Goal Attainment

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.” - Frank A. Clark

Working at my resolutions over the past month has got me to thinking about goals, and ways to reach them... ways to keep from working against yourself and stay on target. If there's anything I like to do, it's to give advice. That doesn't make me good at it, but it does lead me do it a lot. I love to help people, so anytime someone has a problem, I try to figure out a way around or through it. That being said, these are some things that have been on my mind regarding goal attainment. They're not ground breaking - I know that. Regardless, I do hear myself saying them a lot.

First and foremost, I think that you need to figure out your motivation. What is it that you really want? If you want to lose weight to get into a bathing suit, we've all seen the commercial that shows the girl walking past it every day eating her diet food. But this is a real motivator. Think about what you want, then figure out ways to keep that in the forefront of your mind. It could be as simple as post-it notes on your bathroom mirror. But keep your eye on the ultimate goal. There is no sense in starting a project or resolution that you have no motivation to finish. Commitment is so important.

Cons and Pros of a Home Gym

Cons:

1. Less machines

2. No dance classes, and while I can do the DVD kind, I have way less room. Those big classrooms were nice.

3. Can't watch Wheel of Fortune and guess at the puzzles while I run. That was always a fun little diversion.

4. Those mirrors everywhere were nice for A. checking your form and B. knowing if someone's checking you out. I think it's hilarious that those guys thought they were being so sneaky staring at my ass but then I turn around and - oops, caught ya!

February: Money Month

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. - 1 Timothy 6:10

Money often costs too much. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Time is more value than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time. - Jim Rohn

Money is like most anything else in this world - it can be used for good, or it can be used for evil. I've heard people try to say that the Bible says money is the root of all evil - but that's not correct. It says that the love of money is the root of all evil. I think that another way to say that is that the love of power is the root of all evil. Why would someone love money? Money is nothing but a tool. The only value of money is what it can do. It's a means, not an end.

I'm not perfect when it comes to money. I'm even less perfect when it comes to discipline, which is why I dedicated January to it, and discipline affects money to a substantial degree. But money is definitely a toughie. How much is enough? Is there ever too much? How much should you spend on yourself, and how much should you spend on others? Is it ethical to live comfortably when others don't, through no fault of their own? The more you make, the more you could donate, right? So then should you attempt to make as much as possible? This is such a personal issue and I know that everyone will come to their own different conclusion, but I think it's an important issue to examine your own feelings and motivations toward.

Happiness Examined

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.

- Leo Tolstoy

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

- Buddha

Sounds pretty selfish to dedicate a year to happiness, doesn't it? All the talking I've been doing about feeling fulfilled, following my passions, and living with no regrets has got me to thinking that I need to provide a little bit of explanation and background. Anyone who reads Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project would understand, but I know that most of you won't get around to it, and that's okay. My happiness project is not just about me. It's about me feeling good about being me - about feeling right about the person I am in the big picture, my contribution to society as a whole, and the impression my life makes on the people around me every day. I can't live a life of selfishness and only living for myself and today. I won't be happy. And if I am not happy, I am less able to be the person I want to be for the people around me. I like Buddha's quote about about the candle. Love given away is increased, not decreased.

New Adventures of Borrowed Cleaner

You know those times when you've procrastinated so much that you can't do anything you want to do without doing something else first? Tonight I donned my workout attire and planned to do my standard pilates/elliptical combo. However, I borrowed a Yoga Booty Ballet DVD a couple of weeks ago, and have been wanting to use it. Because (I'm assuming) I'll need to move around in order to follow this routine, before starting it, I need to rearrange my workout room. Right now it houses a large TV, a futon, my pilates mat, and my elliptical machine. It's set up to give me as little room to move as possible, because I haven't done a thing to it since it turned into my own little home gym.

Excitement of the Possible

I have always loved airports. I don't necessarily like sitting and waiting. I don't like carrying bags, or being around a million strangers with their billion germs, or the nasty fast food. But there is one thing I love about airports that, even now, makes my heart skip a beat. The possibility. When I'm in the airport I see the planes coming and going; the people with different faces and languages; and the board. Oh, the board! With all the possibilities. Australia. Italy. Africa. My heart yearns to go and do it all. My eyes want to see it all.

Don't Sew When You're Stupid

Last night, I was almost done with one placemat (or at least, I thought I was) and I was determined to finish before bed. I've been staying up way too late working on this stuff, but now that I think about it, I have less than a week until school starts! Even though I can still work on it afterward, it seems ridiculous to me that I started this project "so long ago" (okay, two weeks) and still am not done. I have four placemats total to do and was getting close to being done with one. I decided to do it pillow-style, stitch it almost all the way around inside out then turn it right side out and finish up.

