Colds, Goals and Soda

Alright, well the year has definitely started out with a little less momentum then I wanted. I have had a nasty virus for just over 3 weeks now, and it's still lingering. It's a bit hard to be excited about plans and to get moving on them when all you want to do is crawl under the covers. Enough about that, moving along.

So it's been 10 days facebook free, I can't say it's been easy. I still feel pretty disconnected from some people and events. Also, it's been eye-opening to see how much marketing and information is filtered through facebook. I come across bands, products, restaurants and they all direct me to facebook for more information. Before I just clicked through and didn't even notice that I was on facebook, now I notice how it has permeated everything. This has just reinforced how much I need the break, I'm sure as time goes on it will get easier.

As soon as I can do more than walk and not get into a coughing fit I am going to start P90X. I'm shooting for Monday, so we'll see how I feel. I have been wanting to try it for some time, and have had one excuse or another. I'm not going to post before and progress picks here, I'm not that brave, but I will post updates as to how I'm doing. I have some weight to lose, but mostly I just want to be more athletically fit. The McGuires 5K prediction run is coming up in March, I attempted to run it last year and ended up walking a good bit. Considering I had only done one other 5k and had no training whatsoever I was just happy to finish. This year I would like to at least run the majority of it. I've read several accounts of people using P90X to train for runs. So we will see.

The other big change I just started is giving up soda. Now I have to be honest and say part of it is due to a medication that I have to take that just makes carbonation taste nasty. I quit taking the medication a few months ago by choice and am back on as I should be. So, it certainly makes quitting carbonation much easier.  I also feel so much better when I'm not drinking soda and I know that it will go a long way in helping with the weight loss and exercise. Today was the first day and I have a killer headache from the caffeine withdrawal. That should give you an idea of how much soda I've been drinking.

If you've made it this far, bravo! I'll try to post updates a little more regularly so they aren't so long.

Facebook and Free Time

In being deliberate with my time I am finding I need to eliminate some things in my life so that I have more time available to be productive and have new experiences. To start with I am taking a break from facebook for the entire year. I won't be logging in at all through my phone or computer.

Those of you that know me well know that this will be difficult to begin with. Which just goes to show how important it is for me to remove this distraction.  I don't know how much time I spend a week on facebook but I know it's enough that I'd be embarrassed to actually figure it out. To be clear I am not giving up on other forms of social media, at least not yet. Nothing else even comes close to being habitual at this time.

I'm still working on my goals and specifics for the year, but I will be documenting some of the smaller things that I begin doing to fill up all this free time I am going to have now. Maybe I'll start to see some patterns of what I am gravitating to and enjoying.  

Just to give you an idea of where I am so far on the goals; I do know that I want to begin some sort of regimented exercise program and I need to work on some sort of spending plan. Some of the things I want to do this year are going to require money and good health. Seems like the start of this is more taking things away then adding experiences, but it's all part of the story.

If you have had any positive results with an exercise program or have any budgeting tips leave them in the comments. I would love to hear about them!

The Moments Add Up

For possibly the first time in my life I feel content. Today amongst much chaos in celebrating the new year I was able to reflect on the past year. Now, I am not one who does a lot reflecting and introspecting, so even though this may be common for many people this time of year it is a rarity for myself. I came to the conclusion that I am ready to make some changes in my world, some small and some large. Many of these changes will only be noticeable to me, some maybe only to a few, and others to most anyone in my life. Regardless of how big or small, they will be accomplished one deliberate moment at a time. I am going to use this blog to document the changes and maybe bring a little more reflection into my life. I am finally choosing to live my life as a story and I want it to be a tale for the ages.

(insert here your favorite quote or cliche regarding life being about the journey and not the destination)

At this point I am still working out what my specific goals will be for 2011. As of this writing I only have general categories that most resolutions and goals fall into - finances, health, travel. Over the next week or so I will be exploring ideas and specifics. If you would like to follow along with my story feel free. I can always use the support and friendship.

I leave you with a quote that I hope defines 2011 for me.

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success."
                                          - Ralph Waldo Emerson