For nine months, I've been looking forward to the Rock 'n' Roll marathon in June. Having that goal of completing the half marathon has caused so much growth for me! I know that my pursuit of the goal has made me a better person.
It breaks my heart a little to admit this, but I have to let go of that goal for now. In August I injured myself and never went to a doctor, and now the injury has turned into a problem that's going to keep me out of this year's race.
I'm tempted to beat myself up over this. After all, it was pretty stupid of me to refuse to see a doctor for my overuse injury (which I got from being kinda stupid in the first place). When I started to train again in January and the pain came back worse than ever, it was pretty stupid of me to ignore it and wait until the end of March to admit that - just maybe - I needed a doctor.
But we all do stupid stuff from time to time. I'm holding on to the ways that I've grown because of this goal in the last nine months. I'm choosing to see the victories in the new ways I handle my hurdles, in the determination I've found to keep going even when it hurts, and in the revelation that I really do want to be a runner.
This isn't the end for me. I still have goals. I plan to run the half next year instead of walking it this year, and that still means a whole lot of training. I'm really excited about that! For now, I have to admit my humanity and go see a doctor about this knee before I damage it any further.
Two steps forward, one step back, and I'm still farther along than I used to be. 2015 is going to be my best year yet.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Book Review: Modern Manners, Tools to Take You to the Top.
I will never forget my first impression when I saw Liv Tyler as Arwen in the Lord of the Rings movies: Wow. She brought the grace and elegance of the elves to life, and instantly became my personal measure of sophistication. Imagine my delight when I saw that she'd helped to write a book about manners!
Modern Manners: Tools to Take You to the Top, written by Dorothea Johnson of the Protocol School of Washington and by Liv Tyler, is the ultimate beginner's guide to not looking like you were raised by wolves. Never again will I sit down to a formal dinner and find myself paralyzed by the sheer number of forks at the table, or struggle to imagine the protocol when meeting an affluent client for lunch.
Written in a simple, concise manner, this book is easy to understand and will always hold a place on my shelf for quick reference. The format is fun, with each portion separated into easy-to-digest chunks and supplemented by cute but informative drawings, so that you can learn at your own pace. Dorothea Johnson and Liv Tyler do an excellent job of bringing their personalities into their suggestions, making their lessons relate-able and easy to remember.
I received my copy of Modern Manners from Blogging for Books (www.bloggingforbooks.org), and I will absolutely be recommending this book to everyone I know. As Dorothea says toward the end: "Times change. Manners change. However, the need to have good manners never changes."
More Information
Modern Manners: Tools to Take You to the Top, written by Dorothea Johnson of the Protocol School of Washington and by Liv Tyler, is the ultimate beginner's guide to not looking like you were raised by wolves. Never again will I sit down to a formal dinner and find myself paralyzed by the sheer number of forks at the table, or struggle to imagine the protocol when meeting an affluent client for lunch.Written in a simple, concise manner, this book is easy to understand and will always hold a place on my shelf for quick reference. The format is fun, with each portion separated into easy-to-digest chunks and supplemented by cute but informative drawings, so that you can learn at your own pace. Dorothea Johnson and Liv Tyler do an excellent job of bringing their personalities into their suggestions, making their lessons relate-able and easy to remember.
I received my copy of Modern Manners from Blogging for Books (www.bloggingforbooks.org), and I will absolutely be recommending this book to everyone I know. As Dorothea says toward the end: "Times change. Manners change. However, the need to have good manners never changes."
More Information
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Day 217 - the TL;DR version
Find the full blog post here.
In January and February I convinced myself that I didn't need to try as hard, and the results were pretty bad. I maintained weight and - in February - gained some size.
But I did one thing right in January and February: I did a lot of research. A ton of research. I learned a lot about myself, my goals, and how to move forward from here.
With that in mind, I have 3 major action plans relating to my goals for March:
1) I'm making myself a dress (and my goal is to finish it this month)
2) I'm writing a brand new book, and then actually moving forward on the process of self-publishing.
3) I'm engaging with a trusted friend of mine who is a body builder and personal trainer, to create a workout program that is going to healthfully propel me toward my goals.
These things are on the outskirts of my comfort zone. They're a stretch, but I think they're going to be good for me and I'm excited about that!
In January and February I convinced myself that I didn't need to try as hard, and the results were pretty bad. I maintained weight and - in February - gained some size.
But I did one thing right in January and February: I did a lot of research. A ton of research. I learned a lot about myself, my goals, and how to move forward from here.
