I Just Like To Do It

I admit it. I like to DO. I also like to write. But for some reason I don't like to write about doing. It's anticlimactic.

If I write about what I’m about to do, it’s pressure and I feel the need to buck authority, even though I’m the authority.  It somehow signals that now I have to do this thing. It then loses its draw.

If I write about it after I do, then it seems self-serving, boasting, me-centered and begs the questions “WTH do they care about that?” or “So what?”

It just all feels a little neurotic … not unlike my life actually.

But since September has come to a close and I actually did use some of the advice culled from my magazine reading, I’ll offer the brief synopsis of my take-aways from last month so I can catch up with this month already.

From O, The Oprah Magazine:

I was happy to be validated that I have confidence, am assertive and use my personal power. I use my body to think, putting myself in power poses which lead me to make bigger, riskier decisions, be physically strong, have a high tolerance for pain and see the opportunities around me. I know when to “play high” and when to “play low”.  So for those who’ve had to endure my feet-on-the-desk moments – that was strategic!

Was satisfied that I had an OK ECO IQ – I already use the dishwasher more than washing by hand (duh!), I drink beverages mostly out of aluminum cans and hardly out of glass bottles, I switched from buying paper books to adding e-books to my new Nook that I got for Christmas from my hubby and I don’t wash my car – ever - so I’m super Eco Star there.   However, things to improve on: use plastic wrap instead of aluminum foil (just don’t use a lot), change bulbs to LED bulbs over CFL’s and don’t use the treadmill as often.  OK, that last one not really but I ‘could’ walk outside instead.  That would lead to drastically reduced exercise – I would never actually go for a walk in the cold, rainy weather we live in.
I stopped fitting my life to my work and started fitting my work to my life.  It’s a work in progress to go from corporate exec to entrepreneur, but I know it’s the right thing for me and for my family.

Want to try Dr Oz’ Cornmeal-Crusted Tofu with Mashed Sweet Potatoes.  Not a tofu fan, but want to eat better.  I will also take a look at the blog 100daysofrealfood.com to see if I can get help.

From BH&G:

I used to fold my bras in a drawer.  I now “file” them to keep them in better shape.  Who knew?!?

I bought a new shade of nail polish for the fall and did my own pedicure.  Essie’s “Sexy Divide” – decidedly purple! Color: Fab.  Pedicure: most definitely need professional help.

Want to try to make Sweet Potato Soup with Curried Cheese Crisps for dinner.  Hmmm … I sense a pattern and craving for sweet potatoes!

New after school schedule and habits: I moved my work station to the dining room table and now the kids both join me when they get home and have a quick snack.  We all do homework together, read and get tomorrow’s stuff done.  It all gets done faster, they feel that they have help and know that they have the rest of the evening to themselves or at least won’t have to do homework after sports when they are tired.  And I can spend quality time with them and they are learning more.  This is a first since our daughter was born 11 years ago.  Makes my decision to have a home office worth it!

It was National Yoga Month and I was able to get a fabulous private session in at home with Karen from Phyzz Yoga.  I HAVE to find a way to do that more often!!

From Prevention:

I.Knew. It! – I can blame my increase in waist size over the years on my pelvis.  Presumable the pelvis keeps growing after the rest of the skeleton stops and increases waist size.  Ha – Not My Fault! (well, that felt good for a moment… now back to reality – it is my fault).

From Self:

“Au revoir to office ass” (their title, not mine!) – 120 moves 3 times a week and supposedly my butt will be perky.  Not to share TMI, but nothing I’ve ever had has been *perky*.  Testing starting now …

Again a greening makeover – less food waste.  Practicing a little “Kaizen”, cooking portions sizes we’ll eat and not more, following shopping list and decreasing impulse buying, only buying what we need for the week.  Supposedly I can save up to $900 per year this way.  Works for me!

