Goodbye 2011...
December 31, 2011
Ahh, finally.... the end to 2011. It seems as if every year at this time (with the exception of a few years here and there) I sit and think, 19-- or 20-- HAS to be better than this. What I am not sure of, is how I measure what a "good" year, vs what a "bad" year is. Inevitably, there are going to be good and bad things that happen over many years for the rest of my life. I cant live thinking that each year has to stack up with the last/next, or set myself up for the coming year to be better than the last. My brother Joshua lived every one of his 21 years like it was the last year of his life, and when it came down to it, he lived an awesome (albeit short) life. . Somewhere, I think in 2011 I decided that it was time to live for today, not for tomorrow... life is to effing short.
The problem I think, is that I... we... people in general... get "comfortable" with life. We sort of lodge ourselves in a spot where every day life can just happen and we sit back watch. There are highlights of course, the birth of a beautiful baby, the wedding of your best friend, a great vacation... but in the long run, after the "newness" or "chaos" is over, we sit back into our favorite chair, with our favorite blanket in the comfort of our own home and watch time go by. Its certainly comforting to know that you always have your "regular" life to fall back on.
So, whats so wrong with that? For starters, its boring. What is life without spontaneity, challenge and change? Why coast through it with nothing new and fun... why live every day the same? Eventually the year, month, day is over and we wind up "wishing" that we did the things we didnt do that we wanted to do... than we are left on NYE thinking "next year is the year for XYZ." You have to set goals for yourself, you have to work towards them and you have to continue to set new goals when one is accomplished.
I remember as a child, my parents were very supportive and encouraging but at the same time very critical and strict. My brother and I always strived to be the best that we could be at everything. They taught us that even if we were not the "BEST" at that particular thing, at least we gave it 100%. We put our hearts into the things we wanted most and usually if we went for something, with hard work, we got it. When I was in dancing school every year after the recital my dad would tell me which steps he saw me miss during the performance... at first thought, one might say "wow... thats not cool, she is only a kid." To me... it was different. It meant that my dad paid so much attention to me and what I was doing, that he knew what I was doing wrong, or when I messed up. I mean, how may dads know what the "time step" looks like... or how to "shuffle off to buffalo"... mine does. He is so proud of me for doing everything that I do, and he knows when I mess up, that I can do better. That is not just with dancing, its with everything in my life; school, work, personal things, lifting... as I said before we as a family are "go big or go home" people. I may look like my mom, but my Dad and I... we are a lot alike.
I am not expected to be perfect, but I certainly AM expected to squeeze every ounce of "life" out of my life that I can. That right there, is what will make my mom and dad proud of me. It will allow them to sit back (in their own hypothetical favorite chair with their favorite blanket) and know that they did the right things raising me, that I am the woman that they can proudly say is their daughter. That they know I will do my best to raise my future children... and I can only hope that I am just a teeny tiny ounce of the parent to my children that they are to me. However, I am realizing now, that its not just for them, its not about making them proud... its about ME making myself proud, doing it for myself (which I am sure was their goal). There are changes that have to happen in my life (some that have already started and some that need a lot of work). Those changes that already started, I am proud of myself for sticking with and pushing through the proverbial SUCK... those that need to start, there is NO better time than the present...
Where is this all coming from. Well, its New Years resolution time of course. The time of year when everyone says "in 20-- I will... fill in the blank here." I could give the obligatory "loose weight, get in shape, budget my money better and stop eating crap..." (that 99 out of 100 people would typically say on NYE) BUT I can happily say... those things, they dont apply to me this year. I made that choice somewhere in the middle of 2011. If those are the things that I want in my life, why wait till New Years Day to start?! Why coast through life and say "at the beginning of next week I will stop eating like crap?" If you can make that type of statement, why not do it BEFORE you stuff your face with a steak and cheese or skip a workout? Why use the "winter weight" or "I cant start trying to lose weight around the holidays, there are too many temptations" excuse... its an excuse... if you WANT it... do it.
Here we go. Its New Years Eve (day) and here are my New Years Resolutions.
4 - Continue to kick ass at the gym, continue to set goals, push and challenge myself to new heights, and accomplish those goals I have set for myself. In turn I want to compete in as many competitions as I can to better myself and challenge myself even more.
3 - Continue to work on my attitude, continue to stop sitting on the sidelines of my life and embrace the drivers seat. I am the only one that can make the changes that I want to see happen. Dont take life for granted, it can change in an instant. Stop using "I'm tired" and laziness as an excuse. There is a lot of life left to live.
