One Step at a Time

I'm not doing so great with this challenge, even though I made a pretty little chart on paper and everything. I'm a little baffled as to why I seem determined to rebel and ignore the simplest things that would make such a difference in how I feel. I'm going to continue to work on it. The fact that I have promised a friend that I would do this with her helps because I'm not very good at keeping the commitments I make to myself, but I do what I say I'll do for anyone else.

There is good news, though. I have revisited this challenge, and am happy to report that I've gotten up at 7:00 am four days in a row now. That's probably a record for the year. I can't say I've gotten dressed everyday, but getting dressed two out of four days is not bad, right?

This has me wondering, why did I move onto another challenge without first accomplishing the first? I do it all the time. I make a goal, I fail to follow through, then I shrug my shoulders and move onto the next goal. I don't think there is anything wrong with reevaluating a goal and moving on if one's needs and desires have changed, but I have a pattern of not following through and failing to complete projects. Not always, but enough of the time that it's worth pondering.

I'll ponder it later.

Right now, I'll just say that I'm feeling good about getting out of bed everyday, so far, this week, but because I can't help myself, I'm thinking, that's a little pathetic. Oh well, not all of us can build Rome.

How to Get a Grip

I've had a rocky week. I only managed to get up at 7:00 am, like I had planned to do, twice this week, and both of those days I ended up taking long naps. I did get some important things accomplished, Christmas decorations put away, menu planned, and groceries bought, but I'm extremely tired and more slothful than normal. I'll keep trying, though, because it is important to me to start my day earlier. Morning is when I do my best writing!

Meanwhile, I had a dream. I dreamed I was wearing the new warm fluffy socks I got for Christmas, but on our hardwood floors, I just slipped and slid and couldn't gain any traction. I was stuck, unable to move forward.

When I woke up I thought about how much I feel like that in my life. I started wondering what I could have done in my dream to get a grip (literally!) and get moving.

I could have taken my socks off my feet, but then they would have quickly gotten cold, and I would have just put them back on again. My only other options would be to either change socks, choose a pair that is adequately warm but not so soft, or I could add something to the socks, like maybe some duct tape to the bottom so that I could walk without sliding.

I think that is the best way to change. Instead of taking something away, leaving yourself deprived, wanting, or needing, it's best to either replace an undesirable habit with a better one or to add something to your life that might be missing. So, I'll be thinking in the next few days about what I can reasonably change without feeling deprived and what I can add to my life to make my life better.