Saturday, October 31, 2009

Goal Setting

Tomorrow it will be November.  I can't believe it.  It seems to be true - the older you get the faster time seems to go!  I am going to blink and be posting about Christmas.  I don't like it!  (The weird time thing, not Christmas - I love that!)   Anyway, it is time to decide on a new project!!

My long-term purpose for Project Adventure is deeper than just the gratification of 9 self-centered whims.  It is more about re-discovering who I am.  Maybe it's a blog-documented "midlife crisis" !  I don't know, but I am certain of this:  each of us make choices, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not, that lead us in certain directions and eventually to specific destinations.  We also have intention.  Most often, our intentions are NOT to arrive at the destinations our decisions take us to.  (If you want to know more about that, please read Andy Stanley's book "The Principle of the Path".)  I was simply tired of living a life full of good intentions, without being intentional about any of them!  I was exhausted from the mundane, the "tyranny of the urgent".  That might be a book, too; I'm not certain, it was a phrase I first heard years ago in a Sunday school class.  

All that being said, I certainly don't have enough time in my life to try out every interesting thing that comes into my mind.  Perhaps in my empty nest years there will be more, although I've heard it is often not the case.  Either way,  there is a limited amount of recreational time in my life.  In thinking about that I have decided that my November Project will not be related to a specific "fun" experience.  Instead,  I am going to take this time to intentionally evaluated my physical health and fitness.

I am not a big fan of exercise for excercise's sake.  Multiple pregnancies over two decades have taken their toll on my body.  I'm a lot more "padded" than I used to be.  I lack energy.  I do not see a doctor for regular physicals (except my ob/gyn).  I was diagnosed with asthma during/after one pregnancy but have not treated it for at least 10 years (except with my son's emergency inhaler).  I am do not generally "think healthy" in terms of food choices.  (I LOVE to cook, I love good food).    I have not had my vision checked in years.  I simply don't make time for taking care of myself.  It isn't a "fun" thing to do with any extra time I may have.

I have made some effort to loose weight over the years.  I have never been successful.  I mean I have NEVER shed more than a pound or two, even with what I perceived as lots of effort.  While I would like to have success in that area, I do NOT want to be come obsessed with it.  I don't want to turn a quest for health into a vain obsession.    So far, not a problem, lol.  I also don't want to try and do so many things I have to be thinking about them all day long.  This is an almost certain route to failure for me.  So, after this long introduction, here is what I have deciced:

In November I will set goals for each week.  I will attempt to evaluate and make changes/adjustment a little at a time.  I will be honest with myself.  I will NOT try to change everything all at once.

Week 1 Goals:

   ___  Make an appointment for a physical, and check the asthma while I'm there.
             (the appt. will likely not be able to be in November, but I need to MAKE it.)

  ___  Make an appointment for my eyes.

  ___  Keep a food journal.  At week's end honestly evaluate if I am consuming way too many calories.

  ___ Keep a physical activity journal.  At week's end honestly evaluate if I am too sedentary.
        (By the way, the food and activity stuff is easy to track, for free, at MyFitnessPal.com)

  ___ Weigh and Measure myself on day 1.  Put the scale AWAY until Nov. 30.  I'm not going to
          obsess with that.
 
  ___Add a daily multi-vitamin for women to my morning routine.

  ___Add 2 glasses of water to my day.  (I hate plain water.  Going for 8 always makes me stop!)

  ___Workout for at least 30 minutes 3 times in 7 days.

I think that is quite enough for the first week.  You may be thinking, that is not going to cut it.  You have to do way more than that to really make a difference.  Yes, I know.  Long term, I have a lot to change.  The thing is, I don't seem to do well with making a lot of drastic changes at once.  It took me 20 years to get to this place.  I think I can take a year or so to get out of it!  I would rather make baby steps that I can DO, than a list of giant steps that I won't. 

