Post: #1

I am going to go with some shorter termed goals here because, honestly, I already know what my long term goals are but I need the motivation (dirty word that this is) to take the small steps that will get me there.

Long Term Goal: I want to be workably fluent in Mandarin and Spanish, and see what other languages call my name.
Short Term Goal: This year I am going to dedicate myself to working on my Spanish.

I think the root of my procrastination here is a lack of confidence and a fear of not being able to speak it properly. Since I live in the Southwestern United States, my learning keeps more towards the Latin American Spanish than it does the Spanish spoke in Spain. Even then, different areas of Spain still carry many dialects. Because of my location, I want to stay more in the area of Latin American Spanish but most programs do not focus on that and that concerns me. It isn't that I lack the tools; I just do not have the capacity (yet) to tell the difference between which variations I would be using locally.

I am still unsure as how to move forward, but at least I have admitted my fears.

However, my fluent boyfriend is moving in next week and we've been trying to work on this together as he knows it is important to me. This is probably as close to immersion as I am going to get at the moment and I've been told repeatedly that is the best way to learn local dialects.

Long Term Goal: I want to finish my degree in linguistics and possibly go on to get my masters.
Short Term Goal: This year I am dedicating myself to just getting onto the horse. Go back to school!

The fears here that have kept me from doing this before now are pretty normal, I guess. I somehow fear that I am just not as smart as I was when I was actively trying to educate myself. Maybe my brain has rotted in the past five years; I certainly don't feel as knowledgeable as I did then. (But that just may be growing up and realizing you didn't know everything you thought you did at 20?) Or maybe I was never as smart as I thought I was and this will all be for nothing.

Step one, I need to file for financial aid for the fall term. It is too late for the spring term and I am spending a couple of weeks in Guatemala this summer. I am currently waiting on all my applicable tax information but it's almost the appropriate time to look into this. I am bucking up and asking help of my younger sister who does her own every year.

Long Term Goal: I don't know if I want to write professionally or what medium that would take, but I never want to stop writing completely.
Short Term Goal: Write. Every single day.

I've actually been working on this one already and doing pretty well. I write over at a particularly amazing website called 750words.com, where I essentially brain dump for three pages or more every day without fail. It isn't exactly the most practiced writing. Nor is most of it fit for public consumption. But I am writing.

I would like to expand this and write more every day in some sort of public forum, maybe. I'm intrigued by the idea of blogging but not sure I'd have too much of interest to say. I definitely have enough of the fiction realm running around in my mind sometimes that is also worth looking into. Once again, I think the key to this may be to just write and see what I come up with.

Long Term Goal: I would like to be more healthy.
Short Term Goal: This year I am going to exercise more and drink more water.

I stopped smoking and drinking soda almost a year ago. Today, I sometimes slip and have a couple of sodas a week. I would like to purge that desire and get that back down to zero, despite that still being a wonderful drop from the sugar I had been consuming when I initially quit. I am trying to eat more vegetables as well.

I have come up with an outline for a workout plan with my sister. We slip more than we should so far, but we're still working on it. One of my biggest problems is that I am somewhat new to the altitude here and I am a lot less fit here than I was at sea level.

I intend to try to start walking at least three times a week, and hopefully bump that up to jogging when I feel able. Walk for a few minutes, jog for a few minutes. Then maybe one day I'll even be running.

I want to simplify my life. I want to spend more time on the things that matter and less time on things.

Those are really my top goals for this year. I know I don't have quite the best action plan. I am working on it and I will try to keep you up to date. I hope to be able to join the 30DLBL in April and maybe that will help me figure out a better track as well.

Post: #2

Thanks so much for sharing, Moira! I think you have set fantastic plans for yourself. Don't worry about making your plans super meticulous. As long as you are passionate about your what the how will naturally reveal itself. I always wanted to learn Spanish. I studied it for two years in high school but I can't remember a thing.

It's great that you have identified what has held you back in the past. Think of how to pre-empt these issues before they come up again. Also check out Celes's free ESPER ebook if you haven't already.

It's great that you are a writer. I guess it makes sense since you are obviously passionate about language. If you write something that you particularly enjoy please share it with the forum or create your own blog. If you are truly writing 750 words each day I think it would be damn near impossible to not gain talent.