With that in mind, I have 3 major action plans relating to my goals for March:
1) I'm making myself a dress (and my goal is to finish it this month)
2) I'm writing a brand new book, and then actually moving forward on the process of self-publishing.
3) I'm engaging with a trusted friend of mine who is a body builder and personal trainer, to create a workout program that is going to healthfully propel me toward my goals.
These things are on the outskirts of my comfort zone. They're a stretch, but I think they're going to be good for me and I'm excited about that!
Day 217 - A Progress Update
I have this terrible habit of forgetting I have anything important to say, and abandoning my platforms for months on end. My self-esteem seizes up and I think, "Well, nobody wants to know about that anyway." But forgetting to share, keeping my progress and pitfalls to myself, only takes away the accountability I need so much. I'm not good at keeping promises to myself yet, because I'm the most graceful person I can make a promise to. I'll always give myself the benefit of the doubt - especially when it's not deserved.
With that in mind, I'm back! Here to update you on how I've been doing and what I plan to do next, so I can begin to re-integrate accountability into my life.
I need accountability. In fact, I need it desperately if I plan to have any success.
In January I set about trying to lose weight again with the Medifast meal replacements as a tool, but I didn't really take it seriously. I didn't want to give up my sweets, and I had an over-exaggerated idea of just how many sweets I could handle. Trying turned into not trying in the name of moderation and by the end of the month I'd maintained my weight and size.
In February I decided to try again, but I didn't really try until right at the end. In the 2nd week I gave up sugar for a whopping 5 days. At the end of that 5 days a friend of mine got married and I planned in advance to indulge myself. I did a good job! That is, my exercise matched my input really well. But then I got back home and started not paying attention again. The net result for February was that I maintained weight and gained size. (blech!)
I have done some things right over the course of the last two months: I've been learning.
I've been reading magazines, studying research papers, looking up articles and linked articles, pulling what's useful to me from the vast pools of information available, and absorbing it.
I've picked up fitness magazines, cooking magazines, psychology articles, even glamour magazines! I've been taking in every bit of information I can possibly muster.
Most helpfully, I've been reading about the methods other people use (and consider successful) when they're making a lifestyle change that includes losing weight but goes beyond that into health.
I've been reading about how to exercise with a knee injury (I've developed Bursitis from my injury back in August), how to understand the signals your body is sending you, and how to fight off cravings. I've been reading about the psychology behind food attachments, how to plan your meals around a food allergy (or a host of them), and how to put the past to rest once and for all.
In all of this research, I've learned that there's still so much more to learn. But with every new piece of information, the picture becomes clearer.
I've begun to enjoy working out again because I understand the purpose - the end goal - as something other than "because I should."
More importantly than all of that, I'm learning myself. I'm not just reading an article and laying it aside. I'm picking it apart, digesting it, discussing it, until I fully understand what doors the new information has unlocked. I'm learning that I'm a competitive person and that's okay! I'm learning that I want to be the best, do the most, go the farthest; and I'm learning that I can harness that desire to propel me toward where I want to be in life.
Today it's March 3rd and even though I'm kicking myself over the way I handled my goals in January and February, I'm also celebrating the fact that I've finally forced something I've always considered a character flaw to work for me. I've taken the little know-it-all brat in my brain, and put her to good use.
So what am I going to do about all of this?
In March I have a few goals, in line with my goals for the year.
- One of my goals for the year is to create a happier me. In this vein, I'm pursuing my hobbies with greater focus, taking them seriously, and giving myself permission to do so. The things that bring me enjoyment aren't a waste of time, and I'm learning that. With that in mind, I'm crocheting myself a dress! It's the very first time I'm making something with a wool blend yarn and a pattern, and I'm excited!
- Another of my goals for the year is to face the fears that hold me back from success in my areas of passion. With this goal in mind, I'm writing a new book in March. It'll be complete fiction, totally made up with my own creativity. I'm going to dedicate at least 10 hours a week to the project until it's finished. Then, instead of letting it sit in a file and be forgotten, I'm going to actually share it with someone else and embrace the opportunity for constructive criticism. (wish me luck!)
- One of my most important goals for the year is to lose enough weight that I can feel confident having kids. I, personally, don't want to be overweight and pregnant. But in my learning over the past two months, I've decided that it's about so much more than weight. I want to be *healthy,* with an active lifestyle that supports me even when I'm laid up for a while (as is common during pregnancy in my family). I also have a coinciding goal to complete the Rock 'n' Roll half marathon here in Seattle in June. With this in mind, I've decided to utilize a friend I trust who is a personal trainer and a body builder.
