Commitment- a : an agreement or pledge to do something in the future; especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date b : something pledged c : the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled
Inspiration. Motivation. And now commitment.
It's so interesting how things work. First, you are inspired to do something or make some change. Then, you have to have the motivation to follow through and make it happen. Then comes the hardest step (for me at least), commitment.
I seem to have such a hard time staying committed to the decisions I make. For example, I was going to have a "vegan week" that I then was motivated to turn into a "vegan month". Well unless a month only lasts two weeks I didn't make it. Honestly, there was more to it than a lack of commitment, but it was a significant factor.
So what brings on all the talk of commitment? I've always wanted to do so many things and recently I've started doing them. I've started a book club. I just committed to running in a race in September. I've been committing myself to lots of different things, and they all seem to be working out. Also, I've been seeing some great examples of commitment recently. Friends who are committed to changing their lives and really making financially sound decisions. Relatives who are committed to changing their health. People who are out in the world, committed to making a change.
I feel like I am doing the inspiration-motivation-commitment dance or something. In the past I would come up with these great ideas or plans, but I would never follow through completely. I would usually stall in the motivation zone. Or if I made it past that I would fail miserably in the commitment realm. I'm not sure what change has occurred, but I really feel like something is different.
I'm liking this change. Maybe I'm growing up?
4.16.2010
4.08.2010
Piece 3: Motivation
Motivation- 1. the act or an instance of motivating 2. desire to do; interest or drive 3. incentive or inducement
The last post was all about being inspired. I made a list of 100 thing I wanted to do before I died and to be completely honest I have yet to cross anything of that list. I have taken steps to crossing things off, like inquiring about the cost of contacts (not too much, but would be cheaper with insurance, of course) and finding a program to teach overseas through.
So why haven't I had the opportunity to cross off these things. That's just it: I HAVE had the opportunity. I've just been lacking the motivation to follow through. I just need to have motivation.
Then suddenly the other day I was struck with the thought "I wish I was in a real book club." Well instead of brushing it off as a stupid idea, I came home and started one. Now I'm the founder of The Bookettes Book Club. I have no idea where that motivation came from, but now I'm hoping it stays so that I can cross some things off of my list.
Also I was motivated recently to go vegan for a week. Well that was 9 days ago. I really don't see myself staying vegan, but I do see the benefits of not having so much dairy in my diet.
I'm looking forward to staying motivated and getting some more things, both on and off the list, done!
The last post was all about being inspired. I made a list of 100 thing I wanted to do before I died and to be completely honest I have yet to cross anything of that list. I have taken steps to crossing things off, like inquiring about the cost of contacts (not too much, but would be cheaper with insurance, of course) and finding a program to teach overseas through.
So why haven't I had the opportunity to cross off these things. That's just it: I HAVE had the opportunity. I've just been lacking the motivation to follow through. I just need to have motivation.
Then suddenly the other day I was struck with the thought "I wish I was in a real book club." Well instead of brushing it off as a stupid idea, I came home and started one. Now I'm the founder of The Bookettes Book Club. I have no idea where that motivation came from, but now I'm hoping it stays so that I can cross some things off of my list.
Also I was motivated recently to go vegan for a week. Well that was 9 days ago. I really don't see myself staying vegan, but I do see the benefits of not having so much dairy in my diet.
I'm looking forward to staying motivated and getting some more things, both on and off the list, done!
2.13.2010
Piece 2: Inspiration
Inspiration- 1. stimulation or arousal of the mind, feelings, etc., to special or unusual activity or creativity 2. the state or quality of being so stimulated or aroused 3. someone or something that causes this state 4. an idea or action resulting from such a state
I was recently inspired to take the time to list my life goals by The Buried Life crew. Here is 100 things I want to do before I die. I have already crossed some of the things off the list and hope to get even more done soon. I'm sure I'll end up wanting to add more at some point. Wish me luck!
