Sunday Scribblings: Progress

In reference to this week's Sunday Sribblings prompt...

Progress is one the hardest concepts for me to acknowledge in my life. I am very much an "immediate gratification" kind of girl, which is funny because I am also a pathological planner. Anyway, that concept of "making progress" towards a goal is never as gratifying as completion, which is probably why I can be quick to give up when something doesn't seem to be going the way I want it to go. Diets are a good example. Making progress can be so small, so seemingly insignificant, that it has always been easier to just give up... move on. I want to see huge changes quickly, in order to stay motivated. The rewards need to come faster. But I think what I often neglect to remember is that there is more to weight loss than a change in appearance. In fact, that *should* be the least of my concerns at this point. The greater reward comes in FEELING better, doing more, and feeling better about myself. This is where I will seek my progress this time. Besides wanting to reduce the number of meds I have to take, I want to feel better. I want to have energy to do more and to give more.

Check back every Sunday for more Sunday Scribblings.

2011

Resolutions are not my friends, typically. I see them as reasons for self-abuse, at least in my case, because I usually make them way too hard to achieve. What I find more helpful is to set goals and progress monitor myself daily or weekly. I do this a lot with my students in their areas of struggle. It helps to break down a problem and set mini-goals that are smaller victories, rather than to focus on a larger issue all at once. It’s also motivating to acknowledge small victories on a frequent basis, and reflect on minor setbacks, rather than mentally beat yourself up when you feel you have “failed.”

All of that being said, I also believe that it’s important to have larger, longer-term goals to work toward. These goals are usually much more abstract, and the smaller goals lead towards achieving the bigger goals. Confused yet? :)

My 2011 Goals:

1. Love more openly and unabashedly. Be more appreciative and show gratitude.

• Tell and show people how much they mean to me on a regular basis.
• Sincerely compliment those around me on a daily basis, beyond just their appearance. Acknowledge how they enhance my life, as well as the lives of others.
• Genuinely thank people for what they do for me and for my students.

2. Learn to love myself for who I am, and who I have the potential to become.

• Find and journal about my own small victories every day, no matter how great or small.
• Reflect on my goals daily. Celebrate and make changes when needed.

3. Change/work on several habits to improve my feelings about my appearance.

• Sit up/walk straighter.
• Avoid biting nails/cuticles.
• Workout in some way at least 5-days a week.
• Be consistent about taking my meds and testing my blood.
• Meet with nutritionist from KP.
• Stick to a meal plan based on our weekly menu.
• Read more books for pleasure, rather than for work.

4. Be creative/improve specific skills.

• Write/create something daily.
• Complete online course with Melody Ross in creativity.
• Learn to make homemade pasta.
• Find and refine a really good marinara recipe.

5. Learn to accept the limitations of others, rather than seek apologies or excuses. This one is quite personal, so I wish to keep it private for the time being.

6. Maintain a more orderly home/life for the sanity of both of us!

• Help Jason with the kitchen every night by unloading/loading dishwasher.
• Create and maintain a schedule for cleaning and laundry.
• Build weekly menus prior to shopping trips. Stick to the list!
• Eat out only 1-2 times per week at MOST.
• Limit extraneous spending so as to pay off as many bills as possible.