If you know me "in real life" please feel free to encourage me/hold me accountable to the goals I set here.
If you, like me, have not be intentional regarding your physical health, consider setting some goals of your own.  It's always good to have a friend on the journey!

See you next week!

D

Friday, October 23, 2009

Modesty

Homecoming season has been upon us, and I have enjoyed looking at the pictures of my friends' children all dressed up for their big night out.  There is something that has been on my mind; however, and at the risk of offending someone I've just got to speak out.

When did Christian parents decide it was OK to allow their daughters to sacrifice modesty for fashion?  When did we decide it wasn't that important, or "everyone dresses that way", or that we have no authority over what our children wear? 

Let me be clear, I don't have an issue with being fashionable.  I am just extremely uncomfortable with seeing so much of these young ladies' breasts.  I am thinking how difficult it must be to be a teenage boy trying to be pure in his thought life with this temptation surrounding him for "fashion's sake".  In fact, if you want me to be completely honest, I am a little angry that my husband is exposed to much more of these young bodies than is proper.   Sometimes it's the not so young bodies as well!

OK, before anyone accuses me of not taking the log out of my own eye, I do have a son who has an issue with "sagging".  We fight that battle on a daily basis, and I am not giving in.  As strongly as I feel about THAT; however, I doubt it is enticing anyone to have lustful thoughts.  It is just stupid.  In addition, I have on occasion worn something I later regretted.  I too have been guilty.

That being the case does not excuse parents who are not willing or able to set standards for modest dress with their daughters.  It would be no different than saying because I have a daughter who was born out of wedlock means I cannot stand for the truth that the Lord designed the sexual relationship for marriage and anything outside of that is sin.   (Now there's another can of worms.  I'm probably offending people right and left today).

I guess that's about all I have to say on the matter.  Each family has to decide their own standards, and I realize they will differ.  I am just really sad to see these sweet girls dressing in a way that is designed to tempt.  What are we thinking in America today?

One more thing, if you are my friend, and your daughter has just been to Homecoming, please don't ask me if I mean you.  I really am not trying to point out one specific example, just my disgust with the trend as a whole.  If you think it might be you, examine your own beliefs regarding modest dress, and go from there.  It is still a free country (for the moment), and I am just expressing my own opinion. 

D

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Things I Like

This is an impulse post.  I was just thinking, as I was scrubbing a bathroom, that if I'm looking for things that bring me joy, I might want to make a list of things I actually know I like.  So, I am.  Without further ado, and in no particular order....

1.  Comments on my blog posts.
2.  Chocoloate of various kinds.  I love those treasure candies, they remind
      me of the caramel candy bars we used to sell in school for fundraisers. 
3.  A fire in the fireplace.
4.  Reading.
5.  That Cranberry Sierra Mist that is only out this time of year, haven't had
     any yet this season.
6.  Fall - the way it looks, smells, feels... I love it!
7.  Clean sheets on a freshly made bed.  VERY high thread count.  Mmmm,
     feels fabulous
8.  A massage
9.  A cup of hot tea
10.  That time in the morning when no one else is up but me & the Lord
11.  Going out to eat - good food (NOT fast food)
12.  Watching the Food Network
13.  Watching LOST
14.  Going to the movies
15.  That snuggly time between waking up and having to get out of bed
16.  Having someone brush my hair
17.  Music - especially when it brings up memories.  Someday I'll blog
         about songs - who and what they make  me think of
18.  Bubble baths, especially with a book, chocolate, and tea.
         If I would have put the fireplace in the wall between the
         bedroom and bathroom like I wanted to, I'd be in heaven!
19.  Scenic drives - which I HATED growing up, but now love!
20.  Sitting on the beach, with my honey and a book
21.  Cooking (when the kitchen is clean and orderly),
        especially trying new recipies & tweaking them
22.  Lilacs
23.  Starbucks:  Cafe Moca & a slice of pumpkin loaf
24.  Working on geneaology...the best puzzles of all!
25.  Lying on the couch, with my knees bent, and a kiddo
         sitting in that little spot behind my legs, reading to me
         or watching TV.

