I had originally thought that I would conclude this goal after having run my marathon and completing my reading challenge. But now that my journey back home is just 4 months away, I don’t want to mark this goal as complete until I make real steps towards setting ourselves up for when we go home (i.e. job, insurance, car loan). 4 months ago

how can i do this?....How can i take control of my life?... 5 months ago

I felt like I was on auto-pilot for most of last year. I was working my tail off and just coming home and lying on the sofa and watching tv, sometimes whatever was on. It took me going to the hospital to realize that something had to change.

I read more often now. I’m always looking for ways to improve my well-being (including my mind). I make notes on words I don’t know, and look them up later and I try to commit them to memory.

Instead of wasting so much time on Facebook, I still sit at the computer, but I’ve found websites that help improve my mind (memory tests, IQ tests, high-school exams (to re-learn that stuff I slept through), typing tests, crosswords. I’m learning more about my federal, state, and local governments and I’ve become more active (I’ve even written a few emails to my State Representative (which means I even know his name!)) in issues that directly and indirectly affect me, and I take action on them. I would still be considered a “clicktivist”, but once I get back home, I could easily see myself hosting a fundraiser or an awareness meeting.

I eat more healthily now, and the thing that I’m most proud of doing, is committing to a regular exercise program. I workout 6 days a week, waking up at 4:15 to go to the gym to workout. I’m concurrently training for a marathon (Nov. 18) and doing basketball conditioning drills. I’ve just now begun my 4th week of marathon training, but the basketball conditioning I’ve been doing more than 90 days now. I feel great! I even had to make a new hole in my belt! I’ve lost about 15 pounds, but I need to put some more muscle on now. As my workout program gets easier, I add new things to it.

I think I won’t mark this as completed until after I finish my marathon. My ultimate goal for basketball is to be able to dunk (I’m 5’10” – this could take a while). I will also be satisfied when I’ve read 24 books this year.

Overall, I’m glad I made the changes I did in my life. I’m going to be a more productive person because of them. = ) 11 months ago

This is a comment from blurbomat blog. It reflects all MY thoughts in a much better English than mine.

http://blurbomat.com/2012/01/26/grasping-for-light/#disqus_thread

“my husband has to deal with this, and during times of real stress (like when we separated for 6 months), he can easily slide into a constant state of perseveration. in addition to some of the great advice already given above (meditation, etc.) he finds he is most successful overcoming it when he maintains a strict sleep routine, daily exercise and healthy eating. slipping into vices when he is experiencing this only makes it worse. the exercise part is key with him. while he loves meditation practice, yoga is not his thing due to some prior injuries to his joints, so he lifts weights, runs, and now swims. he finds that the more he can physcially relieve stress, the more he can mentally do the exercises to relieve the constant cycling of thoughts. i don’t know if this is something you already do, but during times of high stress when he is vulnerable to the perseveration, he also makes a list of things he can do daily, weekly and monthly to stay busy, focused, productive and to take care of himself. chores, projects, to-do’s, the whole 9 yards, and he tapes it up in a place where he will see it first thing in the morning (i.e. beside the bathroom mirror) and uses it as a guide to keep him focused on activity and not persistent thoughts. ” 16 months ago

Anxiety, sadness, grief, and guilt are all part of the human experience. When people go to great lengths to avoid them, the results can be devastating. Avoiding distress is a key feature in the development and maintenance of hoarding (and not only.) It reinforces the belief that the feelings being avoided are intolerably bad, and at the same time it weakens the person’s strength to cope with those feelings. Avoidance is a seductive coping strategy that works temporarily but ultimately undermines progress.
So True. 16 months ago

1. If you want to watch a movie A, which is only showed in a movie theater A, it is silly to go to a movie theater B, and sit there waiting for when movie A will be shown.

2. Yesterday just WAS, and everything was the way it was supposed to be. In other words – no regrets. Today IS a new day and the beginning of the rest of my life.

3. De-cluttering of the apartment will not solve all my problems (although it would help with a lot.) If I want to see a movie A (see item 1), I would still need to go to the movie theater (and not just clean my kitchen.)

4. Pay attention to the physical condition.

5. I want to find a new matrix. I did not like the life in an old one. So, my destination is a different life rather than just a different country.

6. I need to work on my problems – social anxiety, extra weight and broken English won’t disappear on their own.

7. if you want to belong to the tribe, act like that and look like that. 16 months ago

You know when you wake up one morning and your house is a mess,you’re fat, you lose control and lose your keys and no matter how hard you try things don’t align? I’ve come to strongly believe that the universe is telling me something. I need to take control of my life and align myself towards my goals. Journaled about it and have decided on a few scary things. I’m logging off FB for a while. Walking for thirty minutes (nothing major) and stopping a dangerous and worthless flirtation with someone that doesn’t actually care. Also going to a lot of therapy. 20 months ago

I’m finally taking control of my life. I found out last year what I want to do for a living and now I’ve started on another degree to be able to do it. It’s a job that will give me the lifestyle that I’ve always wanted with 6-8 months off a year, so I’ll get the time and money to follow many more of my goals and dreams. I’m really optimistic now! 20 months ago

Starting healthy new habits
Waking up early (6:00 AM for now)
Run/Walk at least 3 times a week for at least 20 mins (start slow and build up over time – the KEY is consistency, NOT breaking records on day on… Be the tortoise, not the hare, for a change).

Replacing bad habits
Replacing procrastination with plans, choices and taking actions
Replacing wasted time with productive time
Thinking about my CRUCIAL MOMENTS that get me in trouble, and having planned well thought and WRITTEN VITAL BEHAVIORS, choices that I will make in each circumstance. 21 months ago

I’ll be 50 in November and am tired of living a “less than” life. I had high hopes when I was young, but now look in the mirror and see a guy who is 50 pounds overweight and not living up to (what he thinks is) his full potential.

I want to change. I’ve recently read a great book (and bought the Audio book which i listen to while i run/walk) called “Change Anything,” and find it to be very solid in terms of creating a plan that works.

I’ve already lost 16 pounds in the last few months, have begun to run/walk on a regular basis, am getting up earlier and feel great about that, and am working to be a better man in my relationship. I’m making good progress, but want to take things to the next level.

I want to make changes in my job, talking to the guy i’m working with about what is working and what is not. I want to change what i do (want to focus on the highest and best use of my time and stop doing things that can be done by others), how i do it (want to delegate more and stay highly focused on what is really important) and where i do it (I want to start working from the Philippines too, and not just here in China).

Wish me well. I’m looking forward to this.

Matt 21 months ago

Baby steps only. I am setting boundaries and speaking up now. Holding to my values and taking care of myself first. Just wish there was someone to share the future with but the more in control and confident I am the more I get my needs met the more available I will be. 23 months ago