This month, I committed to using no heat whatsoever, and taking extreme care of my hair – gentle shampoos and other products, gentle handling, no brushing, combing only when sopping wet with conditioner, and deep conditioner every week.
She sees me reading a lot for my new job as a self-employed lawyer, and enjoying it. And she’s expressing some of the same now. She’s really proud of herself – her teacher set a goal for a standardized test that she blew out of the water.
It’s getting done this week. I have enough cash to pay for a weekly cleaning through the end of January, and then my other check will arrive to be able to take us through the next six months. Hopefully at that point I’ll be making enough cash from my various endeavors to take it all over.
I’m doing a walk/run workout 3 days a week (the other 4 are just walking). Hope to be running 30 minutes straight by the end of January!
I committed to running a 5K in May 2007, and have been engaging in a new workout schedule which is also helping me lose weight. I work out 7 days a week (Sunday’s solely for light yoga and a 3 mile walk). M/W/F – 45 minutes of AM yoga and 25 minutes of weights/abs work; PM – 3 mile walk. T/Th/Sat – 45 minutes of AM yoga and 25 minutes of bodywork on something called the Yamuna ball; PM – 45 minutes of a walk/run training combo that will help me get started running. I increase my running time and decrease my walking/recovery time weekly. Hopefully, by the end of January, I’ll be running for 30 minutes straight.
I don’t “do” the same “thing” any more – well, sort of the same but in a different way, for myself. But I’ve gotten called by two reporters lately as a source for stories related to my fields of practice. So, that helps me be seen as the expert I want to be.
Even in my situation, where there’s no animosity or betrayal or feelings of recrimination – where the decision was truly and totally mutual – I am finding it hard to maintain amicability. He needs so much, and a lot of it I can’t give him. And when I try to explain it I know he gets hurt. I can’t help that, though. All I can do is communicate with honesty and compassion, and that, I have done. And overlook the little things. Too many of us pick on the little things.
This is huge for me. It’s a major creative project, a multifaceted launch including a webpage, message board, and a book. It’s going to take at least a year to do it correctly. There will a phased rollout and I hope – I HOPE! – it will also make me some nice cash on the side. I’m going to make a list to go along with it.
I’m still working on it daily because it’s a lifestyle change, not a task to be accomplished and forgotten about. Once you have it, you will always need to be aware of it.
I’ve made good progress on this goal. I wiped out the mortgage by selling the house, and moving family in with mom. Pending the divorce, that’s a great move for us, and for mom since she needed round the clock supervision. Come January, when I get the cashed-in funds in my erstwhile retirement account, I pay off the rest, except for the car loan and student loans, which I’ll continue to pay off monthly. I wouldn’t recommend the cash out of the retirement funds, except that this was a unique situation – I went solo to make more money, and this will be possible, but only because I’m being funded initially with those proceeds. It’s a huge risk but it’s an investment I needed to make in my own future, as crazy as it sounds at first. So, kids, don’t try this at home. But come January – no more credit card debt, ever!
I’ve committed to doing this with some friends all over the country. Each of us is approaching middle age, a little overweight, a little couch-spud-like, and needing to do something to shake ourselves out of a rut. Given my mom’s long battle with this horrible disease, I’m doing this in honor of her. I’ve committed to running for the first time in my life. From not being able to run a full minute (much less a mile!) to a 5K in Atlanta in six months! I’m starting out with the “walk/run” method (run 1 minute/walk 2, then adjust the time so eventually I’ll be running for 3 miles straight). After that, I’ll start training for the race itself, to improve my time. I started this week with 3 mile walks, daily, at a fast clip. I ordered some new shoes – Nike+ Air Zoom Moires, in atomic red. Once they come, I’ll start running!
I am now a proud solo. I’m so thrilled about this new venture! It’s hard, but the best work I’ve ever done.
The more they stay the same. I did some reevaluation on this goal, and by changing my thinking about it – looking at opening a different kind of practice, my way – it appeals to me again, strongly.
I’m not committing fully to anything but evaluating this as an option, right now. But I’m going to open up the old goal to take advantage of the old posts and entries. I don’t want to rehash old territory if it doesn’t need exploring more fully. If it does, though, I’m there. I want to make a good decision this time – not one based on assumptions and fears.
I’ve started working out again more strenously. I am incorporating the Yoga Booty Ballet workouts in with my usual vinyasa practice, on an every other day rotating schedule, followed by a 45-minute brisk walk with the dog. Other changes: I stopped drinking regular sodas, replaced them with lemon water, refined my diet (lean proteins first for snacks, 5 veggie servings, 2 yogurts and 1 lowfat milk serving a day, oatmeal for breakfast), and added weekly measurements and weighins to track my progress. I’m SERIOUS this time, and it feels good. I really feel soberly, dead serious about it, and it smells like success to me!
Interestingly, I now feel “wrong” somehow – off center, not quite “on” – when I don’t practice in the AM! How wonderful. I celebrate this.
I’ve also been working on living the principles of namaste when I meet new people or colleagues. It’s HARD, for sure, especially with some I have “history” with. But it’s remarkable in terms of the difference it makes in my level of composure and poise!
I need to get back to this! I have, I think, lost my focus – although the two minute rule is firmly embedded in my mind now! I just need a refresher course on the principles, and a reminder of the principles. I’ll do that this week – tomorrow on lunch.
I’ve been reading and studying, boning up on subjects necessary for this career transition. It’s hard not to get ahead of myself. But this is a goal that’s going to take a few years to pull off. I keep reminding myself of that. So first up I’m reading two books simultaneously – one on the UN and world politics – a college level textbook – and the other a well known introduction to public international law. I’ve also ordered a couple of “historical perspective” type books on the UN; they should get here about the time I’ve finished with the UN/world politics text. I’m still excited about this. I realize there may be intermediate career steps – State Department? DOT? another international organization, maybe ICAO? I don’t know. But it’s great to have a plan, no matter how sketchy it may be!
I was walking the dog tonight, using the time to visualize achieving some goals, including this one. I turn the corner to go to my house, and I’m deep in a wonderful image of me, suited, explaining jus ad bellum, in the main chambers and for some strange reason I look up – and I see a shooting star.
No kidding. It’s a sign.
