This week's workouts have been therapeutic and necessary. Report card season...Oh how it hurts. Add daylight saving on top of that and you have a recipe for disaster.
Monday I had a great run with Kristin, which helped me put into words quite a few things that have been eating at me. It's great how running does that.
I did T25 on Tuesday, missed my run Wednesday to see an old student (worth it), and rested Thursday (and went to bed before 9pm...again, necessary).
Today I got up early and went to Elizabeth's to do the double T25 workout that Fridays call for. It's amazing how accomplished you feel after getting a hard workout in early. I'm finally feeling normal, so there's a morning run on tomorrow's docket for me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been thinking a lot lately about things I want. That saying about discipline is true. Discipline is shelving what you want now for what you want most.
In a world of instant-gratification, it's not an easy thing to ask of ourselves, but it's an important thing. And like anything that's important, sometimes putting it into words and committing ourselves to it (and here it is, folks, my word of the year: dedication!) helps us make it real.
As I was attempting to narrow down my list of "wants" to something truly meaningful, I realized there's just so much to look at. It's hard to narrow it down.
So here it goes.
I want...To make smart decisions in health and fitness that will fuel my running and keep me healthy. I want to be a successful athlete...whatever that means. The first step: Eat right and train right...complete the training for November's scheduled marathon...and run it!
 |
| Tuesday post-workout I wanted cookie-fruit-pizza, but chose an apple instead. Progress. |
 |
| I'm doing my best to stay in touch! |
I want...To travel. The first step: Start saving some money and figuring out where I really want to go!
 |
| So very true. |
I want...To know I've made a difference in someone's life. The first step: Do my best to truly connect with others and be a valuable person to them. Put real effort into my relationships, both personal and professional.
 |
| Notes from students in...2011? (Time flies...I can never remember!) |
It seems like a lot. But I know my life will be better because of it.
What do you want most?
ABK
Love this post! I am going to begin taking photos of notes from students. They always make me feel good when I go back and read them. I want to prioritize as well. I often run myself to the ground trying to get everything done. I want to do things without getting super stressed out and take things as they come. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to figure out a good way to catalog the notes they leave me. Looking back at them is what makes teaching worth it!
DeleteI want to finish getting back my fit body. I don't like to say I want to lose X pounds, but the fact of the matter is, I've been in better shape before and I want to be there again. I'm making progress (upped my running game, eating better, most of the time) but I have a ways to go (cross training, strength training, continuing to eat better). I LOVE that quote about discipline you posted; I've never heard it before and think I'll be repeating it to myself in the near future. Thanks, and good luck with your dedication!
ReplyDeleteYou're well on your way to reattaining your fit body. You're kicking butt right now; just keep it up!
DeleteThis is awesome, Ali :) I want to work up to running a 5k by May (which as long as I stay motivated, shouldn't be an issue)
ReplyDeleteYou're going to get that 5k! No doubts!
DeleteI have to say I'm with you on the friends thing. I have friends I interact with on social media but I rarely hang out with them! Last night was just another Friday night we stayed in. I need to make a much more of an effort to see my friends. Everyone is so busy though... or they have kids and can't get a sitter.. I guess I don't even try because I see the road blocks. But I need to TRY!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely tough when your friends all have kids...it's hard to even try to plan something because you worry it'll be an inconvenience instead of a nice social outing. It doesn't help that I'm socially awkward and making new friends is hard for me...but I'm trying to do that, too!
DeleteThis is an awesome. So real and honest. I think these are great wants and I can't wait to see how you will achieve them!!!
ReplyDeleteEven when we're happy with our lives, there's room for improvement :o) That's me, just keeping it real!
DeleteI love this post. A lot of your desires are my desires as well. Especially the friend thing. It's so easy for me to become recluse when the weekend rolls around because I am always so exhausted from the week. Last night, I forced myself to put on real people pants and go to a bar where my friend was celebrating her birthday. I realized that I need to focus on my friendships more because they really do make me happy.
ReplyDeleteI also did a double T25 workout yesterday morning! We're basically twins. ;-)
I'm moving on to an 8th grade classroom, so I will probably be coming to you for advice!
It's weird, isn't it, how we just want to REST on weekends (especially us teachers), but seeing friends actually makes us feel better and happier in the long run!
DeleteWhich double did you do? We did full body and then legs, which are the two hardest in my opinion...by the end I felt like jello. I'm happy to help anytime you have middle school questions...with older kids it's important to treat them with respect; they respond really well when they know you value them as real people...but you still have to be tough!
Awesome idea for a post! I have a list of things I want ... but not a list of first steps to help me get there. So smart to actually put action items down on paper!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping writing them down and seeing how simple the first steps are will help me get there faster!
DeleteI want to find a way to do my passion of helping others reach their goals on a full time basis. Setting mini goals will get me there.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Ali...keep us posted on these!
I love that your passion is about helping others find THEIR passions! Amazing!
DeleteI love the list of things that you want - so much more real seeming than material things because your list is full of the things that really matter!!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even considered it, but yeah..."things" never even crossed my mind as I worked on this!
DeleteThis is a great post! I also love how you understand the pain of report card season!!! Isn't it THE WORST?!
ReplyDeleteYou've inspired me to sit down and really analyze what I want and what I need to do to get there. :)
Seriously, I have to warn Matt ahead of time when report cards are coming up so that he knows things are going to be a little rough until it passes hahaha.
DeleteI've been thinking about this since reading it... my mind has been rephrasing this as "when I am dying, what do I want to have done with my life?" It's been clarifying... my "I want" list for this year was too long and I was frustrated that I wasn't getting to some of those things. But this and a recent sermon I heard has helped me strip down what I really want for myself. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad (and humbled) that this post has helped you focus in on your wants. I, too, am definitely guilty of making a too-long list of things I want, and then feeling frustrated when they can't be fulfilled.
Delete