I’ve had some thoughts lately that need to be shared but don’t really deserve their own post. So here we are…
(one of the many cute kids from the class I helped out with last week)
Workout Stuff –
Just by posting about the anxiety I deal with has made me more aware of it. Today I was supposed to go swimming but when I got to the pool it was so crowded that I didn’t even go inside. Anxiety fail. But I made up for missing swimming by biking to the gym for an upper body workout.
A little NSV – I moved up gears on my bike. Before I was stuck at a certain gear that anything above felt too hard. Now I’m comfortably pedaling along two gears higher for my normal ride. Win! My quads are feeling it right now but they are getting SO STRONG. I love the feeling.
Blog Stuff –
I’ve decided for the rest of the month (maybe forever) to just post whenever I feel like it or have something to say. That’s why there wasn’t a post on Monday. For a long while I’ve been posting almost every day and though I haven’t run out of things to say I’ve gotten tired of that need to post constantly. So I’m easing up a bit and just throwing the schedule out. Make sure you subscribe (or follow me on Twitter of Facebook) so you know when a new post goes up.
Also, I’ve given up on the free e-book. I just got tired of it. It’s 90% done and I just don’t care enough to finish the rest. It needs a final edit, a few additions, and prettification. Since I’m not feeling it I’m not going to do it. But the information is useful so it might show up sometime on the blog as a post or page. I like giving you all resources that might be useful but as of right now I’m abandoning the project.
I’ve start a new little personal project for myself. Taking a photo of myself everyday in order to force myself to get dressed up, do my hair, get pretty. I’ve been living in workout clothes and I need to break out of that. So enter my daily (ish) “style” photo. I’m not at all stylish. I’m just trying to find a personal style outside of gym clothes. I’ve been struggling with body image and confidence lately (ugh, I know) and I think this might help.
Life Stuff –
We are going on a road trip up north soon (we are trying to pick a good weather day which is hard!). We are going to go see the tip of the North Island of New Zealand. It’s going to be a crazy day because we are driving up there and then driving back in one day. It is going to be a long, awesome day. I’ll take a ton of photos so you all will get to see more amazing parts of NZ.
I think the “taking a photo every day” idea is a great one. There was an article on CNN yesterday linking to a video where the parents had photographed their daughter every day from birth to age 10. Then, they put all the photos together into a minute and a half video. It was so neat to watch her develop.
Obviously, adults don’t generally change that quickly. But I think it would be interesting to document ourselves with one photo every day… no matter what… for a year or something… good days, bad days, sad days, celebratory days, every day.
That would be so interesting to do with a child. Even if it was just once a week it would be completely interesting at the end!
I think dressing nice and fixing your hair makes a huge difference in attitude. When I look better I feel better. It might be vain but it is what it is!
Great non scale victory on your bike!
Vanity in the extremes isn’t good, but it’s a good thing to take some care about appearances. I think. It just makes you feel better.
Mary,
Goodness knows you need a break…but you’ve put so much work into the book, I hope you don’t permanently shelve it. Do you need editing help? I’d be happy to take a run through it.
I hope that loosening up your posting schedule helps relieve some stress. It did for me!
I won’t just throw it all away, but I’m going to wait until after the new year to look at it again. I might still publish it as an ebook then or as a post/page. I’ll let you know. I might get you to look it over. I just need a break from such things!
Dressing nice makes EVERYTHING better :) At one of my jobs, the ladies I work with get really excited to see what outfit I’m wearing each day. It makes me really happy, silly as it is!
I hope that not using a schedule works for you – it’s important to do what feels right. And it’s gotta be tough with so many changes happening very quickly in your life right now.
OMG, another blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) I am glad you are just going to whenever since you write in so many places! ;-)
I am going to ease up too come the new year & maybe the last 2 weeks of this year as well.. we shall see BUT I need to work on Jody & I also need money!
No! No! No! Not another blog! LOL. It’s more like a daily booth thing, I’m just hosting it on THIS BLOG because I never remember to log into other site.
I do write in so many places so I should probably stop writing so much. I just get bored sometimes and the posts come from my mind! But the photo thing is just a motivator for myself to actually get dressed each day even if I don’t have to. I’ve been in a slump and I need to get out of it so that’s my attempted solution.
Man, I understand that Mary! I rarely dress up.. well, I don’t have many clothes either… I best try to submit to What Not To Wear for the 5th time! :-)
Oh there was a guy, or maybe a woman, I forget, but I think a guy, who took a photo of himself every day for a year or longer, then compressed it into a youtube video. Interesting. I understand what you were saying on twitter today about feeling better just from getting dressed and looking nice. Ive written about that myself, how I get in slumps, especially when I go to work, and I just don’t put any effort whatsover into my appearance when I go out and it just flattens me out more overall. When I remember to put on makeup in the morning, do my hair, I feel much more cheery throughout the day (though I’m even later for work..). Most days lately I’ve been kinda in the middle. Putting the minimum effort, but at least it’s something. Gym clothes can look cute too though I usually end up wearing old ragged clothes to the gym.
I tried to do a 5 day a week thing on my blog and then life got in the way. Now I just post when I feel like it (but at least once a week). Don’t kill yourself over it! :)
Also, fabulous clothes make everything better. I love thrift store shopping so it’s all disposable – when I spend 3 bucks on a shirt or 5 bucks on pants I bring home and don’t completely love, I can return it back to the thrift store and get something new. Definitely helped when I was losing a bunch of weight!
I’m actually working on a post right now regarding that awful word ‘quit’. It is a hard word to say, and brings a lot of emotion with it, but I don’t think that word HAS to have the definition of something being considered ‘final’. Quitting something can simply mean setting it aside until further notice. It takes a lot of pressure off and sometimes I think it’s the one and only thing that can set a person free. I hope your decision brings you less stress and opens you up to new experiences. Enjoy today :)
I love the idea of taking a photo a day. I’ve noticed that I’ve fallen into a rut with things like doing my hair. It’s just so easy to tie it up and not have to worry about it – but, being lazy about my appearance has so many effects on other aspects of my life! Love the idea!
Get pretty every day! It’ll make you feel great!
I know how hard the anxiety is. Keep exposing yourself and eventually you’ll improve. Just don’t expect perfection, and give yourself a pat on the back for trying. Overcoming the bike fear shows how strong you are physically AND mentally.
It’s hard to blog everyday when you’re forcing it out, so I don’t blame you for letting loose. Quality over quantity. Blogs that post any old thing don’t hold my attention for long. If you don’t have something to say, listen.
NO NO NO!!!!!! I am not slowing down!!! Speeding up! MORE MORE MORE!!!! Will write more!!!
Thanks Mary!!!
Check out http://www.weighdownsouth.com for MORE MORE MORE!!!
Haha. That’s totally cool. I’ve done the more more more things. For now, for me, less is more. ;)
Good job on your NSV! That’s great!
As for the ebook, just work on it when you feel like it. I’m sure eventually you’ll feel like finishing it but you don’t want to burn out on it.
Have a great time on your trip! I’m eager to see the pictures!
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