The Commitment

So not too long ago one of my fellow roller derby team mates (and founder of our league) sent out a message to our Facebook group about commitment to becoming a team. Derby takes up time and energy but I love doing it and the way I feel when I improve my skills.

Not only do we/I as a team member need to go to practice and give it my all, I also need to work at becoming a healthier and more active person. I was inspired by her message because I have watched her throw herself into a huge life change which includes eating as a vegan, losing weight, and training in all sorts of activities to build endurance and stamina. When I read her post I thought “well I go to practice, I am healthyish….”
But really….I could be doing better. So rather than looking at the “learn to run” program I’ve downloaded…I’ve started it and I’m only in week one but it’s a start. Becoming a runner/athlete is hard, scary and daunting really….but I have heard from other runners that once they have gotten into it, it becomes natural.

Today I went for a walk/run at the beach with the dogs and I did not feel like I was going to puke….huzzah! Let’s see how the rest of the week goes 🙂
Any runner-readers out there? I’d love some tips.

Two days until the scrimmage 🙂

-SM

There is light…..I can see it

It’s been a drabby and long, wet, winter. Today the sun has graced us with its presence here in small town. I celebrated by sleeping in (gross – but I worked a 19 hour shift the day before) and took the pups to the dog park. I walked by my chicken coop that I am itching to fill with life (as in chickens) and took mental note of the work I will do on it this Monday.

Chickens are on order for April – can’t wait! But in the meantime I will be occupying myself with getting the garden going and learning more about that. In addition to keeping up with my goals.

The light I am referring to is not only the sunshine: I am talking about breaking through the long and arduous wall that has been keeping me from getting financially stable since this move in November. Moving is hard and a huge financial burden, let alone moving to an island and establishing a job and working all that out. I am days away from being able to let out a huge sigh of relief and hopefully sleep restfully (after celebrating). The thing about money and the stress that accompanies it, is that it is hard to get it out of your mind, especially if you are falling behind. It can be terrifying: how will I make it until ____ date? how will I pay off ____ bill? what about gas for my car? There is always something that comes up it seems.

When we moved, I was in school full-time (correspondence) and had a loan, a small savings and the attitude that I can get a job anywhere. Which is true (to an extent) but what I did not take into account is the possibility that it could take a while to get going. I am grateful and realize how lucky I am, but MAN it’s been a hard few months. So my strategy to get through this all was to keep the best attitude about it as I could. Inevitably it got to me and there were times where I would stress and stress until I made myself sick. What a mess.

But I did keep telling myself that “it has to get better, and it will.”

It did. And I am quite certain it will continue to get better. So the sunshine today has really assisted in not only boosting my vitamin D intake, but also my proverbial spirits. The sun is shining and the weather is sweet my friends. Take some time to appreciate what you have, what you’ve worked for and share it with someone special.

Much love,

-SM

Time management?

Lately I feel like I have so much to do, or so much that I want to do but can’t figure out how to make it all happen. I have a zillion ideas in my head about mini projects I’d like to get cracking on but find that I run out of time or energy to make them happen.

No, I am not wasting insane amounts of time on my new video game. I’ve actually told myself I’m allowed about an hour each day to play but haven’t even gotten around to fulfilling that time block consistently.

Because I work at two jobs (but one is more casual and I am on call) last night I accepted a crap load of shifts in the next couple of weeks. They are mostly graveyard shifts where I have to be awake – gross I know. But I thought that I could use this dead time to chip away at some of my projects? I need to knit, read for a course I am taking, meditate, plan for the chicken coop (it needs renos and I have ideas!) and write more. You see, these are the things I have been neglecting but want to be working on.

How do other people manage their time efficiently? How do YOU make sure you do the things that are important to you without feeling exhausted? I am happily accepting ideas on how to not become a victim of the couch as soon as I walk in the door and make time to work on myself.

-SM

Moving at the speed of light! (Derby-style)

Seriously, it’s not that I haven’t wanted to post….but life’s been busy!

Last week was a long one. I had my papers, had to work and had to haul ass (for an hour+ drive) to derby practice, where I would be tested for minimum skills. For those who are unfamiliar with what I am talking about, the sport of roller derby is not just bawdy chicks in fish nets roller skating. Sure we do get to wear fun socks and tights, but it is a physically demanding sport. With practices three times per week, I was hoping it would get easier….it doesn’t. It continues to be awesome fun and makes me feel very amazing, but there are times in practice that my legs feel like they will give out on me, I am covered in bruises and have become one with ice packs.

Anyways…..I woke up last Tuesday with a sore throat. Not just a tickle, like a serious “it-hurts-to-talk-or-swallow-or-open-my-mouth” sore throat. Typical too, since I’ve been boasting about not being sick in almost a year. So I was thinking that my day was ruined…..

