Last year took me on many adventures… and thankfully not all of them happened to me in “real life.” Though there were natural challenges and struggles of having a husband working the nightshift, I chose to look for distractions and positivity wherever I could. I found just that in books. I let myself get lost in reading, become addicted in nearly a true sense on the word. As soon as I’d finished one book I’d become hungry for something new to occupy that empty space left behind.
Right before the New Year, I had decided that I needed to read more; well I just wanted to read more. With the time then available… a goal was set in place: I would read a least one new book every month. This was a good goal, not too overwhelming; it felt attainable -even compared with most years in which I read only four books, maybe. I knew this goal was my destiny when I received what would become the first book on my list as a Christmas present from a very dear friend (thanks Adrienne- Sisterchicks-Say Ooh La La! Started my year and my reading goal off with powerful positivity and encouragement)! And that was it, after reading through that first book, I went right on to another one. Soon I was searching… I had to fill the time right before bed with luxurious fiction (you will notice on the booklist below, that I read only one non-fiction book this year, which was also incredible, but there’s nothing like a good dose of fiction to make you forget all about the mundane problems in your own life).
Somewhere in the summer, I surpassed what would have been the whole year’s worth of books, had I been sticking with one per month! I can’t explain the drive, the thrill of adventure I allowed myself to indulge in. Sailing from one book to the next like a ship on oceans made with words of velvet. What a ride it has been!
So, thank you Nightshift… for this habit has been a long time coming; it may have never happened with Martin home continuing our old routine. Though now he is home some nights, and guess what… I’m not reading quite so much. But the trade off is a good one. I think I’ll keep my goal at one book per month, especially now that I have my husband back for the most part.
And now for the actual list… I want you to know that I’m not bragging, but I’m simply proud of myself for accomplishing a goal, stomping my own expectations into the ground and rising above what I truly thought myself capable of. You will notice certain trends as you read through the list. I will read anything by Nicholas Sparks, for instance. Also I re-read the Twilight Saga not just because I love it so much, but it’s a personal thing that whenever a movie comes out I like to freshen myself up with the book right beforehand. It’s just so much more enjoyable and rewarding that way. I’ve also always been curious about “those Harry Potter books.” Everyone who reads them always swears by them. If there was ever any year I was going to accomplish all seven of them this was going to be the year… and I did it I really did it, and to top it all off the first part of Deathly Hallows came out in theatres just two months after I had completed the final installment!
I guess, the only other obvious trend would be that I have sort of a thing for romance. And not so obvious…mystery.
I hope you enjoy seeing what I’ve read this year. Maybe it will inspire you to break open a new adventure, romance, or mystery. I can recommend everything on this list, though you may want to inquire for specifics… (I would have written a book review for each title, but I thought that would have made for MUCH too long a blog seeing how this one is fairly lengthy as it is). However, I will make two short recommendations excluding the Twilight Saga, and Harry Potter because we all know those get enough hype of their own. So in saying that I have to tell you I absolutely loved “The Wedding,” and not for the usual reasons. I wish I could convince m dad to read it, or every man for that matter. So here’s the scoop: man and wife have been married thirty years. It’s been a good, functional marriage, but he’s not romantic. The question is, can a man change? I won’t say more than that in fear of ruining anything (hate it when people do that). If you read nothing else on this list, read that one… or “The Choice.” And please, please, give me some new recommendations… for I am running dry.
Books I’ve Read This Year (2010)
1 SISTERCHICKS: Say Ooh La La! (Robin Jones Gunn)
2--P.S. I Love You (Cecilia Ahern)
3-Dear John (Nicholas Sparks)
4-The Time Traveler’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
5-Twilight (reread) (Stepehenie Meyer)
6-New Moon (reread) (Stephenie Meyer)
7-The Choice (Nicholas Sparks)
8-Eclipse (reread) (Stephanie Meyer)
9-The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (Stephanie Meyer)
10-Breaking Dawn (Stephanie Meyer)
11-Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone (J.K. Rowlings)
12-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (J.K. Rowlings)
13-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J.K. Rowlings)
14-Bird By Bird (Anne Lamott)
15- The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
16- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (J.K. Rowlings)
17. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (J.K. Rowlings)
18. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J.K Rowlings)
19. The Wedding (Nicholas Sparks)
20. Towards Zero (Agatha Christie)
21. Emma (Jane Austen)
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Sweaty and Sore
After five days of sticking with my workout regiment (sweating and panting for 30-45 minutes every evening) I am feeling sore in places I haven't been able to feel in months. Everything hurts... but in a good way. At least I know something is happening, my body is reacting to all of this effort and those muscles that have been buried under all that "baby weight" are really there after all.
