Thursday, January 3, 2013

Welcoming Challenges in a New Year

Hi. Yes, I do still exist. I got a little...discouraged....distracted....both. I felt that I was my only reader and decided no one would really notice that I disappeared for two weeks.

I haven't been great about taking pictures...excuse #1. I am not doing anything interesting over the break...excuse #2. I have been eating A LOT of sweets, how can I write about being healthy?...excuse #3. Shall I continue?

Then I got a text from my trusty best friend who knows me so well:

"No new blog posts for you?"

Someone is reading! And even if it is just her and me, that's enough to wipe away any excuse not to post. Besides, for now, this is mostly for me. Maybe you'll start reading, maybe you won't. But what I know is that there are 4 blogs that I read religiously. I check them every morning and evening like clock work. If one of my favorites misses a few days in a row...I get discouraged and sometimes forget to come back to check the next day. With only 1 reader besides myself, I can't afford that now can I!?

So, instead of boring you with all the details of a Christmas/New Year's break filled with cookies, jogs, gym trips and movies, I'm going to be very Ekhart Tolle today and focus on the NOW. I listened to the audio book of the Power of Now a few years ago, and honestly, I just wasn't ready for it. I didn't completely buy in (and still don't), so i'm going to be somewhat in the now, and somewhat in the future.

After all, it is a new year. Aren't we all looking forward just a little more than normal this week? My new year's resolution was successful last year (make exercise a part of my daily life), so I'm going to keep that going and add on. I've learned that I enjoy having a goal to work towards. Even if the goal changes and evolves over time, I need to feel like I'm headed in a certain direction and checking off boxes as I go along that road.

I think I'm off to a good start. My marathon is 6.5 weeks away. I have a 15K planned for 3 weeks after the marathon, and I'm throwing around the idea of doing a sprint triathlon whit a friend this summer. (Better work on my swimming skills!) I've also signed up to start taking courses in March to become a health coach. I think this will force/will me away from my destructive sugar addiction.

My boyfriend greeted me this morning with a link to an article that is a bit harsh, but very true. I must preface this link by saying that I did not watch these videos (they were not permitted by my office internet) and I do not support the foul language (though sometimes you just have to say one of those dirty and perfectly expressive words). Open your mind, stop being so defensive, and give this article a shot.

6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person

Isn't becoming a better person what New Year's Resolutions are all about? Intrinsic vs extrinsic locus of control was one of the more fascinating subjects I recall from my psych studies. It's inevitable that we blame intrinsic causes for failure in others, and it is SO easy to blame extrinsic causes for our own failures. This year, in addition to my list of physical and educational endeavors, I will work on taking complete responsibility for my failures and successes.

Did you catch that last part? and successes. I will work, as we all should, on being a good adult - being accountable - doing what I say I'm going to do, when I say I'm going to do it, without complaining (thanks Dad) - as well as learning to be OK with a compliment and an accomplishment. Too often my kind-heated best friend and I almost give away our accomplishments to others, choosing humility over pride, and mostly just to make the complimenter feel better. Making others feel good is what makes us feel good. I will not change this, I think this is a good attribute. BUT, this year, i will learn to be thankful and proud of my accomplishments. I am working hard for them and it is OK if others notice that. I will stop tearing myself down. 

At the risk of rambling on too much longer and losing that 1 reader (hi Sara!) I have....I'm going to cut this in to two posts (the second part will be more uplifting, I promise) and end this with a ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I wish you a wonderful year of enjoying the present, taking steps towards your goals, and finding the you that makes you happy!




2 comments:

  1. HI! I love this! You are so right about how you are too humble and need to celebrate your successes more fully! I'll work on this too (with your help!) And the readers will come, just keep talking to us!

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  2. What's a girl gotta do to get some recognition around here!?!?!? !?! I read this blog too ya know!!!! Great blogs Mary!!! Thanks for the support Sara!!!!

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