I have never lived at a high altitude but I can imagine exercising at such a level would take some adjustment. I think it's important to just do what you are comfortable with for the first two or three months. I wouldn't worry about getting really intense rigorous workouts when you first start. Pushing yourself too hard at least in the beginning makes person miserable and want to quit. That's what I found anyway. I began exercising in June. It took me nearly 4 of light exercise before I felt I as able to run 2 miles without rest. I took my time increasing the intensity of my workouts and now I'm in better shape than I was in high school.

I wish you well with everything, Moira. Please keep up updated.

Post: #3

Hi Moirawr,

Wanted to take a moment to wish you luck with the goals that you have set. I love the way that you have selected short terms goals that line up with you long term goals and posted them that way. I completely understand need the motivation to take the small steps to reach those long term goals.

Good Luck and I look forward to watching your progress here.

Make It Happen

Post: #4

(01-31-2011 12:26 PM)Moirawr Wrote:  One of my biggest problems is that I am somewhat new to the altitude here and I am a lot less fit here than I was at sea level. I intend to try to start walking at least three times a week, and hopefully bump that up to jogging when I feel able. Walk for a few minutes, jog for a few minutes. Then maybe one day I'll even be running.

Hi Moira!
You're right about an adjustment period after moving to a higher altitude and kudos to you for recognizing the need to go in stages with your exercise.

I don't know if you'd be interested in this or not, but my ACE (American Council on Exercise) personal trainer manual has three paragraphs of information about what one can expect. And of course, it's going to vary for each individual, the altitude difference one was used to, as well as the length of time it takes a person to get back to their previous fitness level. Sounds like you've got a decent plan to acclimate yourself.

Here's a possibly helpful sentence or two from the book if you know the altitude difference from where you moved from to where you now are:
"While the length of the acclimatization process depends on a comparison of the new altitude and the altitude the person is accustomed to, it takes about two weeks to acclimate significantly to altitudes up to about 8,000 feet, but can take up to four to five weeks to fully adapt to altitudes over 12,000 feet. However, noticeable improvements are generally observed within four to five days."

I should also include the book's disclaimer of potential problems that are associated with high altitude: "include headache, insomnia, irritability, weakness, and dizziness. Be sure to report any such symptoms to a physician to reduce the risk of more severe complications."

Susy

--------Research shows that people who diligently use To Do Lists get more things DONE!--------

Post: #5

Thanks everyone for your encouragement!

I'm only about 3,800 feet but that's a big jump for someone used to living near or at sea level. It actually took several months for me to stop feeling random weakness and even now I breathe a lot heavier when I do quick sprints, but that is normal even for the most hearty of runners here. You cannot pace your breathing quite as far apart as you can elsewhere, which is probably why we have a lot of training going on here for sports teams and Olympian athletes.

My sister is studying to be a personal trainer and her and I spend a lot of time together working out, though sometimes I worry that I slow her down as she has lived here much longer and is used to the altitude. But she does keep me motivated more than I could probably do on my own but I could still use some improvement. Right now I am currently only working out 1-3 days a week. I would rather that move up to 3-5 days. But at least I am doing something and that's usually the biggest hurdle to get from doing nothing to doing what you should be doing.

On average, I actually write more than 750 words every day. The website I use (http://750words.com) actually automatically does all sorts of statistics for me when I post. My average word count is well over 960 every day and I've been working on getting that up even higher. But like I mentioned, it's mostly brain dump sort of exercise for me rather than creative writing. It also has a handy feature that takes a look at my word usage and caculates what sort of emotions I am feeling and what I am writing the most about. They aren't always the most on spot because it's a machine doing it, but I find it to be an interesting note.

Post: #6

(02-01-2011 06:24 AM)Moirawr Wrote:  ...sometimes I worry that I slow her down

Awww... There's something special about sisters! My older sister lives about 700 miles away and has been sedentary for quite a while. We've been using Skype to exercise together since late December, and even though I'm more advanced than she is, she slows down and/or stops before I do. However, it's an encouragement to us both to do some of our exercising together. She's my sister and I very much care about her health. I'll bet that's how your sis feels about it with you too! So sweet!

And thank you, Moria, for mentioning http://www.750words.com. I'm going to share that with a writer friend of mine!

--------Research shows that people who diligently use To Do Lists get more things DONE!--------

Post: #7

I have a minute update. I have decided that I need more structure in my life and that is one thing that is getting in the way of me achieving some of my goals. I need a morning routine that happens at roughly the same time every day and in nearly the same order.

So I have decided that I need to spend my mornings after getting up, first doing my writing on 750 words, then my yoga and subsequent meditation. I will not check my e-mail, Facebook, or these forums until I am done with all of those things.