I really feel it when I have to bend down, or squat to lift up my twenty-two pound baby! Whoo! He's half of my workout... can't wait for him to start walking so I won't have to lug him every where. And I know what you're thinking, I'll regret that statement when he's running around tearing down my bookshelves etc. But I'm aware, and believe me when I say I would much rather have him running. As it is, my right side is getting particularly strong from continually lifting him to my hip.
So, I've completed my first week of what I'm calling "March Madness," and I have to say I feel a certain pride knowing that I have stuck with it this far! One week doesn't sound like a lot, but everyday I have to remind myself why I'm doing this and that I'm worth it. The exercise that goes on in my mind is far more than what actually happens once I turn on that cardio step video. I think we can all identify with the truth that the emotions behind making a change are far more challenging than the change itself. For me it is self-confidence: that has been my life-long struggle. I'm recognizing that I have very negative self-talk, which affects every part of my life. This is what I truly need to change. Accomplishing reasonable goals is a good start.
I have the advantage of a personal motivator... his name is Elijah and he's three. He refers to my workout as "the moves." When he remembers, he'll plead with me, "mommy can I do the moves with you...please!" At first it was a bit challenging and distracting having him bouncing around next to me and running circles around me. Now we've worked out some rules. I lay a small blanket of his out on the floor and that is his space. He's allowed to stand up, sit up, or whatever he wishes, but he has to stay on the blanket. I also put out an array of other activities that keep him occupied when he starts to get bored, such as stamps, coloring pages, picture finds, etc. This system works pretty well. It's not quite as effective as the days when I do it alone, but I like the company. It's surprising how much he picks up. He's the sort of kid that sees everything in black and white, rules are rules and you have to follow them precisely. Sometimes while I"m doing the video he'll tell me things like, "mommy you have to put your water bottle in front of the step, just like her!" or heaven forbid I stop the video and do my own cool down! tonight he almost threw a fit saying, "but mommy it's not over yet! You have to turn it back on!" when I decided to stretch on my own. He's such a character and a great reminder of why I want this so badly. I want to run outside with him and be a great example of health, so he never has to worry.
I really feel it when I have to bend down, or squat to lift up my twenty-two pound baby! Whoo! He's half of my workout... can't wait for him to start walking so I won't have to lug him every where. And I know what you're thinking, I'll regret that statement when he's running around tearing down my bookshelves etc. But I'm aware, and believe me when I say I would much rather have him running. As it is, my right side is getting particularly strong from continually lifting him to my hip.
So, I've completed my first week of what I'm calling "March Madness," and I have to say I feel a certain pride knowing that I have stuck with it this far! One week doesn't sound like a lot, but everyday I have to remind myself why I'm doing this and that I'm worth it. The exercise that goes on in my mind is far more than what actually happens once I turn on that cardio step video. I think we can all identify with the truth that the emotions behind making a change are far more challenging than the change itself. For me it is self-confidence: that has been my life-long struggle. I'm recognizing that I have very negative self-talk, which affects every part of my life. This is what I truly need to change. Accomplishing reasonable goals is a good start.
I have the advantage of a personal motivator... his name is Elijah and he's three. He refers to my workout as "the moves." When he remembers, he'll plead with me, "mommy can I do the moves with you...please!" At first it was a bit challenging and distracting having him bouncing around next to me and running circles around me. Now we've worked out some rules. I lay a small blanket of his out on the floor and that is his space. He's allowed to stand up, sit up, or whatever he wishes, but he has to stay on the blanket. I also put out an array of other activities that keep him occupied when he starts to get bored, such as stamps, coloring pages, picture finds, etc. This system works pretty well. It's not quite as effective as the days when I do it alone, but I like the company. It's surprising how much he picks up. He's the sort of kid that sees everything in black and white, rules are rules and you have to follow them precisely. Sometimes while I"m doing the video he'll tell me things like, "mommy you have to put your water bottle in front of the step, just like her!" or heaven forbid I stop the video and do my own cool down! tonight he almost threw a fit saying, "but mommy it's not over yet! You have to turn it back on!" when I decided to stretch on my own. He's such a character and a great reminder of why I want this so badly. I want to run outside with him and be a great example of health, so he never has to worry.
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