2 - Take a lesson from my own book and suck it up, get back into studying and kick some major ass taking the Architectural Registration Exams.
1 - Most important of all... make it a point to create new goals daily/weekly/monthly... when one is fulfilled, make another. Be sure on NYE 2012 that there is no need for resolutions, just goals for the next year. Never look back, never be "satisfied," life can ALWAYS get better.
And some 2012 Goals (both short and long term)
1 - Take and pass at least 5 of the 7 Architectural Registration Exams by December of 2012.
2 - Become the best employee I can possibly be at my job and take on new roles and responsibilities.
3 - Credit card debt free by June 2012 (this has been a work in progress therefor NOT a resolution, just a goal)
4 - Be the best wife, friend, sister, auntie, cousin... that I can be (I realize this is not measurable)
5 - Some gym goals...
Master the Double Under - 50 consecutive by June, 100 by end of 2012
Deadlift - Goal 300lbs
Pullups - Kipping Pullup by January 9th (first day of Paleo Challenge)
Pushup - 20 Strict Chest to Floor by February 22
HSPU - Unassisted Hand Stand Pushups
Ring Dips - Unassisted
2 Minutes off my "DT" time by June, 3 minutes by end of 2012
Compete in at least one individual CrossFit Competition as an Rx Athlete
Improve my "mile" time and beat last years "Turkey Trot" time (yes, now I have to do it again)
Continue my Paleo Life with a SMILE!
With that... SEE YA 2011... dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!! Take control of your life!!
WARMUP:
3 Rounds
- Row 250m
- 10 Grasshopper
- 10 Shoulder Dislocates
- 10 Leg Swings (each leg)
2 X 9 Fundamentals
WOD: "Juicy"
3 Rounds for Time
- 20 Double Unders (oops... gave up and switched to 40 singles)
- 15 HR Pushups
- 10 Body Weight Deadlifts (170lbs)
(My time 5:50)
SKILL/STRENGTH
Push Press 5-5-5-5
95lbs, 95lbs, 105lbs, 105lbs
Worked on my kip... so close!!
Did 5 sets of 5 toes through rings, kipping
4 Dead Hang Pullups
Kipping on bar for a few sets... I want this so bad!
Ahh, finally.... the end to 2011. It seems as if every year at this time (with the exception of a few years here and there) I sit and think, 19-- or 20-- HAS to be better than this. What I am not sure of, is how I measure what a "good" year, vs what a "bad" year is. Inevitably, there are going to be good and bad things that happen over many years for the rest of my life. I cant live thinking that each year has to stack up with the last/next, or set myself up for the coming year to be better than the last. My brother Joshua lived every one of his 21 years like it was the last year of his life, and when it came down to it, he lived an awesome (albeit short) life. . Somewhere, I think in 2011 I decided that it was time to live for today, not for tomorrow... life is to effing short.
The problem I think, is that I... we... people in general... get "comfortable" with life. We sort of lodge ourselves in a spot where every day life can just happen and we sit back watch. There are highlights of course, the birth of a beautiful baby, the wedding of your best friend, a great vacation... but in the long run, after the "newness" or "chaos" is over, we sit back into our favorite chair, with our favorite blanket in the comfort of our own home and watch time go by. Its certainly comforting to know that you always have your "regular" life to fall back on.
So, whats so wrong with that? For starters, its boring. What is life without spontaneity, challenge and change? Why coast through it with nothing new and fun... why live every day the same? Eventually the year, month, day is over and we wind up "wishing" that we did the things we didnt do that we wanted to do... than we are left on NYE thinking "next year is the year for XYZ." You have to set goals for yourself, you have to work towards them and you have to continue to set new goals when one is accomplished.
I remember as a child, my parents were very supportive and encouraging but at the same time very critical and strict. My brother and I always strived to be the best that we could be at everything. They taught us that even if we were not the "BEST" at that particular thing, at least we gave it 100%. We put our hearts into the things we wanted most and usually if we went for something, with hard work, we got it. When I was in dancing school every year after the recital my dad would tell me which steps he saw me miss during the performance... at first thought, one might say "wow... thats not cool, she is only a kid." To me... it was different. It meant that my dad paid so much attention to me and what I was doing, that he knew what I was doing wrong, or when I messed up. I mean, how may dads know what the "time step" looks like... or how to "shuffle off to buffalo"... mine does. He is so proud of me for doing everything that I do, and he knows when I mess up, that I can do better. That is not just with dancing, its with everything in my life; school, work, personal things, lifting... as I said before we as a family are "go big or go home" people. I may look like my mom, but my Dad and I... we are a lot alike.
