Mini Resolutions 2011

Last January I made some mini resolutions.  Resolutions I thought I might actually stick to.  Nothing that made the Earth rotate the opposite direction, but little things that would make a difference in my life.  I actually did a decent job sticking to last year's mini resolutions and so these are my mini resolutions for the upcoming year.

1. Write down everything I put in my pie hole. This was a resolution for 2010 and I'd say that I kept a food diary about 300/365 days in 2010, which is far better than I've done in years past.  The trick with this one was that I didn't have to stop eating anything, I just had to write it down.  I lost over 30 pounds this year and I'm pretty sure writing it down had a lot to do with it.  I also kept a money jar.  I put $5 per pound in the jar and also took money out of the jar when I gained.  Taking money out of the jar totally stinks.

2. Ride my bike or spin at least 1 x week. I think I met this goal all but about 4 weeks of 2010.  Again, this might have something to do with why I lost weight.  There just might be something to this eating well and exercising thing after all.

3. Maintain a healthy BMI. I am really good at losing weight, even better at gaining it back.  What I'm not so good at is maintaining a healthy weight once I get there.  So this year my goal is to stay within a healthy weight range.  For every week that I stay at my goal weight, I'll drop $5 in the money jar.

4. Read a Book a Month: This probably sounds like a wimpy goal since many of you read a new book every week or even a book every day.  I read every day; magazines, blogs, articles, but I didn't read as many books as I would have liked to last year.  There are so many good books waiting to be read and I'm determined to read at least 12 of them this year, so leave me some suggestions in the comments section, please.

5. Submit Writing Once a Month: Stephen King hung a giant spike on his wall and every time he received a rejection letter, he'd put it on the spike and use it to inspire him to keep writing and keep working toward publication.  My first rejection letter kinda scared me off the horse for a while, but I think I'm ready to get back on.  In fact I already entered a poem in a contest.  I guess it's time to choose a spot on the wall for my own giant spike.

Five seems like a good round number.  What are your goals for 2011?

Dear Group Power...

Dear Group Power,

Thank you for making my arms feel like they've been fighting hordes of ninjas.  Underneath all that pain, there might actually be muscles.  My arms are too sore to do any housework, so thanks for that, too.

Love,

Me and My Spaghetti Arms

Marathon Man

Yesterday Terry ran a full marathon on the elliptical machine at the gym.  Let that sink in for a minute.  26.2 miles on a machine with no change in scenery.  That guy has mental fortitude in depths I cannot fathom.  I went and cheered him on for the last 2 miles.  I'm amazed at him.

I'm also disappointed with myself.  When he originally told me this crazy idea, I said I'd come and walk part of it with him.  I wanted to.  I so wanted to.  But my heart has been increasingly bothersome and I was not physically able to do it.  It was all I could do to drag myself into the car and go cheer him on.

This has been happening more and more frequently, my heart keeping me from doing what I want to do.  The Rocket has cobwebs on her crossbar because I can't ride right now.  I can't count how many times I've cancelled plans with friends because I have to rest.  Sometimes I can't even carry a full laundry basket into the house because I lose contact with my left arm.

I was dealing pretty well with most of those minor inconveniences, but when I couldn't keep a promise I'd made to Terry, it really got me down.  I put on a happy face, but I really wanted to be a part of this thing he was doing.  And I couldn't.  I can't.  I won't be able to for some time.

Admitting I couldn't physically do it makes me sad.  So sad I can't actually say the words out loud.  Instead I say happy words like "I'm really proud of you, honey."  Those words are true, too.  I'm eager for the day when my heart is strong again and I return to a life where couldn't, can't and won't are erased by can, will, and do.