beat the only competitor in the world who really matters: the person I was yesterday

how much I have learned and how my horizons have expanded thanks to the other 43Thingers. I have found so many different opinions and ideas coming from all parts of the world; that I can’t help but be a better person just from associating with all the members here. I have come away thinking about new places, new things, and new ideas everytime I read through the many entries of the people I have subscribed. Thanks to all of you for making me a better person everyday little by little.

on all of my important goals. I really have to get my life in order. I live a chaotic life and I am looking for some peace. Since focusing on beating my yesterday self, I have made progress and I have determined what flaws I want to work on. I agree that the things we most dislike in other people are the things we dislike in ourselves. I am more open minded now to other peoples opinions, but I still retain my right to my own opinion. I don’t feel the need to apologize about being opinionated. I love to hear peoples views, beliefs, and desires. I now realize that things I feel are important are not important to everyone else. I know once I get myself in order; I will have a happier and more peaceful existance.

to complete things I feel like putting off or giving up on. I am working towards beating myself in lifes competition. I am improving myself almost daily, and I realize that I have a long journey ahead of myself. I have learned to look back and see how far I have come rather than look ahead and get discouraged about how far I have to go. I am learning that life is the journey not the destination, and I hope to teach my children and grandchild by example rather than words. Sometimes I feel myself giving into depression; that dark place that makes even the smallest problem overwhelming. I am identifying that feeling earlier and learning to fight it off before giving in. In large part, the support and encouragement either directly or indirectly from 43 things has played a part in whatever success I enjoy.

I need to evaluate my life, goals, and dreams against my current circumstances. My responsibilities and my desires need to be addressed in such a way that I achieve my desires while keeping up with my responsibilites. I want to feel like I am a good Christian, Citizen, and Friend. I don’t feel like any of those yet, but after witnessing the inspirational members of 43 Things I believe I can improve and be a better me day after day.

the last two days at the gym; I have been on the treadmill trying to convince myself that I don’t need to do the whole hour. The old me would have stopped short of completeing the hour and I would have come up with all the reasons why it was ok. The new me has been successful at telling myself to suck it up and complete the hour. I can think of many times through my life that I have quit something when it got hard. I was a champ at justifying my “failure” when it was just lack of ambition and determination. I am getting better at this every day. I need to apply ambition and determination to my daily life.

over the next few days. I am not focusing on things that are important. I think this may be a way for me to avoid and procrastinate the things I most need to work on. I need to focus more on my list and I need to formulate a plan. I am making more progress than if I wasn’t on 43 Things, but I know that I could be making more headway if I was better focused with a plan.

in my own life right now. This feeling always overwhelms me when I am behind in my bills. I look back over my life and I wonder where I went so wrong. I am earning less than half of the money I was almost 10 years ago. I am in a funk, and I am feeling sorry for myself. I guess that means I need to make some changes in my life. I sure would like to win the lottery right now, but since that isn’t really likely, I will have to find another job or an additional job. Meanwhile, I have my 43 Things to work on.

but I realized that everyday I am a little better than the day before. I forgot that I wouldn’t be achieving perfection, because that is impossible. Perfection would imply that I don’t need to make improvement and changes, and I know that I will be working on myself the rest of my life. I see so many people who are far better people than myself. Many of the people on 43 Things and many of the people I meet through church and my community are an inspiration to improve myself as a human. I don’t have to agree with someones views to admire them. I will continue to work on being better today than I was yesterday.

Work relationships can really stress a person out. My supervisor and my lead and my office co worker talk in Polish the entire night. I wouldn’t mind, but my supervisor claims we discussed something in the office, and I know we did not. I think maybe they discussed it in Polish; so I had no idea what was being said. He claims not, but I never missed updates before this. How can I defend myself? I think that I will document these things rather than letting it upset me. If it becomes a real problem, I will approach him, if that doesn’t do it, I will approach Human Resources. I am trying to handle things better than in the past. We already had problems in this office with a Hispanic worker filing a complaint about unfair advantages being given to Polish people. I didn’t handle that so well when it was going bad; so I am determined to learn from my mistakes and document and moniter the situation better this time. I am the only non hispanic non polish person on my shift. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to deal with almost total isolation in the office.

but it seems like I am so busy just getting through the day. I don’t feel like I am making any improvements. I need to give some thought to improving myself everyday. I let my life get to hectic and don’t always pay attention to the things I should.