It's been a little while since I've written anything, and so I thought those playing along at home might want to catch up on some of the news of what's what with me. And if you don't want to know/ aren't at all interested, well, then, you can move along and I'll never know! What's more, I shall remain un-offended! Hey, these days, that's a minor miracle, it seems!
So, a bit about health: This last year has been challenging. It's been just about a year of bike commuting for me, which offers some very interesting benefits and challenges. On the whole, the benefits outweigh the challenges, and I am happy with my chosen method of commuting. I get to find time to ride most every day, now, save for those days when it really is just too cold and nasty outside and not worth the risk of serious illness or death/dismemberment. Icy roads = bad things. Luckily, the bus line is easily accessible, and offers it's own set of unique rewards.
I tossed my back out early last summer, and it took a surprising amount of time to recover. During that time, I simply took it easy, not working out too hard, etc. In fact, where I was doing yoga every day, I stopped altogether. It took a long time for my muscles to get back to where I wanted them to be, and I tried pushing that envelope a time or two, but finally, I think I am back to par....if you don't count the fact that I tried yoga the other day and find myself in sore lack or stretching ability now....*sigh* it's never done.
I did meet one important goal, and closed a chapter on it: I hit my weight loss goal!! This has been a long and tedious process, and started when I weighed 265 lbs. The goal was 200, and I managed to get down to 198!! With not working out other than my commute and a few pushups here and there, I am sitting nicely at 207 right now, which is entirely fine for the winter hibernation months. No shame here. Will I try and lose more? Likely not. Now, the focus remains on getting what I have into better shape. If there's a little weight loss involved in that, so be it, but there just isn't too much to lose anymore. This year, there is one goal: to be "that guy" who says, "I'm 40 years old, and in the best shape of my life! Thanks Bowflex!" Only, of course, I will leave off the "Thanks, Bowflex" part - nope, it will be supplanted with, "Because I worked my ass off!" It's both figuratively and literally true! I used to have an 18.5" neck, 44-inch waist, wore a size 52 jacket, a size 14 ring, and an XXL t-shirt fit snugly, I am now with a 16.5" neck, 32-34-inch waist, I swim in a size 46 jacket, a size 11.5 ring, and wear a size L (and maybe even a Medium in some) t-shirt. Yeah, it's been a heck of a ride!
I've been doing more woodworking, and looking to get to some greater heights this year than I have before. A few pitfalls, a few successes, a few great ideas, and some not-so-great ideas have all been mine, and I look forward to more of them all. In fact, there will be some changes coming soon, so be on the lookout, those of you who know where to look!!!!
Life is good, and I'm pleased, on the whole. It was a pretty up-and-down year, but the ups far outweigh the downs, and I'm looking forward to an even better year this year. Plans include my second year of the gardening, many more miles on the bike, and I have a few ideas for the workshop that I am really excited about! It should be a great year, and I'm looking forward to it!
So, as always,
thanks for reading!!!
Me
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Happy New Year, or, The Imperfection of Me.
Well, now that the holidays have died down, and we can all rush to get "on track" with a new year, I suppose it's time that I look at the last year, reflect, and make a few changes for the next year of life. It's been a rather momentous year, I'm happy to say, and there are many positives I can take from it. I was lucky enough to be able to do some soul-searching, a little writing, a lot of time spent on the bike, a little traveling to new places, and I was able to spend a lot of time creating in the workshop. A good year, on the whole.
So, the big question: where to go from here?
It's an important question. I know a lot of folks look at the "New Year's Resolution" thing as trite, old, and silly these days, and I think it's a telling thing about who we are as a culture, and what kinds of things we're doing. I had a conversation just the other day the the New Year is something celebrated everywhere across the globe. It is, very likely, the only secular holiday that IS celebrated worldwide. Imagine that: this one thing is something we can all agree needs to be celebrated. In other words: it's important. Everyone deems it important. By all means, if there's another holiday that I am missing, please feel free to let me know, but I cannot think of a holiday that is not uniquely belonging to a nation or a religion, but really belongs to the whole world. But, I digress.
The new year is as good a time as any to start a new path. But the important part is the question that drives said new beginning. Why make a change at all? Why make a resolution? What is the point? The point is to grow. To become better. To move towards the ideal self. Well, yes, but there's more to it than that. It's not only to become better people, but also to acknowledge that we are imperfect, and need to improve.