Let me just say: This is a huge step for me. Engaging a body builder?!?!? I never wanted to look she-hulk (and still don't), but in my research I've realized that a personal trainer who is also a body builder is going to have a more complete idea of how to help me truly build health instead of just losing weight.
These are all goals that stretch the edges of my comfort zone. I'm creeping into territories that I've made fun of for years (yarn snobs, independently published authors, and body builders/competition athletes). But I think the end result will leave me much happier, much healthier, and much closer to the life I want for myself in the long run.
With that in mind, I'm back! Here to update you on how I've been doing and what I plan to do next, so I can begin to re-integrate accountability into my life.I need accountability. In fact, I need it desperately if I plan to have any success.
In January I set about trying to lose weight again with the Medifast meal replacements as a tool, but I didn't really take it seriously. I didn't want to give up my sweets, and I had an over-exaggerated idea of just how many sweets I could handle. Trying turned into not trying in the name of moderation and by the end of the month I'd maintained my weight and size.
In February I decided to try again, but I didn't really try until right at the end. In the 2nd week I gave up sugar for a whopping 5 days. At the end of that 5 days a friend of mine got married and I planned in advance to indulge myself. I did a good job! That is, my exercise matched my input really well. But then I got back home and started not paying attention again. The net result for February was that I maintained weight and gained size. (blech!)
I have done some things right over the course of the last two months: I've been learning.
I've been reading magazines, studying research papers, looking up articles and linked articles, pulling what's useful to me from the vast pools of information available, and absorbing it.
I've picked up fitness magazines, cooking magazines, psychology articles, even glamour magazines! I've been taking in every bit of information I can possibly muster.
Most helpfully, I've been reading about the methods other people use (and consider successful) when they're making a lifestyle change that includes losing weight but goes beyond that into health.
I've been reading about how to exercise with a knee injury (I've developed Bursitis from my injury back in August), how to understand the signals your body is sending you, and how to fight off cravings. I've been reading about the psychology behind food attachments, how to plan your meals around a food allergy (or a host of them), and how to put the past to rest once and for all.
In all of this research, I've learned that there's still so much more to learn. But with every new piece of information, the picture becomes clearer.
I've begun to enjoy working out again because I understand the purpose - the end goal - as something other than "because I should."
More importantly than all of that, I'm learning myself. I'm not just reading an article and laying it aside. I'm picking it apart, digesting it, discussing it, until I fully understand what doors the new information has unlocked. I'm learning that I'm a competitive person and that's okay! I'm learning that I want to be the best, do the most, go the farthest; and I'm learning that I can harness that desire to propel me toward where I want to be in life.
Today it's March 3rd and even though I'm kicking myself over the way I handled my goals in January and February, I'm also celebrating the fact that I've finally forced something I've always considered a character flaw to work for me. I've taken the little know-it-all brat in my brain, and put her to good use.
So what am I going to do about all of this?
In March I have a few goals, in line with my goals for the year.
- One of my goals for the year is to create a happier me. In this vein, I'm pursuing my hobbies with greater focus, taking them seriously, and giving myself permission to do so. The things that bring me enjoyment aren't a waste of time, and I'm learning that. With that in mind, I'm crocheting myself a dress! It's the very first time I'm making something with a wool blend yarn and a pattern, and I'm excited!- Another of my goals for the year is to face the fears that hold me back from success in my areas of passion. With this goal in mind, I'm writing a new book in March. It'll be complete fiction, totally made up with my own creativity. I'm going to dedicate at least 10 hours a week to the project until it's finished. Then, instead of letting it sit in a file and be forgotten, I'm going to actually share it with someone else and embrace the opportunity for constructive criticism. (wish me luck!)
- One of my most important goals for the year is to lose enough weight that I can feel confident having kids. I, personally, don't want to be overweight and pregnant. But in my learning over the past two months, I've decided that it's about so much more than weight. I want to be *healthy,* with an active lifestyle that supports me even when I'm laid up for a while (as is common during pregnancy in my family). I also have a coinciding goal to complete the Rock 'n' Roll half marathon here in Seattle in June. With this in mind, I've decided to utilize a friend I trust who is a personal trainer and a body builder.
Let me just say: This is a huge step for me. Engaging a body builder?!?!? I never wanted to look she-hulk (and still don't), but in my research I've realized that a personal trainer who is also a body builder is going to have a more complete idea of how to help me truly build health instead of just losing weight.
These are all goals that stretch the edges of my comfort zone. I'm creeping into territories that I've made fun of for years (yarn snobs, independently published authors, and body builders/competition athletes). But I think the end result will leave me much happier, much healthier, and much closer to the life I want for myself in the long run.
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