BEFORE I DIE I WANT TO:
1. SING KARAOKE
2. OPEN A VEGAN CAFÉ/COFFEE SHOP
3. OWN A BOOK STORE
4. WRITE A BLOG PEOPLE WILL WANT TO READ
6. TAKE A COOKING CLASS
7. DO YOGA IN INDIA
8. BECOME A YOGA INSTRUCTOR
9. COOK A SEVEN COURSE MEAL
10.SPEND A DAY WINE TASTING
11.TOUR A BREWERY
12.ADOPT A PET
13.RUN IN A MARATHON
14.REACH MY GOAL WEIGHT
15.TOUR ISRAEL
16.LAY ON A BEACH IN BALI
17.GO WHITE WATER RAFTING
18.GO ROCK CLIMBING
19.FLY IN A HELICOPTER
20.GO WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING AT KLEINFEILD’S IN NYC
21.DANCE WITH ELLEN
22.GET OUT OF DEBT/PAY OFF MY STUDENT LOANS
24.LEARN TO SAMBA
26.VISIT ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS (NORTH AMERICA, ASIA, SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, EUROPE, ANTARCTICA)
27.WRITE A GREETING CARD
28.WRITE A BOOK
29.MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY TO TEACH
30.GO BACK TO CENTRO NUTRICIONAL Y HOGAR DE NINOS IN PATZUN, GUATEMALA
31.TRY A SPIN CLASS AT LEAST 3 TIMES
34.ADOPT A CHILD OR TWO
35.LEARN GLASSBLOWING
36.BECOME FLUENT IN SPANISH
37.HELP BUILD A SCHOOL
38.LEARN TO PLAY A SONG ON THE GUITAR
39.MAKE MY OWN FLAVOR OF VEGAN ICE CREAM
41.PAINT SOMETHING WORTHY OF HANGING ON A WALL
42.HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE FAMOUS
43.LEARN TO READ MUSIC
45.JUMP/DIVE INTO DEEP WATER OFF A DIVING BOARD
46.HUG A STRANGER
47.MAKE AND DECORATE A VEGAN WEDDING CAKE
48.GO SCUBA DIVING
50.GO TO THE REGGAE SUMFEST IN JAMAICA
51.LIVE IN BUENOS AIRES
52.LEARN TO SEW
54.MAKE MY OWN PASTA FROM SCRATCH
55.GO WITH RICKY ON A SURVIVAL CAMPING TRIP
56.WEAR 4 IN OR HIGHER HEELS FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS
57.GET MARRIED
59.GO CAVING
60.LEARN ITALIAN IN ITALY
61.TAKE MY MOM ON A TRIP WHEREVER SHE WANTS TO GO
62.FLY ON A PLANE WITH CANDICE
63.TEACH SOMEONE TO SPEAK ENGLISH
64.GET A DOCTORATE
65.BE BLONDE FOR ONE DAY AND ONE NIGHT TO SEE IF THEY DO HAVE MORE FUN
66.INSPIRE SOMEONE TO CHANGE THEIR LIFE
67.WRITE MY PARENTS LETTERS
68.DO A CARTWHEEL
69.GO SKINNY DIPPING
72.GO TO MACHU PICCHU
76.WATCH THE SUN RISE ON A BEACH WITH SOMEONE I LOVE
77.GIVE AN ANONYMOUS DONATION
79.HAIL A TAXI
80.WEAR A PAIR OF KNEE HIGH BOOTS
81.RIDE A HORSE
82.KISS A STRANGER
83.SERENADE SOMEONE
84.GO TO AN INTERNATIONAL SOCCER MATCH
85.GO TO BOTH THE WINTER AND SUMMER OLYMPICS AT LEAST ONCE
87.SWING ON A TIRE-SWING
88.SEE AS MANY PLACES IN “1000 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE”AS I CAN
89.COMPILE MY OWN RECIPE BOOK
92.FIND THE RESERVATION THAT MY GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN ON
95.KISS IN THE RAIN
96.READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE
97.HELP SOMEONE’S DREAM COME TRUE
98.START A CHARITY
99.GO BACKPACKING THROUGH EUROPE WITH SHELBY
100.LIVE IN THE MOMENT AND TAKE A RANDOM TRIP SOMEWHERE WITH RACHEL
12.28.2009
Piece 1: Whining
Whining- 1. To utter a plaintive, high-pitched, protracted sound, as in pain, fear, supplication, or complaint. 2. To complain or protest in a childish fashion.
I'll be honest, I'm not sure what I want to write about. Everything that comes to me just makes me sound like I'm whining and complaining about my life, which I am, and that is just no fun. Yet, I still want to write something.
I want to write about how I am tired. About how I don't want to listen to my mother complain about money for one more second. About how I'm tired of subbing and going to another interview and not getting another job. About how I'm tired of working out constantly and watching what I eat constantly and still having to see my naturally thin siblings do nothing and be perfect. About how I don't want to deal with my father and all the negativity that he brings. About how I feel like I work and work and work and I never seem to gain anything.