Long story short, I did not leave enough room. I tried and tried and tried and worked patiently to get it to come through, and even gave up on that and started trying to push it backward. When it became clear I was at an impasse, I ended up not only having to cut the thread that was holding the side together, but also busting off one of my beads... whose thread was also holding many other beads on. Basically I added about 30 minutes of (admittedly ingenious) fixes, and thank goodness it was salvaged and finished (see left).

Beading and Brewing

Dun dun dun.... I was not early to work yesterday. Actually, I was right on time, but that doesn't count for my spreadsheet. I planned to aim for 5 minutes early so that maybe I can develop a habit of being on time. I am shooting for 100% attainment on all my goals every day so that I can hit or exceed the 90% mark. I don't really expect perfection, but that doesn't mean I can't aim for it.

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.
-  Les Brown

Day 5

Well folks, we're getting pretty committed to this whole "2011" thing. Don't think there's any turning back now.

I had been doing so well. My record unblemished. Working out, sink's been clean, haven't been late... Yesterday, when I got home I couldn't remember one instance all day that I had told myself to be quiet or made an effort to listen. No X for me. That's a toughie, because it could be very easy to convince myself I did or just fake it. But no. I did a LOT of talking yesterday. And this isn't one you can make up for, either. I could pick up the phone, call someone and refuse to talk, right? (I care enough about this that I'm surprised it didn't cross my mind.)

Eat, Pray, Be Neurotic

I've expressed earlier my fondness for the book Eat, Pray, Love. I enjoyed it immensely, envied her travels, became interested in Buddhism, and didn't want the book to end.

However.

The movie, not so much. I was in the middle of a pretty stressful situation in my life (and wasn't coping well) when I read the book, and part of me thinks I need to re-read it in my current state. The main character (my beloved Elizabeth Gilbert) struck me as self-absorbed, dramatic, and ridiculous. I read reviews on the book that said as much, but I thought those people were either mean or had no idea what it was like to be anxious and lost.

Ontime

7:54, bitches!

Day 2

I feel like I'm going a little overboard with the posting, but I'll be brief. I enjoy seeing other people's projects from conception to reality, so I'm going to document one of mine for the first time.

The yellow fabric will be the background/base, and the purple fabric that is mostly hidden will be appliqued onto the yellow in the middle in the design shown. I sketched an example of how I expect it to turn out; I'm going to take the four ends of the cross and duplicate them diagonally on the four corners.

This is the purple fabric cut out. It also has some little hearts with tails, aka tadpoles that are sortof cute that I believe I'll include. These are the green beads I'm going to add to the applique.










I've started beading the tadpoles, and it looks like I ought to be able to get almost done tomorrow. Will post more then.

Kept all my resolutions today; found an opportunity to keep my mouth shut, sink is clean, first workout is complete, and there were no appointments today (thus also no makeup), but if I want to get to work early tomorrow I better get to bed. I bid you buenas nachos.

Day One

It's officially day one, and there's not too much to write about. I consider it a success, but I am loathe to admit my schedule today. I woke up several times this morning but never got out of bed until about noon. I went to bed fairly late, about 1:30, and I figured if you can't sleep in on New Years Day, when can you? Soon I'll be back to school and stressing again, so I might as well enjoy it while I can. Besides, it gives me the opportunity to get home this late and still be in a writing mood.

My resolution status.

1. I did not work out today. However, I only have to work out less than every other day, and since my weeks officially start on Monday, if I work out tomorrow (Sunday) I will consider that I have accomplished my first goal for this first 2 day 2011 week.

2. I listened to people. Keep in mind I was at a family reunion of sorts today. I will not get into the details. Check.

3. We missed my cousin's wedding today because Andrew was sick last night and with it being in Ft Worth, and our family Christmas in Gainesville, logistically, it just wasn't going to happen. However, "Christmas" was scheduled to start at 5:00 today and we arrived at 4:53. Were we actually planning on getting there earlier? Yes. So what? Check.

4. Dishes were all in the dishwasher when I left this morning AND as also as we speak, thank you!

5. Due to my dad's being (predictably) later than he promised this afternoon for us to leave, I was able to do my makeup at home without making anyone wait. X for me, but this won't cut it in a normal situation. Gotta do better.

So happy it's Sunday tomorrow and nothing scheduled. My Christmas stuff is already put away and my house is clean! What to do...