Are you resolved or resolving?

I'm a planner.  I have planners.  I have Erin Condren Planners, Day Designer Planners, Power Sheets. I have a Type B Planner, yet, I am a Type A person.  Yea, I write things down.  Everything, in a bullet journal.  The main way my to-do list, assignment schedule, appointments, homework load, goal reviews, miles get logged, menus get planned is because I write it down.   It is not fancy or pretty.  I purchased an Eccolo Journal on a whim and began scribbling things down at the beginning of the 2016 Fall Semester.

Paper and pencil, well pens.  Lots and lots of pens.  I may or may not have a problem.

I wrote a review of 2016, I wrote down what worked and what didn't.  I wrote down what I needed to accomplish in 2017 and where I need to improve.

After years of "dieting" and injury and "dieting" and injury.  I decided to do something different.   I tore my knee, in three places and went to physical therapy and started over again with C25K.

Although I made the lofty goal (again) of running 1000 miles in 2016, after my knee tear during marathon training, I settled for 300.  If I could run 50 miles in a month, that would be good.  I ended up with 600.  Yay!

Other health goals: 

Nourish/fuel my body (done)
Drink more water  (done)
Meal Plan/Prep (not as well as I'd like)

Education goals: 

Maintain 3.25 GPA or higher (3.67, still mad about that B)
Enroll in summer classes (done)
Attend tutoring (done)

Less is more goals:

Clear the clutter  (done)
Less screens  (not as well as I'd like)
Project 333  (done)

You notice that? Three goals in three categories.  Not an underwhelming list of fluff.  Also not an overwhelming list too out of reach or out of scope.

This year I've done the same.  Top Three:

Health Goals:

Nourish/Hydrate
Run 850 miles
Rest as needed (also known as when)

Education Goals:

Maintain 3.67 GPA or higher
Enroll in summer classes at TWU
Set timer for study time.

Less Is More Goals/More Is Best:
[Continue] Project 333 >
< Yoga/Downtime
Structured time >
Less screens <


I've read Ann VosKamps blog for several years and most of her books, over the past few years she's blogged about resolutions or what she calls SOULutions. I wrote mine out (again) this year.

Embrace Imperfect
Engage Silence (Reflect in the eyes of souls, not screens)
Be Still
Believe The Best
Break Free
Daily 3 for 10
Do Hard Things
Let Go Of The Outcome
Learn To Endure
Live Hopefully
Give Away
Grow In Grace

What are you resolved to accomplish this year?   What are your #SOULutions?

A dusting off...

I thought 2016 I would blog and talk about my college experience.  Classes, professors, classmates and the things said on the interwebs that make me want to silently screen scream and type in ALL CAPS!

Topics like:

Food Fads
Fake News
Nutrition Memes
Fake Foods
Running
Why I'm Injured, Meh!
Meal Planning
Metabolism, the truth.
The Biggest Loser, my thoughts
Orthorexia, it is a real thing

Moderation, what that looks like
Embrace where you are, just do it

Yea, so I did not accomplish much (or any) of that.  I cried over my classes, over my grades, over my homework.  So much homework!  When did college become such a chore?  I appreciate my husband for working to provide for our family and being supportive of my career/education choices.  

I've had this fire in my belly for years.  After I began running, losing weight, becoming cognizant of how nutrition affects my body, performance, my overall health.

Having researched "How to become a registered dietitian" at least ten times a year; in July of last year I made an appointment and sat for a college entrance exam.   My forty (something) year old brains test result were surprising.  I was eligible to enroll in courses and begin the steps necessary to embark on this career change...er...learning curve. 

And although this blog won't be full of pictures at least until I master that technology.  It will include the above and weekly updates about class, the good, the bad and the ugly cry about making a B.

eighty-eight point ninety-four (88.94).  Most students may be happy about a B in statistics.  I cried.  I emailed the professor, he didn't reply.  I asked for extra credit, he didn't reply.  I cried.   My four point oh was gone.  Bring on the tears.  All The Tears.  It is even hard for me to say the words three point six seven.  

So this semester, I work harder.  I study longer.  My new mantra is if Nothing Changes, then Nothing Changes.   I have resolved to get up early to run.

This semester's schedule begins January 17th.  I am taking (what I hope) is an easier schedule than last semester.   Contemporary Math (in person), English 1302 and History 1301 online.  

Monday and Wednesday are run days and will begin at 6:00 am either at the gym or running outside to give me more time to study.  Study time will be from 10:00 - 2:00.  Reading, writing, arithmetic.

Tuesday and Thursday are class days.  Contemporary Math or Quantitative Reasoning or scary math term.  Imagine me with a scary face right now.  It is possible I may begin a part-time job on class days.  TBD.    These are also gym days.  I meet the hubby at the gym after work.

Fridays are for turning homework in.  More reading, writing and arithmetic.  The goal being to keep weekends free of college stress, homework, deadlines, and tears.   I did not occur to me that there would be so much crying in college.

Here's to a successful semester, debunking the latest fads, more blogging, and (hoping for) less tears!