Summer dreams....

Summer goals

( Picture from a hike in moonstone)

• ·         Have an awesome time at Kelly and Mark’s wedding – CHECK!
• ·         Pick up Olivia from sailing on Shady Grady – CHECK!
• ·         Hike in Moonstone – CHECK!
• ·         Go to the Isthmus – CHECK!
• ·         Go to Ventura - TBD
• ·         Laugh a lot with the kids – in process
• ·         Enjoy relaxing time on the boat – CHECK!
• ·         Have a dance party – CHECK!
• ·         Learn a new joke – working on this today…..
• ·         Do something new with Blake - TBD
• ·         Help Blake be successful with therapist at the Bay Club –  Modified
• ·         Stay in shape – TBD

Because here is what I don’t want to do this summer.  Pout, while in lovely surroundings, that I’m the ONLY one vacuuming up the popcorn.  You’ll note that keeping the house clean was absent from the list above. 

Stress, that my child didn’t get a first place ribbon and that Blake isn’t making progress with his speech or behavior in in summer program.

Feel like I’m not doing enough.  Get a major case of the ENOUGH life suck.  Like I’m not MAXIMIZING enough of the summer- because I AM crazy goal oriented and totally capable of setting unattainable goals and most certainly capable of feeling like crap when I don’t check them off the list.  This is a big list.  It’s a FUN – for me at least – list.  And this is just 40% of what was on the top of my mind in June and what I had already planned.  There will be more this summer.  There will be the unexpected plot twist, there always is.  The plan disruptor or the fun fairy that comes along.  In writing this ‘first thought’ list, I see 1: that these are things that are at the moment my top of mind priorities and 2: that I don’t need to dream up any MORE ideas.  That would turn this summer into the AMAZING RACE summer edition, which I can see on TV, but don’t need to live.

Suns out buns out y ‘all.  I gotta learn me a new joke.

I'll Think of a Reason.....Later

Procrastination. I can proudly say I can procrastinate at an expert level. I was scientific about my procrastination in college, and am artful in procrastination when I have the option to be. You might think that when you have two toddlers, it would be difficult to procrastinate because they need everything RIGHT NOW. But don't be fooled, just because their needs are screaming at you does not mean that the other things you need to do (clean the kitchen, write a thank you note, loose weight) are at any level of urgency. I have stacks upon stacks of photos waiting to be filed away in baby books. I have dust collecting in places where I think the mites have homestead rights. That being said, I actually give GREAT advice on how to start something you have been meaning to start doing for the past decade.

FIRST: Start small. Even if this means putting a date on your calendar when you will start doing whatever it is you haven't been doing. Even if this means doing 10 sit ups to start your workout routine. Even if this means reading that dust covered book for 5 minutes, that is 5 minutes more than NOTHING, and you'll be 5 minutes, 10 sit ups, one calendar date closer to your goal.

NEXT: Make a plan using easy and attainable goals. You may set your intention to exercise once a week, if you do it twice one week, imagine how incredible you'll feel! If you are able to reach your goals, instead of feeling dread towards whatever you've been putting off, you may actually recognize said goal as an opportunity for feeling good about yourself - IMAGINE THAT.

FINALLY: Come up with a prize, a reward, for completing your task. Maybe give yourself small rewards along the way to keep your head in the game. Figure out what will keep you motivated and go with it.

I've had the good fortune of being in the presence of people who have helped me to stay focused, who have motivated me to complete tasks I've set out to do. And invariably, I feel terrific when I finish something, certainly far better than I do when I'm procrastinating.

Contented Commentary

I haven't been receiving too many requests for advice. I've decided that the reason for this is because everyone is SO happy in their lives that they don't need any advice. With this hope in mind, the idea of being CONTENT sprung to mind. Yesterday I felt like the universe was telling me to wake up and enjoy life. The book I'm reading was discussing the importance of letting things in life come to you, the value of being content no matter what is happening in the world around you. The radio station I was listening to in the morning was discussing the importance of finding happiness or contentment in whatever you are doing. Either I was finding external things to suit my present state of mind, or the rest of the world was trying to bend my ear...who can know.

Regardless of why, I thought I'd try to focus my energy on being content. All day, all week, for the rest of my life, I was going to be ZEN. Peaceful, patient, content; that is what I was going to be. My plan was foolproof! I lasted until around 12:00 pm. Time between epiphany and failure to be content: approximately 3 hours. I have some major work to do. I took a yoga class this morning, a walk with a friend, and got a chance to catch up with my sister-in-law who is always amazing. Today, I see the leaves are green, my children are alive, and I'll actually have a chance to read that book a little more. I'm hoping to break my contentedness record today and go for 3 1/2 hours. I hope you are all enjoying a day in a lifetime filled with being content. If not, throw me a bone and ask for some advice, and maybe we'll both feel better.