I imagine there are a bunch of folks who are about to say, "Oh crap, there he goes, spouting that religious talk again!" Not true. I'm speaking purely in the secular here, and leaving any and all definitions of "god" out of it. I'm speaking about looking at our world critically, and seeing it - us, me - as it is: in need of work. I am acknowledging that I need to be better in order to make this world a better place. Failure to do so - to acknowledge the imperfect me - is to commit the gravest sin against mankind, and assume that the world needs to change around me.
I'm sure that many folks are now saying, "Well, duh! We already knew you weren't perfect!" Yes, I know you did - but that's not really where I'm going. If I say that I'm not going to resolve to make myself better in the new year - if I treat the New Year's Resolutions as silly, trite, and old-fashioned, and refuse to make them, then I am making that sin. Yet, in this era where we, as a culture, have elevated the 'I" to an unheard of level of importance, we see more an more people failing to make the resolutions towards improving. We hear, "oh, I never stick to them, so why make them?" or "Well, you should only set goals you know you can attain, that way, you can feel good about yourself."
Bullshit.
If we only set goals we know we can achieve, what good is the goal? We should set ridiculous expectations for ourselves, we should shoot for the proverbial stars! We might not make it there. That's ok, frankly. The point is to never stop trying. When we set goals that are easy, we allow ourselves to be complacent. We say, "I did it" and wear it like a badge of honor for all to see. But is it really satisfying? Some people may say "yes" to that question. I can't be one of those people. I have unrealistic expectations of myself. They will require work - a lot of it. And I might not achieve them. Or I might. And if I don't - ok. I can live with that. But if I do.....I can change the world. I can make life extraordinary.
Thanks for reading,
Me
So, the big question: where to go from here?
It's an important question. I know a lot of folks look at the "New Year's Resolution" thing as trite, old, and silly these days, and I think it's a telling thing about who we are as a culture, and what kinds of things we're doing. I had a conversation just the other day the the New Year is something celebrated everywhere across the globe. It is, very likely, the only secular holiday that IS celebrated worldwide. Imagine that: this one thing is something we can all agree needs to be celebrated. In other words: it's important. Everyone deems it important. By all means, if there's another holiday that I am missing, please feel free to let me know, but I cannot think of a holiday that is not uniquely belonging to a nation or a religion, but really belongs to the whole world. But, I digress.
The new year is as good a time as any to start a new path. But the important part is the question that drives said new beginning. Why make a change at all? Why make a resolution? What is the point? The point is to grow. To become better. To move towards the ideal self. Well, yes, but there's more to it than that. It's not only to become better people, but also to acknowledge that we are imperfect, and need to improve.
I imagine there are a bunch of folks who are about to say, "Oh crap, there he goes, spouting that religious talk again!" Not true. I'm speaking purely in the secular here, and leaving any and all definitions of "god" out of it. I'm speaking about looking at our world critically, and seeing it - us, me - as it is: in need of work. I am acknowledging that I need to be better in order to make this world a better place. Failure to do so - to acknowledge the imperfect me - is to commit the gravest sin against mankind, and assume that the world needs to change around me.
I'm sure that many folks are now saying, "Well, duh! We already knew you weren't perfect!" Yes, I know you did - but that's not really where I'm going. If I say that I'm not going to resolve to make myself better in the new year - if I treat the New Year's Resolutions as silly, trite, and old-fashioned, and refuse to make them, then I am making that sin. Yet, in this era where we, as a culture, have elevated the 'I" to an unheard of level of importance, we see more an more people failing to make the resolutions towards improving. We hear, "oh, I never stick to them, so why make them?" or "Well, you should only set goals you know you can attain, that way, you can feel good about yourself."
Bullshit.
If we only set goals we know we can achieve, what good is the goal? We should set ridiculous expectations for ourselves, we should shoot for the proverbial stars! We might not make it there. That's ok, frankly. The point is to never stop trying. When we set goals that are easy, we allow ourselves to be complacent. We say, "I did it" and wear it like a badge of honor for all to see. But is it really satisfying? Some people may say "yes" to that question. I can't be one of those people. I have unrealistic expectations of myself. They will require work - a lot of it. And I might not achieve them. Or I might. And if I don't - ok. I can live with that. But if I do.....I can change the world. I can make life extraordinary.
Thanks for reading,
Me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)