That One Thing

Everyday I think about what I need to do to lose weight. I try to eat right. I try to exercise. But I'm just a slug trying to be something else. But who hasn't felt like that? Just like everybody else who's in this boat with me, I'm looking for that one thing that will get me going like I was a year ago. Maybe I need some magic words.

I haven't been very good about keeping up with this blog. I have written a total of five articles. But like everything else, nothing seems to be working the way I hoped it would. That doesn't mean I'm giving up. It just means I need a different approach--I think that's what it means anyway.

Ok. I just wanted to stop in today so you guys would know I haven't disappeared. I will be back soon, too.

Facing Life Head On

I decided that my blog needs a lot more than witless droning about the same old things everyday. How can I be expect to do well in any kind of journey—let alone a weight-loss one—if I keep myself in a depressed state of mind? I can't. I also decided that I need to set up some challenges for myself.

Now you're probably thinking that I'm talking about weight-loss challenges, but that ain't necessarily so. I decided to set up some life challenges—the kind that will make my life better. How do I know this will work? I prayed to God and He pitied me—and gave me some answers. He said: It's me. I have to do it. And that the fortune I seek will be at the end of a long journey, filled with fraught and perils. OK. I stole that from O' Brother, Where Art Thou? But the message is the same. Anything in life that's worth anything comes to us because we work for it—often really hard, never giving up. And hard work is that much more rewarding.

How is that a plan?
So what am I going to do? First I have to set up some ground rules for my challenges. Just saying that I'm going to do something won't move me to do it. I need a plan. For one thing, any challenge I take on will have to last for 30 days. They say—whoever they are—that if you do something for 30 days, it becomes a habit. So that's my plan for now—at least until I can think of other things that will be necessary for me to get to my goal.

No Candy for You
My first challenge is a weight loss challenge, and it's simple. I can't go to Betty's office to get candy for 30 days—starting today. Sounds easy, but knowing there's a candy dish up there filled with all kinds of chocolate is really tempting. I figure, though, after 30 days I won't want it any more.

Hey, I'm Walking
I will get some kind of exercise everyday for 30 days for at least 30 minutes. I don't have to go to a gym. I can do whatever it is I want to do—walking, videos, or the gym if I choose.

Writing Something Everyday for 30 Days
My next challenge—and I can't believe I'm making this publicly—I will write 30 articles in 30 days for my Suite101 account. I know I can do it. My biggest obstacle in this is me. I let writer's block take over so I can say I can't do it. I know I can get beyond myself.

So those are my challenges for myself.

Changing Myself and Not Worrying about Changing Anyone Else

When I was much younger, I worked at a homeless shelter. I worked with many recovering and practicing alcoholics. What I learned from this job is that I can't change anyone who does not want to be changed. I learned to accept things at face value. And I learned that I am better off working on my own problems. That's why I quit working as in social service organizations and became a writer. Writing is something I can do on my own. 

So why bring this up? It's my job. I can't change anyone else who works here, but I can change the way I react—or don't react—to what's going on. Some people try to control every situation. It just can't be done. So what I need to do is give people enough rope to hang themselves. It saves me lots of time and aggravation. 

I had an assessment of my exercise routine this morning and apparently I've already done every exercise known to man. Not really—the trainer who was going over my routine, however, was having trouble thinking of anything new. Did I tell you I lost my former trainer? I have no idea what happened—only that things seem kind of suspicious. Hmmmm. I've speculated numerous times over what happened, but I'm not really sure. 

Anyway, I do have a few new exercises to do—the abductor-adductor machine, Roman chair, and couple of others. Soooo, I'm kind of looking forward to it. I like doing different things. 

I didn't do much over the weekend except think about life and why people behave in certain ways. I think it's because there is something that this behavior—whether it's good or bad—does for them. Does that make sense? They get something out of acting little a spoiled brat. Their behavior is somehow rewarded. My job is to realize that I can't do anything about it.