I will let you know how that goes starting tomorrow!

Also, for those curious, I actually unlock my stats at 750 words and you can check them out here daily: http://750words.com/entries/share/534858

Post: #8

(01-31-2011 12:26 PM)Moirawr Wrote:  I think the root of my procrastination here is a lack of confidence and a fear of not being able to speak it properly.

Living and working abroad, I can relate to this!!! Ultimately, I've found that people are much more forgiving than we can imagine with regards to the language...

I encourage you to just go for it... The real you will shine through regardless of any perceived language barrier.

brett

Post: #9

Hi Moira, it's great reading your journal.
I like the way you've linked your short term and long term plans.
I wish you all the best with your goals.

Post: #10

Thank you, Brett and Ish.

Minor update, day two of starting my morning routine and still going strong, even if I only did a couple sun salutations (about ten minutes) worth of yoga.

Post: #11

Not feeling too well, have not been doing my yoga though still managing my writing. Exercise is definitely being put on hold until I kick this virus.

Post: #12

I'm feeling even worse and I think I've succumbed to the bug going around work and my house. I have put yoga on pause for the moment, but I am still doing all of my writing.

I've also been doing really well with my diet as well, though most of that is due to the fact that I am also cooking for my boyfriend who has finally moved in with me. Lots of tofu and vegetables this week. And definitely been keeping up with the water, possibly even going a bit overboard.

Took the time to make some serious phone calls this week that are in alignment with getting towards my school and financial goals as well. I might as well, if I am stuck home sick.

So slowed down a little, but still optimistic at the moment.

Post: #13

get well soon, Moira.

Post: #14

Moira, this is great set of goals that you are sure to achieve. I hope that you are feeling better now.

I see you do yoga. Do you follow a sequence of poses or just concentrate on one pose? I have also started jogging and began with the walk/jog cycle but now I jog more then walk and I am enjoying it a lot.

I like how you have laid them out and explained your reasoning behind each goal. I think I may just try this approach myself, but I am thinking I have to read through celes article on goal setting, first.

I wish you luck with your goals.

I hope this is okay
A Day in the woods

Post: #15

I follow a more vinyasu yoga routine, more movement aligned with breathing than holding one pose though there are many that I hold for longer than others. Plus my meditation tends to take place in savasana (corpse pose). But I am looking into a more relaxed yoga to follow because the one I do most frequently now is definitely more fitness orientated. I think I would like to switch it up and only do my power body yoga a couple times a week but still work on my sun salutations and other poses the rest of the week. So I am currently looking for another video that I can use as a guide until I feel comfortable just doing yoga with whatever comes to my mind. I am very interested in starting to run as well but it's awfully cold out here so I am waiting for it to warm up to at least over freezing. I'm not used to cold weather here as I just recently moved here from the desert.

Post: #16

It's been a while and it's long past time for an update. Let's take a look on where I have been following my goals and where I have not.

My language studies have been moving along at a snail's crawl. On the plus side, my boyfriend is home for several months and he helps me with my Spanish, though not nearly as much as he could. We're working on that together - if only I could get him to stop laughing at my pathetic attempts to roll my R's. That's a little disconcerting but we're working on it.

Going back to school is still on the program though it's still the wrong semester for that, though I did take a promotion at work which is going to make it harder to get them to work around my schedule. It may not have been the best move for going back to school but I find more fulfillment in everyday work now. This promotion is definitely more aligned with my personality. (For those interested in the details, I am now working in the cash office in the store I work at. I am very detail orientated and anal so this really works well for me making sure everything is perfect or as close to as humanly possible!)

Writing is still going on strong. I still do my 750 words every day and today marked the 160th day in a row that I have done it. I have, however, moved my writing strictly to the AM right when I wake up and before yoga and work. I find that I write more slowly first thing in the morning but my thought processes tend to be more in depth and in tune with finding what I want to work on next so I think this is a good step. I also have started working on my fiction writing a couple days a week and I am seriously considering a blog to chart my progress in several areas of life.

In the realm of fitness, I still have not started running or jogging. I am in the market for a bike so I can start biking to work instead of driving - which would also help my wallet because gas prices in the states are pretty darned crazy right now. I am, however, doing yoga on a nearly daily basis. I have missed two days in the last three weeks, though mostly they are small 10-20 minute routines. Since I now work so early in the morning, it's hard to get up earlier so I can get something longer in on my work days. However, I do the full hour a couple days a week, and sometimes do a longer set after work.

