Not another meeting

Today I started my morning with an Eagle River Youth Coalition Board meeting. Followed by another two-hour meeting, and now in an hour I will be at another meeting. Whoever invented meetings should be tortured.

It's not that meetings can't be productive. Actually, the first one was great. It was a new concept for better involvement, and it went really well. If the day would have ended with one meeting, then I wouldn't be writing this blog.

After awhile it seems like your talking underwater, or you sound like the teacher from Charlie Brown. You're not sure if you are making sense, or not. The thing is I like the people I'm meeting with.

The key is not to schedule meetings on the same day. Poor planning someone told me. No way! I wasn't aware this was poor planning. Thanks for sharing!

There is an upside. Tomorrow I'm working from home and hibernating. So I will survive this day, and I'll be working in my pajamas tomorrow. So there!

Did I take care of myself today? Well, I did go to Bookworm and grab a Chai Latte. It helped. Talk to you tomorrow from the comforts of home.

New year, new you

Isn't this one easier said than done? I don't know about you, but I am doing my best to make some positive life changes.

Here's where I'm at so far on this journey in 2010. I am working to take care of myself.

Right now I'm exercising two to three times per week. I want to move that to four to five. I'm getting there, but I need to move from two to three, consistently before I move to four. Baby steps!

I have been keeping a close watch on my spending. So far I haven't used a credit card at all in January. This is a definite win. Also, I have realized where I could save money, where I waste money, and more. So progress is being made.

Finally, I have been writing in my journal, and now I'm getting back to writing on this blog. All of this is part of the process of giving myself some time back.

Now if only I can tackle the cleaning and organization that I need to do at home, then we'll be getting somewhere. Overall, I feel pretty good with room for improvement.

Reentry into the real world

I thought the real world would be too much to take, and then my reentry was delayed by a really horrible case of the flu. Feeling awful, and not being able to return to work was so difficult. I wanted to get back to my life. I missed a friend's birthday, a retirement lunch, and just the chance to start to reclaim my life.

Now I'm feeling fine, actually great because when you feel better it's so lovely. I think my body decided the only way to make it was to force me to stop. So I did. Now I've spent the last couple days spending time with favorite friends that I had missed so much. It is good to be back and see everyone who means so much.

I spent quality time with my family. My mom took care of me when I was sick. So nice. And now I can catch up with my friends, and just remember why I love living here. Okay all I need is a beach!

Tomorrow I head to Washington, DC for a conference for the new federal grant received by The Eagle River Youth Coalition. I look forward to meeting new people, and visiting the national's capital. I have only been there once since the summer of 1996 when I interned there. It will be good to be back.

Where to begin?

I just got back from an experience of a lifetime. I went on a Group Study Exchange to Australia thanks to Rotary International. This trip was inspiring, exhausting, and definitely worth it. There were moments when I didn't feel that way, but then I just pushed through it and embraced what was offered so freely.

I have never had so many strangers now friends open their homes, their hearts, and more to me. It made me appreciate the kindness of Rotarians, but also made me reexamine things and change my perspective. I feel a shift has occurred or is occurring. I feel more alive, more passionate, and less prone to overreaction.

I guess with this trip adults and kids reminded me of the precious humanity that exists that sometimes we forget on a day-to-day basis. It made me stop and listen to what's important to me and to strive for those things.

There were so many moments to savor, which I will share soon.

Six days later

So it's been six days since my last post and declaration. I did buy a book. It was 40% off at The Bookworm. Since I often set meetings there it's a temptation, however, I got two more books for free, by turning in books that I've already read at Book Grove in Glenwood. So three books for $9. Not too bad, really.

Also, I have to confess that I bought a pink cardigan (I needed it for the GSE trip) and a pair of khaki pants that can be worn three ways, cuffed, capris, and straight leg. These purchases were made for my trip. This may be more difficult than it looks. So bear with me as I figure this out. I did resist buying shoes that weren't practical. So maybe I am making some progress!

The biggest progress made on my level of consumption is that I am becoming aware of what I'm purchasing. Today I focused on getting more organized at home, which feels much better. I can start the week with a clean space.

Another important note: I walked on Friday, Sunday and Monday for a total of approximately eight miles. So I'm working on making walking a daily priority. Saturday I relaxed, slept in, and read a book in bed. Heaven, really. I didn't even feel guilty! It was needed after a very busy August.

I'll keep you posted on the rest of the week. Make it a good one, don't you just love the three-day weekends?

A Month of Focus

So it's a month away from when I will be leaving for Australia, on my six-week adventure. In this month I have a lot to accomplish. No one seems to feel sorry for me. Regardless, I'm also starting a new phase in that I don't want to buy anything new this month. I want to focus on getting ready for the trip. Wrapping up work as much as possible, throwing Kendra's baby shower, and continuing to work on my new venture.

The exceptions to what I can buy? Food and the necessary items such as shampoo and other tolietries. No clothes, no shoes, and no books. Though I can trade books in at the secondhand bookshop in Glenwood Springs. Trading is acceptable. So far so good in the first two days of the month. I'll keep you posted.

Part of this is about saving for my trip, and the other part is about getting really clear about where my money goes. I don't always pay enough attention, and it shows. So I'm going to turn that around. And as my roommate said today, everyone deserves a second chance. So instead of berating all the choices I've made that haven't been great I'm going to move forward starting today and this month.

Wish me luck. Bonne Chance!

A good book

A good book is like a fine glass of wine to be savored. Amy recently let me borrow "Loving Frank". This book is a fictionalized account of a true love affair. The book is about a modern woman living in the 19th century, though you may not identify with all the choices she makes you can identify with her belief in being authentic to yourself. Read it. I couldn't put it down. It kept me up nights. Enjoy!