I am not expected to be perfect, but I certainly AM expected to squeeze every ounce of "life" out of my life that I can. That right there, is what will make my mom and dad proud of me. It will allow them to sit back (in their own hypothetical favorite chair with their favorite blanket) and know that they did the right things raising me, that I am the woman that they can proudly say is their daughter. That they know I will do my best to raise my future children... and I can only hope that I am just a teeny tiny ounce of the parent to my children that they are to me. However, I am realizing now, that its not just for them, its not about making them proud... its about ME making myself proud, doing it for myself (which I am sure was their goal). There are changes that have to happen in my life (some that have already started and some that need a lot of work). Those changes that already started, I am proud of myself for sticking with and pushing through the proverbial SUCK... those that need to start, there is NO better time than the present...
Where is this all coming from. Well, its New Years resolution time of course. The time of year when everyone says "in 20-- I will... fill in the blank here." I could give the obligatory "loose weight, get in shape, budget my money better and stop eating crap..." (that 99 out of 100 people would typically say on NYE) BUT I can happily say... those things, they dont apply to me this year. I made that choice somewhere in the middle of 2011. If those are the things that I want in my life, why wait till New Years Day to start?! Why coast through life and say "at the beginning of next week I will stop eating like crap?" If you can make that type of statement, why not do it BEFORE you stuff your face with a steak and cheese or skip a workout? Why use the "winter weight" or "I cant start trying to lose weight around the holidays, there are too many temptations" excuse... its an excuse... if you WANT it... do it.
Here we go. Its New Years Eve (day) and here are my New Years Resolutions.
4 - Continue to kick ass at the gym, continue to set goals, push and challenge myself to new heights, and accomplish those goals I have set for myself. In turn I want to compete in as many competitions as I can to better myself and challenge myself even more.
3 - Continue to work on my attitude, continue to stop sitting on the sidelines of my life and embrace the drivers seat. I am the only one that can make the changes that I want to see happen. Dont take life for granted, it can change in an instant. Stop using "I'm tired" and laziness as an excuse. There is a lot of life left to live.
2 - Take a lesson from my own book and suck it up, get back into studying and kick some major ass taking the Architectural Registration Exams.
1 - Most important of all... make it a point to create new goals daily/weekly/monthly... when one is fulfilled, make another. Be sure on NYE 2012 that there is no need for resolutions, just goals for the next year. Never look back, never be "satisfied," life can ALWAYS get better.
And some 2012 Goals (both short and long term)
1 - Take and pass at least 5 of the 7 Architectural Registration Exams by December of 2012.
2 - Become the best employee I can possibly be at my job and take on new roles and responsibilities.
3 - Credit card debt free by June 2012 (this has been a work in progress therefor NOT a resolution, just a goal)
4 - Be the best wife, friend, sister, auntie, cousin... that I can be (I realize this is not measurable)
5 - Some gym goals...
Master the Double Under - 50 consecutive by June, 100 by end of 2012
Deadlift - Goal 300lbs
Pullups - Kipping Pullup by January 9th (first day of Paleo Challenge)
Pushup - 20 Strict Chest to Floor by February 22
HSPU - Unassisted Hand Stand Pushups
Ring Dips - Unassisted
2 Minutes off my "DT" time by June, 3 minutes by end of 2012
Compete in at least one individual CrossFit Competition as an Rx Athlete
Improve my "mile" time and beat last years "Turkey Trot" time (yes, now I have to do it again)
Continue my Paleo Life with a SMILE!
With that... SEE YA 2011... dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!! Take control of your life!!
WARMUP:
3 Rounds
- Row 250m
- 10 Grasshopper
- 10 Shoulder Dislocates
- 10 Leg Swings (each leg)
2 X 9 Fundamentals
WOD: "Juicy"
3 Rounds for Time
- 20 Double Unders (oops... gave up and switched to 40 singles)
- 15 HR Pushups
- 10 Body Weight Deadlifts (170lbs)
(My time 5:50)
SKILL/STRENGTH
Push Press 5-5-5-5
95lbs, 95lbs, 105lbs, 105lbs
Worked on my kip... so close!!
Did 5 sets of 5 toes through rings, kipping
4 Dead Hang Pullups
Kipping on bar for a few sets... I want this so bad!
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