Right now…
- I’m loving having a “roommate” for the week. I’ve been going through some (private) stuff for the last few weeks, and having Micah’s company has been such a blessing.
- I’m super proud of myself for all my DIY skills. I remade ANOTHER piece (well, technically pieces) of furniture tonight:
- I’m excited for my planned splurge – I’m buying myself a digital SLR with my state tax return! Who hoo – a wish three years in the making!
- I’m making myself be okay with the fact that I completely forgot to track my nutrition this week. Like I said, it’s been a rough couple weeks, and sometimes it takes everything you have just to stay afloat. Cooking and having dinner with friends all week has definitely helped me stay afloat.
- I’m looking forward to tomorrow evening for drinks, hibachi, and music with friends. I’ve never had hibachi, but I’m excited for the experience.
- I’m looking forward for a weekend in Fairfield with Briggs. I need a weekend getaway and it will be nice to focus energy on Briggs’ wedding instead of my own life.
- My mind is going 1000 miles a minute. I can hardly focus to write anything, let along a blog post. This probably explains my lack of writing lately.
- I’m relieved that “engagement season” is over.
- I’m grateful for my mom. Without her, I’m pretty sure I’d be in the loony bin by now.
- I’m grateful for my friends. Without them, I’m positive I’d be in the loony bin by now.
- I’m exhausted and my bed is calling me. Goodnight.
I’ve informally started a bit of a New Year’s tradition for myself – I come up with a short phrase to build my New Year’s resolutions around. My phrase for 2012 was “Go For It.” And, that’s what I did.
I thought it was going to be about making lots of goals and reaching them, but instead I think it ended up being even more important. In 2012 I learned some of the hardest lessons of my life. I teetered a lot, I fell a lot, and I somehow or other got myself up. Going for it in 2012 resulted in me trusting in some things and people who didn’t work out – but at least I gave them a chance. And, trusting at all is a huge step for me since I’m a cynic.
More importantly, I’m learning to trust myself again. I’m not completely there yet, but I’m getting there. Which brings me to my “theme” for 2013:
Find Balance:
small steps to big things // practice the 80/20 rule.
For me, this is reminding myself that I don’t have to go full-hilt at everything. I don’t have to be perfect; I don’t have to run a mile under 9 minutes; I don’t have to eat healthy 100% of the time; I don’t have to get straight As; I don’t have to work all the time. No, all I have to do is practice balance. I have to remember to give and take in my own life. I can get it all, but I can’t get it all at the same time. And, I must remember that I can reach all my goals, but I’ll probably need to break them down into smaller goals to get there.
This lead me to make a Pinterest board for 2013. I have seven sub-themes that I want to focus on with small goals for each month. The sub-themes are: finances, make, eat, wellness, career, style, and home. I’m currently only through April, but I probably won’t add more goals until March. I mean, a lot can change in a few months – 2012 proved that - so why make a bunch of goals for September when my life may have changed (again) by then? And, remembering that change is constant is part of finding balance – it’s easier to balance when you look a head a little, but not so much that you get lost. It’s easiest to balance when you walk slowly, and it’s far more difficult when standing or sprinting. I definitely learned that the hard way in 2012 – I tried to sprint but all that did was set me back and hurt me. I want to regain my balance, and, even if it’s slow, start moving forward again. Hopefully, I’ll also gain more trust in myself as I go.
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If you had to make a “theme” for the next year, what would it be?
So, I failed at this swap thing. I mailed stuff and everything, but when it came to posting on December 28th for the official link-up I completely forgot. To be fair, I’ve had flu-like symptoms since the 18th (thus why I haven’t written at all since then) and yesterday was the first day I didn’t feel like an ogre.
Luckily, my swap partner, Meghan at Shine On did not forget me! In fact she hooked me up!
I got my package right after Thanksgiving, but I decided I’d wait until the first week of December to open it.
Girlfriend nailed it:
Knee socks, gloves (there was a green pair too, but I started wearing them before I took photos and promptly lost one – because that’s my curse), a snowman ornament, candies (there were candy canes too, but I used them in my tea, again before I remembered to take a photo – I fail).
Here’s a close-up of the ornament, it will look great on my tree next year (hopefully that tree will be in a house!).
And, I’m not going to lie, the socks are my favorite. I also got a pair of knee-high boots for Christmas that these are going to look FABULOUS with. Not to mention, knee socks that fit my super muscular calves are an amazing find. I’m so pleased.
Thanks again, Meghan, you really made my day!
Head on over to Eloping Stethoscope and see what all the other bloggers got!
Let’s see how I did this week. Green = Success. Red = Failure.
- 4 workouts. I completed one. Yeah…no bueno.
- Track six days. Heh. Not this one either.
- Drink 64 oz of water each day. This was surprisingly easy. And, my headaches are getting better.