Speaking of getting up early for work. I now get up at 5am, which is lovely, honestly. I have always had it in me to be a morning person and I am now making that a reality. Even on my days off or late days in, I rarely sleep past 7:30. This has pleased me greatly.

I have long since been interested in a minimalist aesthetic and I find myself drawn to it more these last few days. I am working on making myself the best person I can be and I am trying to detach myself from unnecessary personal goods. I have been doing a lot of cleaning out of my wardrobe and bookshelf (honestly the largest areas of "my stuff") and donating a lot of stuff to Goodwill and joined Paperback Swap so I can trade in my old books for new things and then trade those back in and see where else my life can take me. I am getting there slowly but surely with this. I am definitely taking notice of my main goal to live a more simple and happy life lately.

On a random note, I have started growing tomatoes and basil in a container garden on my porch. I am hoping this turns out well but I am not sure if I have a green thumb as this is my first attempt at something like this. I am pretty excited and there could be some pretty awesome Italian food in my future.

And speaking of food, I have been bad with my diet lately. It is not as healthy as it should be due to my newfound long hours at work. It's so much easier to grab something fast than to worry about packing a lunch. I must do something to fix this. Though, I still have been introducing my household to a variety of meals in the evenings and I am also learning how to bake my own bread.

Like I said previously, a lot has been going on here lately. Most of it has been in alignment with my goals and I look forward to seeing where I will end up. But I think it will be much better on this path if I am here tracking my progress with you lovely folk to encourage me.

Post: #17

As some of you may be aware, due to my journal over in the health and fitness section, I have started a 21 day raw fruit and vegetable cleanse. Hopefully this will help restart my diet that I previously mentioned was going down the drain lately due to long work hours. I intend to spend a lot of time preparing my lunches to take to work now. If I can stick with this, which I think I will, I may have to reward myself with one of those tupperware almost bento like boxes to take with me to work so I can continue on this journey and hopefully eat a lot less Burger King, which unfortunately is right next door to the store I work at and therefore a frequent pit stop of mine when I am too, uh, lazy to walk across the street to Subway or Whole Foods Market. Shame on me for that one!

I have decided that since this isn't a fast or even a juice cleanse, to keep up with my yoga routine in the mornings though I have added more twisting and detox poses to the mix so as to help my system in the direction I want it to be going.

However, I think I have decided to switch up my morning routine. So far I get up and first thing, I do my three pages of writing and it takes quite a while because my mind is working more slowly first thing in the morning. I have, however, found that my thoughts have been more thoughtful during this time. I am thinking of moving an energizing yoga routine to the first thing I do, followed by the writing. I will have to try it and see if it messes with the depth of thought processes. I am fairly certain that my brain will be more awake while I am writing and I will get my writing done more quickly, which would leave time for a longer yoga routine. I am planning on playing with this a little bit until I get the right mix.

I also think it may be time for me to admit something that I have not admitted to anyone else but my writing journal. Celes really inspires me because I think that may be the direction my life is heading. The more I think about it, the more I want to help people become better persons themselves. I think that is the legacy that I want to leave behind though I have to admit I have no idea how to go about heading in that direction at all. I guess we shall see, and I will definitely continue to pursue my other goals in the meantime. If this is something meant to be, the opportunity will arise as long as I keep working to better myself along the path.

Post: #18

Moira, you remind me of myself so much! I'm getting my Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics this year and now thinking of going further into it and taking a Master's Program. My Dream is to study abroad, because the English Language is better to study where it's spoken. Other aims, such as healthier lifestyle, simple attitude to life etc - I also share with you! I wish you good luck on your way to success, and please give me any tips you find useful, because I feel like you can advice me quite a lot

"Everything you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso
Welcome to Stacey Dream's World | Follow Stacey Dream on twitter!

Post: #19

Thank you, Stacey. I, too, had noticed the similarities between our interests and passions and have been keeping an eye on your live your best life journal! (And peeking into your MDC journal as well!) You seem to be following your dreams and I am slightly jealous that you are a bit further in your journey than I am currently in mine. But I like to think of it as inspiring me to follow my path!

Post: #20

You know, it always seems like there is a lot to achieve, no time to look back and think about what's already done. That's a tricky thing: the more you find out about your limitless abilities, the more you want to use this knowledge and prove to yourself that you can do better. There's nothing impossible, and I believe you can do anything you want.

"Everything you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso
Welcome to Stacey Dream's World | Follow Stacey Dream on twitter!