BUT………

I passed my minimum skills! And it was HARD. It was 2 hours of intense, non-stop skating to the point that I thought I was going to keel over. The coach wanted me to relax (because I looked shaky and terrified) when really I was sicker than I’d felt in a year. Fever, sore throat, achy muscles. I passed though and I am so so so pleased. It’s not all easy now, in fact I think it will get a lot more difficult. I will need to improve a lot more before I consider myself ready for it all, but I’m happy to have passed. I signed up for a scrimmage on Feb.19th as Fresh Meat! Again for those who have no idea what I’m talking about:

A Scrimmage is kind of like an unofficial bout (or game). I will be playing with many players from other teams in our region to make up two teams. A bout is a game consisting of a particular team’s roster.

Fresh Meat: The term for rookie derby players.

Last weekend I went down to Seattle WA, and hit up Fast Girl Skates and picked up new wheels, knee pads, wrist guards and laces! Early birthday presents for me! So I continue to push myself each time I go to practice, and have some days that feel better on skates than others, but the point is I keep going because I love it.
You may have noticed in my NYResolutions tab, I’ve updated it to note that I have already achieved one of this year’s goals: I PASSED!

Appreciating some simple pleasures

Wooosh! (that is the sound effect to sum up last week for me)

It’s not that I’ve been avoiding my blog, I’ve been busy trying to keep up with everything. But last night on my drive home from Roller Derby practice, my mind suddenly became aware of some things that I am really lucky to have.

My drive to and from practice is about 40 minutes on a winding, single lane highway through a mountain pass. Since I’ve started, it’s always in the dark, usually the fog and lately there has been quite a bit of rain. Last night was a bit different though, the moon was full (or very nearly). I googled “Full Moon Calendar 2012” and it was either last night or it’s tonight. My point is, is that it was bright and lovely. So much so, that I actually pulled over for a bit to admire the beauty. There is a point on my drive where the road goes alongside a lake with two mountains as the backdrop to the lake, and usually when it is darker you can just barely see the outline of the mountains. Last night however was superb. It was this late night, mountain road, moon gazing that got me thinking about opportunities such as this that I really need to stop and take in more. Or maybe we all could stand to slow down a bit more.

So, first simple pleasure I’d like to appreciate – a good, quiet, full moon that seemed to belong only to me for the ten minutes I took it in. Thanks moony!

The next simple pleasure I’d like to highlight is water. I think I mentioned a while back that my house is on well water. With the crazy rain storm we had last week, our well pump house flooded and since then, the water coming out of our taps is discoloured. I’ve been really complaining to myself that I have to boil a huge pot of water before I can pour it into my Brita water filter. Then I realized how ridiculous that sounds. At least I have water at any given time coming out of my taps and I can pick the temperature.

So three cheers for running water (even though I may have to boil it before consumption from time to time). Hip Hip Hooray.

My next observation for appreciation goes to going on a movie date. John and I went out on a Saturday night this week to take in the latest scary movie; the Devil Inside. I can’t remember the last time I actually went to a movie on the opening weekend, let alone a Saturday night. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever gone to see a horror/thriller movie in the theatre before – definitely worth it just for the crowd excitement!

Let’s hear it for movie night!

The final small wonder I’d like to mention is a good bath (especially when I’m spending 2+ hours, 3x week falling/getting smashed around and intense cardio at practice). Last night after my moon-drive home, there was a bath running just waiting for me to jump in. What makes me REALLY lucky is that my bathtub is one of those fancy deep ones with jets. My muscles were so thankful last night, therefore so am I.

Thank you bathtub! (and ice packs for my butt and knees)

Oh ya, one more thing….

I GOT THE JOB I WANTED AND START LATER TODAY!!! xoxo

Have a super one!

-SM

Diving into 2012…almost literally

It’s the first week of the new year and I couldn’t wait to get it going. I enjoyed the holidays this year, surprisingly more than I usually do, but honestly by New Year’s day I just wanted to get back to business. I know…it sounds crazy. But my logic behind this enthusiasm is to take on some personal challenges I have set for myself. Who can argue that?

I am completely swamped with finishing up courses, writing papers and studying for a terrifying exam on January 14th. I’m also back to training and working at the new job (not the one I really really want yet….fingers still crossed but trying not to dwell on it) and of course roller derby. I got my ass kicked at practice last night. I seriously felt the results of hosting friends for the past four days, indulging and perhaps having a bit too much holiday cheer. But I won’t be too hard on myself, I know we all have our “off” days and tomorrow’s practice will be better.

I am exhausted. It’s been raining like mad the past two days and normally I don’t complain about the rain. I am born and raised on the West Coast of BC – the most beautiful place ever. It is a rainforest and one of the worlds’ largest. But seriously, the last two days have been ridiculous. Extreme rainfall warnings, the road is flooded, my back field is flooded, my shoes were flooded this morning when I stepped into them to let the dogs out for pees. We are on well water, and it’s turned a murky brown and I have to boil it before anything can be done with it. I’m afraid to wash my lovely new white bath towels. *Sigh* I’m so tired and this crazy weather is just weighting me down.

