of everything.
• Websites that are called portals. What the heck is a portal anyway?
• McMansions. I am going to insult people with this one, I just know it. Including some of my friends!

Things I removed from the 2008 list (I don’t have a strong feeling either way):

• wal-mart
• websites that won’t let you leave
• escargot

At first it was cute, and at the end of every meeting or discussion, inevitably someone would push the button and we would all be entertained by the very polished voice of the “That Was Easy” man.

Over time, this button began getting on my nerves, to the point that I wanted to throw it at the next person who pushed it, because I realized that most of the time when the button was pressed it was not an easy situation – so it became more of a tool for sarcasm than anything else.

Fast forward a few months. My 8 year-old daughter was at work with me one day and she was busy setting up her space in an empty cubicle nearby. I was giving her items from my office for use on her desk, and one of them was the Easy Button. I handed it to her and looking a little annoyed she said,

Mom, haven’t I told you before that NOTHING is easy?

What could I say? She was right. So we threw it in the trash. And that was the end of my easy button.

1. Grow up financially – Develop and implement a financial plan that supports my life goals
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not in all kinds of debt. As a matter of fact the only debt I have is my house. The problem is that I spend only cash – all of it. So I never save any money (other than retirement stuff). Here are some of the things I want to do:

• Purchase Land and build a prefab modular sustainable home within the next 4 years
• Have enough to retire on
• Strengthen my credit
• Have enough cushion in the bank for rainy days

2. Achieve and maintain excellent health.
Generally my health is pretty good, but I want it to be great. I want to walk and hike a lot. Take yoga to reduce stress. Eat fresh, minimally processed, local foods. Reduce my BMI and lose another size (or 2).

3. Be where I am
I spend a lot of time worrying about and preparing for what is next. While this may be important, I often forget to enjoy what I am doing at that time. So I will:

• be more in the moment
• be more aware of what I am doing – and how it makes me feel
• be more thankful in that moment
• appreciate my surroundings – the people around me, the time of year, my environment

4. Have more fun
Go on adventures, road trips, enjoy family and friends. Laugh more. Don’t take myself so seriously.

5. Find ways to make a difference
At work, at home, in my community. No matter what I am doing, do it in a way that makes a difference. Be creative and innovative. Don’t take things personally, focus on progress and impact.

6. Focus on buying local products
This includes buying mostly food/drink that is grown and/or produced within a 150 mile radius (a good place to start is my local farmers market). Support local business as well (check out the 3/50 project for a simple way to do this).