Checking In

At the beginning of the semester, I set out a few goals for myself.  (See the post from January entitled "Discipline" to read about it).  I figured it's about time to re-evaluate where I am...

• I've decided that I'm cutting desserts and soda out of my diet.  Completely.  Maybe not permanently, but for now.  I need to start eating better, and this is step one.  

Well... I stopped drinking soda for a while.  And I stopped eating desserts for a while.  The goal was not to cut sugar completely out of my diet, but to re-evaluate how I'm eating and how I can be healthier.  I still have work to do, but since going vegan, I've started eating healthier in general, so although I'm back to drinking soda and eating (some) desserts, I feel healthier.

• I'm going to get up every morning before my classes and swim.  Yes, 5 days a week.  Me.  In the pool.  Blech I hate mornings.

This has been a complete and utter failure.  I think I've been to the practices maybe 4 times since the semester started.  This part of my life I REALLY need help with.   

• I'm going to be disciplined about reading my Bible every day.  Every single day.  Through the entire Bible, in one year.

So far, the consistency has been an issue.  Although I've read my Bible and prayed every day, I need to find a consistent TIME to do it.  Just like working out, it's more effective if you do it at the same time every day.  And doing it as I'm falling asleep probably isn't the most effective way to retain what I'm learning.  I'm working on getting up early to do it, but so far... well, I'm REALLY not a morning person, so you can only imagine how that goes.  This still needs work. 

• I am going to be disciplined about my school work.  This means doing all the assignments, reading the assigned texts, not procrastinating, and planning in advance to get things done and then doing it.

This is an absolute and utter failure.  (Ok, maybe I'm being a little hard on myself... I have tried really hard.  I'm just a little overwhelmed.  And I've done the readings (mostly) for the classes that matter.).  This needs some re-evaluation next semester about what my goals are academically, and how to achieve them.  

•  I am going to be disciplined about finding (and then getting involved with) an organization to do regular community service with.  An animal shelter, a homeless program, something.  I need to get back into it.  So far: progress, but still undecided.  

Until about 3 weeks ago, I did a good job with this one.  I found a great organization near Dupont Circle, and I've been volunteering with them regularly before classes.  Unfortunately, the last few weeks have been crazy, I've been sick, and I'm struggling with doing everything.  And this fell by the wayside. I hope to pick it up again next week, and to try to do better in the future.  

So from here - where do I go?  One of my major goals for this summer is to get a consistent schedule going in my life.  It's something I really struggle with, but I think if I could just make it a habit it would make my life SO much easier.  So that's priority number one.  Part of doing that is going to be getting up every morning to swim with masters, reading my Bible after that, and then trying to find some semblance of consistency in whatever job I have.  For the summer, that's where I'm at right now.  Who wants to hold me accountable??  (L.....?)