Like, I said it's all complaints and all pretty ridiculous. I should be thankful that I have a mother who lets me live with her and I should understand how hard getting by is for her. I should be thankful that I have a job and even get called for an interview when lots of others don't. I should be happy that I can afford a gym membership, that I am healthy, and that I am losing weight the right way. I should be thankful that my father is alive, even if our relationship is difficult to say the least. And I should be thankful to have what I need and not want more, because I don't necessarily need it.
I should be thankful and realize all of this, but really sometimes you just want to whine and complain and just be terrible person to be around. I guess that today is one of those days for me, and sadly I took it out on here. Hopefully, the next post to come will be a little more upbeat and interesting.
I'll be honest, I'm not sure what I want to write about. Everything that comes to me just makes me sound like I'm whining and complaining about my life, which I am, and that is just no fun. Yet, I still want to write something.
I want to write about how I am tired. About how I don't want to listen to my mother complain about money for one more second. About how I'm tired of subbing and going to another interview and not getting another job. About how I'm tired of working out constantly and watching what I eat constantly and still having to see my naturally thin siblings do nothing and be perfect. About how I don't want to deal with my father and all the negativity that he brings. About how I feel like I work and work and work and I never seem to gain anything.
Like, I said it's all complaints and all pretty ridiculous. I should be thankful that I have a mother who lets me live with her and I should understand how hard getting by is for her. I should be thankful that I have a job and even get called for an interview when lots of others don't. I should be happy that I can afford a gym membership, that I am healthy, and that I am losing weight the right way. I should be thankful that my father is alive, even if our relationship is difficult to say the least. And I should be thankful to have what I need and not want more, because I don't necessarily need it.
I should be thankful and realize all of this, but really sometimes you just want to whine and complain and just be terrible person to be around. I guess that today is one of those days for me, and sadly I took it out on here. Hopefully, the next post to come will be a little more upbeat and interesting.
12.08.2009
Always Start With the Edges
So about 8 or so months ago I decided that I wanted to start a blog. I successfully wrote one extremely short post. And yet, I felt I had accomplished something and was so proud of myself for starting something new, something that I WOULD stay committed to. Well, I can say now that I definitely didn't follow through at all. Since that day I have not wrote a single post until now, and honestly how do I know if I will post again. If history is doomed to repeat itself then my next post my very well be in August. I guess we'll just see what happens.
My initial intent for this blog was to open my life up, moment by moment, to the world (or anyone bored enough to stumble across this) to read. I was wanting to convey my efforts to put my life together and find peace. I would still love to do that, but I don't want to set myself up for failure so I am just going to go with the flow. I'll just see what comes to me when I feel like writing. Who knows, maybe I will come up with something profound and significant, or maybe I will just bore us all to tears...
I guess a little background knowledge on the writer couldn't be bad. To sum it all up: I'm 23, I still live at home, I'm a substitute teacher, who desperately wants a REAL teaching job, and I can't seem to change any of this. Depressing enough?
To add a little more: I love to travel, but don't get to do it nearly enough. I love to cook and collect cookbooks, but never have the chance to actually cook anything in them. I love to learn, but only seem to remember those random facts that no one needs/wants to know. I'm a reader that wishes she could write.
There is more to me, I certainly wouldn't use the word simple to describe me or my life, but hopefully those things will come out through here over time.
My initial intent for this blog was to open my life up, moment by moment, to the world (or anyone bored enough to stumble across this) to read. I was wanting to convey my efforts to put my life together and find peace. I would still love to do that, but I don't want to set myself up for failure so I am just going to go with the flow. I'll just see what comes to me when I feel like writing. Who knows, maybe I will come up with something profound and significant, or maybe I will just bore us all to tears...
I guess a little background knowledge on the writer couldn't be bad. To sum it all up: I'm 23, I still live at home, I'm a substitute teacher, who desperately wants a REAL teaching job, and I can't seem to change any of this. Depressing enough?
To add a little more: I love to travel, but don't get to do it nearly enough. I love to cook and collect cookbooks, but never have the chance to actually cook anything in them. I love to learn, but only seem to remember those random facts that no one needs/wants to know. I'm a reader that wishes she could write.
There is more to me, I certainly wouldn't use the word simple to describe me or my life, but hopefully those things will come out through here over time.
3.11.2009
Peace by Piece
I am trying to find peace by putting my life together piece by piece.
I want to keep track of each new experience and moment that I have. I'm hoping to stay dedicated to this new adventure and to really putting something worthwhile on here.
I want to keep track of each new experience and moment that I have. I'm hoping to stay dedicated to this new adventure and to really putting something worthwhile on here.
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