Getting my braniac on – never thought I’d be one to play online games, but yes, I downloaded the Words With Friends app to improve my brain power and had three games going this month.  Yeah – lost all three games, but was close on 2 of them.  Still good to have a little brain stimulation and friendly competition.  Taking on people we know bolsters talking and bonding, leaving us more fulfilled.  Amen to that!  Thanks Linda, Misty and Dana for playing with me.

Better parenting - I finally have time in the morning to fix a better breakfast for the kids.  My daughter will now request a "terry bagel" (named for a friend who introduced us to this little piece of heaven on our camping trips) or a scramble.  Egg, turkey or canadian bacon, veggies, some cheese ... Waaayyyy better than daily routine of mini pancakes in the microwave with syrup (even if it was sugar free). Feeling a little less guilty.

3 steps forward 1 step back – sleep.  Was supposed to get more sleep by working from home … not so much.  Have more on my mind, more on my task list and less help this month, so the workday ends between 12:30a and 2a and alarm clock goes off at 6:55a.  I wouldn’t call after 10pm of you really want a pleasant conversation.  Snarky is what you’ll get at that time.

I also wanted to dance more this month, especially with the kids.  And I wanted to practice holding plank so I could do it for three minutes straight.  I think I’m still at about 30 seconds.

The 5-year plan – so this will be done in baby steps, ‘cause it asks me to “rip up my to-do list”, start dreaming and dare to make those dreams a reality.  Anyone who knows me knows that to not have a to-do list is just not going to happen.  I live and breathe the to-do list.  I really want to do away with them, I do, but when I try, I make even more lists.  On the phone, the computer, several paper versions by week, day, hour and sometimes minutes.   But I do want to live a more meaningful and fulfilled life so I did put a few things on my TaskPro list to make that happen.  Next month, when I have a little more time (ha!), I will create my vision board and write down goals that will allow me to savor the process of achieving, not just the achievement of it. And this mini goal setting is actually the key to getting the big goals checked off the list, so I guess I’m on my way!  I like the last page of this mag for its inspiration:

“No one who has achieved greatness got there by following an easy path laid out by others.  She did it by creating he own vision and striving to achieve, then surpass it.  Now that the lazy days of summer are behind, it’s time to renew focus.  Think of what you want to accomplish, and take a step toward it every day.  You are standing on the brink of something spectacular.”

And that’s what I’m counting on!!

Make it Stop!

It started the week before last. A slow spin, then it caught more speed, spinning and spinning and finally today I really felt completely out of control. Does this ever happen to you? You have so much to do, but the more you have and put on the to do list your mind starts spitting out more and more things you need to do, and it happens especially when you can't write things down like on the drive home, in the store, at your kid's basketball practice. Well, I'm there! The tape recorder is winding and re-winding. I'm trying to keep up, but can't seem to make it stop.

Work issues are usually what start it off and I have plenty of those. Staffing issues, big projects that need to be started and finished, a long list of things I need to do to make improvements but my day to day preempts me from moving forward on most of those. I spent much of the evening air talking to one of my staff members, talking myself through scenario after scenario, getting upset with the invisible person next to me, trying to write notes on whatever I had handy so as not to lose key points or connecting thoughts or trails of facts.

But as if that wasn't enough, the household stuff jumps into the fray and now I have months and months of tasks begging for attention in my brain. The flowers outside need to be dead-headed (that was supposed to happen in November!), the pile of papers and other odds and ends in the boxes in the corner of our bedroom must be handled, mid-winter break projects need to be planned for and who is going to be where and when for the next 6 months seems to be a jumbled mess in my head.

These are the times when I most need a break - a sabbatical, time for myself, uniterrupted. But I soldier on, work through the confusion, write down as much as possible so I don't forget and try to forgive myself if something does fall through the cracks. I've been sick since January 1st and have yet to find time to call, let alone see, a doctor. My foot is killing me, but stop for an appointment? Sorry - no time.

I know the rhetoric ... take care of yourself so you can take care of everyone else. Put yourself first. Health is the most important - take care of that first. All well and good, but not as easy to implement. So for now tomorrow is another day and I will attempt to quiet the noise in my head and just get things done.