Anyways, now that I’ve nearly finished whining, I wanted to report that I completed one of my New Year’s resolutions for this week already. I have added a new page up at the top (in addition to What’s my deal you ask?, GOALS, there will be NYR) where I will attempt to hold myself publicly accountable for the resolutions I made for myself.

I’ve got to get back to writing for school and although it feels depressingly overwhelming the end is in sight….

AH!

-SM

Into the New Year

Although I am pressed for time (thank you multiple assignments due this week) I feel the need to ring in the new year, blog-style. I’ve been thinking about resolutions and my ambivalence towards making them. Perhaps you feel the same way “Why make a goal that I am likely to fail?” I’ve done the typical lose weight, quit smoking, cut back on this and that, start this, do more of that resolutions, but I find I don’t really stay on top of them enough to make a real go of any of these resolutions.

Why is it that I don’t follow-up on these plans for myself? Seriously….I don’t have an answer to this.

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

1) First and foremost, I think I would like to actually track the progress of following a resolution through to the end. How will I do this? I’m thinking about doing a weekly check in with myself to see how I’ve done. This will require a new diary/day planner and a spiffy pen – luckily I picked one of each up already.

2) Leave work at work. I work in the human service/care industry and at times it can be hard to leave certain situations at work. So I’d like to make a very conscious effort to leave behind people/names/scenarios/drama/politics of the workplace at my workplace and focus on enjoying the personal time I have with my loved ones as my sacred non-work life (pets included, they don’t need to hear this drama).

3) Find somewhere new to volunteer.

4) Do one good deed for a stranger 1x a week.

5) Get really good a derby skating!

I have a slew of other goals I thought about making resolutions, but I don’t want to crowd my 2012 resos. But just for kicks:

– I’d also really like to pay off some debt and build up my savings again

– Get the tattoo I’ve been thinking about for 2 years

– Give blood

– Start running

– Continue on the healthy path of ethical meat only and plenty of veggies

For New Years Eve, we have a couple of friends visiting, so the plan is to make some delicious appies, have some wine and perhaps bust out some Twister, Cranium or Monopoly while listening to some good music.
Wishing you all a very Happy and safe New Years and may a prosperous and positive 2012 lay ahead for everyone.

Cheers!
-SM

Things are looking up kid – GOALS

It’s been an intense week…make that couple of months.

Uprooting your life and moving to a new place is awesome and scary. I knew it would be hard, so I made myself some personal goals to achieve that were directly related to the move alone (since I have other goals that are just general “get these done goals”).

So far I am on par for meeting the goals:

• get to know the area without needing a gps
• get a job
• make some friends
• stay on top of housework (in progress)
• chill the f*ck out (in progress)

The biggest challenge has been finances which we all experience at some point. Moving is expensive, being a full-time student is expensive and the in between jobs time is nice but it quickly chews through your savings. I have been trying to keep my chin up but $ is one of those things that can get the best of you. So, I buy lottery tickets once in a while with my lost-in-the-backseat-of-my-truck-money. I like to dream about the things I’ll do with my lottery winnings. So far, my career in the lottery ticket world has been pretty weak. However, a couple of weeks ago, I picked up a ticket and tucked it away in my wallet and completely forgot about it. Last week while doing some grocery shopping I noticed the lottery booth and was reminded to check my ticket. It was my personal best for lottery winnings: $20 AND a free play for tomorrow’s $50 million jackpot. Things are looking up indeed……

Tuesday was paper day but it was also my first training day at my new job. I had a 4 hour gap in between shifts to rush home and do my route – which I was dreading since I woke up long before the sun came up. Boy was I ever glad I did my route because there were Christmas cards galore left out for me at 12 of my houses. It wasn’t so much the tips that made my day, but that people had made the effort to call the newspaper to ask my name and personalized my cards. I felt like such a sappy chick, but I was almost moved to tears. I must be getting old or something…. I made $20 in tips which was a definite bonus. Tomorrow is another paper day, so who knows, things may continue to look up!

The icing on my cake this week, was getting a call back for a second interview for the job I really want. Really really want. I went for it yesterday and I don’t want to jinx it, but I have a really good feeling about this one. If I get this one, it will be my numero uno job and I will stop complaining about how hard life can be, because I will have achieved one of my ultimate goals and be so grateful.

I’m a firm believer that things can be really hard for a while, but eventually things move up and get better. This is what I feel is happening, so although I am exhausted and stressed, I see the good on its way.

It’s time to get back to school because I have a really cool prof that assigned a project due December 25th – way to go. Plus my parents arrive later today for a few days so I will likely be nonresponsive for a while. Good luck with holidays everyone, I know I’ll need it.

XO

-SM