Well, not bad for a start.  I think I'll try and add a few things to the list every so often.  It's good to remember the simple things that I really enjoy!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Death of a Doornale


I did it!  October 10th I accomplished 2 for 2!!!  I've gotta say it feels pretty good to set a goal and then get it done.  That is an area I tend to be weak in.  I'm a great planner.  I'm not so good at the finishing.  Perseverance is something I need to intentionally pursue.

As I posted previously, I had absolutely no acting experience going into this.  I can do a pretty good job reading stories to the kids; making voices for the different characters, etc.  The first rehersal went pretty well, as we simply sat and read through the script, much like reading a story out loud.  The second rehersal was a walk through on the stage, minus the props (such as a sofa, chair, etc.).  I have to be honest, that was downright HARD.   There is a huge difference between just reading and having to walk, stop, change positions, look at people, not loose track of your place in the script, exit on the correct side, etc.  I had some pretty large misgivings by the time that rehersal ended.  I'm sure Becky, our director, did, too!

Next it was time to choose my "costume".  My character, Pricilla, is the "lovely yet shallow daughter of an eccentric millionaire".   She seems to have not really gotten over her parent's divorce.  She is very disdainful of her father's new "girlfriend"; who is young, fairly ummm, stupid, and doesn't have any sophistication.  It was another interesting aspect of this presentation that I had complete freedom to choose my costume.   In a way it would have been much easier to have been just told what to wear!  I knew I needed heels, as Pricilla accidentally kills a pet hampster (OK, a gerbil, but you won't convince her of that) and the proof was in the wound matching her heel print.    I finally settled on high heeled boots, with a brown "split skirt" (I really don't know what you call those pants that come just to the top of tall boots) and a leopard print jacket.    My children have taken to calling it my "rich outfit".

The dress rehersal went a little better than the week before, but we still had a LOT of work to do.  We were not memorizing the script, and there were moments when I thought it might have been easier NOT to have been scanning for my lines.   I have to say we had a great time at all the rehersals.  I laughed so much, I figuired the audience would certainly enjoy the show even if we butchered it!

All in all, I think we did pretty well for an amateur cast, with a last minute "understudy" to boot.  It was interesting how during the preformance we all started to really "get into it".  It was a humor-filled script, and I believe my fellow actors were quite gifted at playing the humor for all it was worth.  We even had some improv. thrown in!  (Just a disclaimer, I really didn't MEAN to actually pull Candi Bambi's wig OFF.  It just sort of happened.  But man was it ever funny!). 

As far as adventurous new experiences go, I don't believe I will ever forget it, nor the wonderful people who I got to spend some time playing around with.  I think I would give acting another try, given the opportunity.
Probably the most touching thing about the evening was my daughter and son-in-law driving 3 1/2 hours one way AND paying $15.00 each to see my theatrical debut.  That really meant a lot to me.   There are some issues from my childhood that I am only recently seeing how deeply their effect has gone.  I was involved in things as a kid, the ususal school stuff, choir concerts, basketball games, etc.  My mom faithfully went to them all.  My father never once came to see an event.  My grandparents, though they lived in the same town, didn't either.  So, while I sort of "expect" my husband to come (kind of like Mom in the old days), this was the first time anyone else had made an effort just to see me, and it was quite an effort indeed.  I hope that they weren't disappointed!!

So, my October adventure has come to a close.  I have a few weeks to come up with the perfect November experiment.  I'm toying around with adding epicurial adventures into the mix as well.  I don't know that I have found my passion in acting, but it certainly brought much laughter and fun into the last few weeks.  I'd love suggestions if you have any ideas for things I ought to try.  In the meantime, get out there and have an adventure of your own!

PS I don't know how to put pictures on here.  As soon as I figure it out, I'll post some with me in all my animal print glory :-)

Followers