Saturday, January 31, 2009

If Only a Diet Was Like a Blog

It's day four of my daily blogging habit and it's feeling like one more thing on my to-do list that needs to get done before I can relax. This wasn't really the point of starting this blog, although I knew that making it daily was going to be a big commitment. Perhaps it's because it's a weekend - and my family is always busy on the weekends - that I'm just now sitting down to do this.

I feel compelled to write something because even though I know only a few people are reading this, I did say state my intentions in writing to post some thoughts everyday and it is only day four. I can't possibly miss a day! If only a diet was like a blog. I'd be accountable to everybody and would feel guilty if I indulged a little too much! Funny how that is. I'm feeling guilty for possibly missing a day of blogging because I would be "letting down" the less than a handful of people who read this, but Lord knows I wouldn't feel that guilty for overindulging on Superbowl Sunday when it's only myself I'd be letting down. Hmmm, interesting thought.

Maybe I'll cut myself the tiniest of breaks and still post something on Saturday and Sunday - but something a little shorter and a little lighter. Sounds like a good plan to me!

Friday, January 30, 2009

Adopting a Toddler Mentality

I have a 2 year-old who is at best energetic, fearless and fun-loving and at worst wild, crazy and untamed. Every Friday myself and a bunch of other exhausted parents get our hyperactive toddlers together for a few hours to play (and hopefully tire them out for their afternoon nap.) These couple of hours are usually filled with laughter, crying, yelling, time-outs and of course, snacks. Amidst the chaos this morning it occurred to me that although we have a lot to teach toddlers about manners, respect and kindness - there are a few things we could learn from them.

This thought first occurred to me when disciplining my daughter. I don't know how many times I had to threaten no cupcake at snack time to get good behavior out of her. Of course, it didn't even work. Why? Well, all toddlers care about is what's happening at that very moment. Threatening a cupcakeless snack time in a half hour just doesn't cut it. Now, I know it's important to teach children about consequences, but sometimes living in the moment is just what the doctor ordered. As adults we are constantly thinking ahead of ourselves. We have so much to do that it's only natural to start thinking about what's next on our list instead of focusing on what we're doing right now.

Right now I am at home with my children. I am doing what I always envisioned myself doing - being a stay-at-home mom. However, it's not under the circumstances I envisioned and for that reason I am not letting myself live in the moment and enjoy this time. (I'll spare the bad economy details, it's rough out there for a lot of people right now, but you get my drift.) The point is my 2 year-old couldn't care less if she had a vaccination-filled doctor appointment looming on her schedule in the afternoon - she won't let it ruin her morning. And that toddler mentality is something we could all benefit from now and then.

Let's face it, I can't predict the future. I don't know if I'll have this time with my kids for another two weeks or six months, but whatever my professional future holds I want to be able to look back and say that I was able to slow down, relax and enjoy my children during this time.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

What's In An Accomplishment?

I have always been about accomplishing. Not the formal kind of accomplishments that deserve a trophy or plaque - although those are nice too - but the kind of accomplishment that makes you feel good about your day. The nice thing about these kinds of accomplishments is that it doesn't matter how small they are. As long as it is significant to you, it matters. Perhaps this is why I'm a huge list-maker. I do like emptying everything out of my brain onto a piece of paper - this makes my mind less accountable for forgetting something! But, what I like the most is crossing off each task. Each one is a tiny accomplishment.

The best part about these little milestones throughout your day is they often aren't planned. When my kids were newborns (and heck, sometimes even now) taking a shower was my accomplishment of the day! Today, for instance, I'm considering my accomplishment that I was out with my kids playing with friends and being active at the museum and they watched very little TV. That's an accomplishment.

The bigger (although not always better) accomplishments do take a little planning. Exhibit A: I want to be able to pay for my kids college tuition without them having to take out student loans like my parents did for my sister and I. That's a huge accomplishment that takes years of planning. Personally, I want to be in a position of doing something I love for a living. And that will most likely take a series of accomplishment (big and small) to come to fruition.

For now, I'm satisfied with accomplishments of the smaller variety - my two year-old taking a nap, good bargain shopping at the grocery store, getting an interview for a job. The things that are seemingly small, but make up a bright day and a bright future for my biggest accomplishments of all - my family.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Don't We All Have Writer's Block?

This is my first blog...ever. It seems that everybody and their brother has a blog, so why not me too? I'm starting this blog to make an effort to write everyday. You see, getting a book published ranks in the top five on my "bucket list." A good, compelling book at that. I would even put it out there that my dream is to have a best-seller, of course. But, the goal is to have a book period. This phantom book has been on my mind for a very long time. For the first time ever I'm attaching a timeline to this goal though. Let's say by 40. That gives me a tad more than 10 years to get this thing done. And this daily blog is going to be my way of getting back into writing. Yes, I said daily. That's a big commitment, I know. But, let me explain what I'm thinking.

For years I have thought about writing a book. I've concocted stories in my mind that either start off with promise and turn into blah, or sound suspiciously like something I already read or saw in a movie. My excuse for not starting this book has been 1. time and 2. writer's bock.

Time. Ahh, the mother of all excuses. Nobody has time for anything anymore. And I'm not being arrogant - it's unfortunately true. Between waking up at the crack of dawn to work out, getting yourself ready for the day, getting the kids ready for the day, working all day, running errands to the grocery store and the post office on your lunch break, picking up the kids on your way home, making dinner, cleaning up dinner, throwing in some laundry, giving the kids baths, reading the kids books, putting the kids to bed (sometimes over and over again), changing the laundry, folding the laundry, picking up the house, paying the bills, preparing your sack lunch for the next day, talking to your husband and having some brief quality couple time if you know what I mean (and by the way, this rarely happens) and finally hitting the sack early enough to get a few solid hours before starting the whole thing over again - who has time for anything? But, this book is my dream, so if I need to sacrifice 30 minutes out of my sleep cycle to blog - so be it!

Writer's block. The other convenient excuse. What have I done to overcome this one? Well, in the past I've read (or skimmed) many books on how to write a book. Stuff like "The Idiot's Guide to Publishing a Book" hoping for some tip that will propel me to John Grisham status. I don't know if that is even a book - but you get my point. The most ironic thing about this is excuse number one - hello, when did I find the time to read these books in the first place?? Anyhow, in my extensive "how-to" research I have come across two pieces of advice to aspiring authors that have stuck in my head. 1. Write about what you know - your life. Who the heck wants to read about my life? My life is more or less spelled out in that run-on of a sentence in the previous paragraph - hardly compelling. 2. Write everyday. Everyday. Which brings me back to this blog.

So this is my oath to myself and to my dream. I will update this blog daily with some sort of thought to get my brain started and my fingers typing. I just know the fabulous ideas will start flowing. Here's to ending writer's block...