- Get tax stuff gathered. I have everything sorted that I can to this point.
- Read one book. I didn’t read anything. I need to get into the habit of reading before bed again. It really does help me sleep.
I had to fail at some of them so it’d look like Christmas. This was completely on purpose. Or something. Anyways…
This week:
- 70,000 steps (or the equivalent per my fitbit). Instead of focusing on working out, this week I’m going focus on just being more active. Period. Getting away from my desk to walk around at break, walking to the library at lunch, parking a little bit further away, and so on. I’ll have to work out some too, but instead of focusing on these little things, I’m going to focus on the big picture. I work so much better that way.
- Track. I must track my food this week on myfitnesspal.com (find me: jaclynnejacijax). I don’t care if I go over my daily calories right now, I just need to get back into the habit of tracking my food and being mindful of my diet.
- Figure out my new phone. I downgraded from a smart phone by my own volition. After having an iPhone for almost four years, I can’t figure out how to use a phone with buttons. Stop laughing.
- Read one book. I’m keeping this on the list until I complete it.
- Research. I have some major purchases planned for the next year or so. I want to have all my ducks in a row so I can make them all happen. I need to research my choices, research the prices, and then I can start really planning!
Do you have any goals this week before Christmas? I obviously don’t, but I’m sure there are a ton of you doing some last-minute Christmas things – share in the comments or hit the button and link up!
Yes, Blog Readers, there is a Santa Claus.
Santa is the spirit of giving and wishing and hoping and helping that lives in every single one of us. The good that every person has (yes, everyone, I don’t believe anyone is innately evil).
When my Gramma would ask me if I believed in Santa Claus, I said yes and I meant it. Then, it was because we had a hard and fast rule in our family of “If you don’t believe, then you don’t receive [your gifts].” Now, I mean it because I believe in the good of people. Even when I’m sad about the world and some of crappy things that happen in it, I remember that I believe in humanity and the good in people.
To quote Mr. Rogers:
Santa is caring. Santa is hoping. Santa is having the ability to dream and wish. So, with that in mind, I’ll write my 2012 wish list for Santa (some serious, some not):
- I wish that anyone who has been separated from loved ones, whether my force or choice, find some peace.
- I wish for a new Blu-Ray player with WiFi so I can watch Netflix and Hulu on my TV instead of my laptop.
- I wish for a TV stand (my neck is starting to get a crick in it from looking down all the time).
- I wish for a bit more financial stability so I can save to buy a home in the next year or so.
- I wish for a “family of my own” so next year I won’t have to force myself to like the holidays.
- I wish I were a little bit taller, I wish I were a baller…
- I wish for a digital SLR camera. And classes to learn how to use the damn thing.
- I wish good health for my mother and other family members (so I won’t worry so much).
- I wish for the last three Harry Potter movies, because then I’ll finally have them all.
- I wish for a new set of pots and pans (if they were the set at Kohl’s by Rachel Ray, I’d be all the happier).
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What’s your grown-up Christmas list?
Let’s see how I did this week. Green = Success. Red = Failure.
- Run 14 miles. Heh. I think I got 7 miles in…to be fair, my knees are KILLING me right now and anything more than power walking makes me hobble the next two days. I may have to rethink my goal for this week.
- Watch “Dr. Who: The Second Series”. I finished the final episode last night. I’m super bummed that it appears one of my favorite characters is not going to be in the show anymore, but I’ll get over it. Maybe.
- Track. My goal was 7 days…I completed 5. Which is more than the previous week. I’m making progress.
- Deep clean the bathroom. Done. I won’t go into the details.
- Plan and execute my first holiday party! Decorations bought at the dollar store, guests invited (and it sounds like I’m going to have a pretty decent turnout). I’m calling it done, even though I’m sure I’ll have more things to throw together this week.
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This weeks:
- 4 workouts.I’m going to copy my friend, Micah, and instead of doing miles this week, I’m going to focus on four cardio workouts. 2 interval runs of at least 3 miles, one 45 minute TurboJam workout, and one Jillian Michael’s Shred. If this doesn’t get me back on the train, I don’t know what will.
- Track six days. Instead of striving for perfection, I’m going to strive for excellence. I can’t be perfect, but I can be excellent.
- Drink 64 oz of water each day. I’ve been having a lot of headaches lately, and I’m thinking that maybe it’s because I’m dehydrated. I’m really going to focus on drinking a lot of water this week.
- Get tax stuff gathered. I want to get a head start on my taxes this year, so I’m going to try to get my expenses all figured out this week.
- Read one book. I used to do this every week…then I just…stopped. I need to get back into the habit. I took out “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” from the library since it’s been on my “To Read” list for quite a while.
What are your goals for the week? Join the link-up!
