So what's next?

Now that I'm all about a New Me for 2011, what exactly do I want for the "New Me"? Obviously the major goal is to lose weight. But what else? There are a lot of things that I want to improve upon and they are not all physical. Back in 2008, I wrote a post titled "9 Goals for 2009". This list included 9 things that I wanted to cross off my to-do list. Out of the 9, I think I accomplished two. LOL! Some of the items on the list are still things that I want to accomplish, like run in a 5k race.

I am a pessimist at heart and that is one thing that I really want to change. I am quick to be negative or see the negative side of things. My justification? I don't want to be disappointed. So the best thing to do is to think that something's not going to happen so that if it doesn't, the let down is easier. I need to stop doing that. For the next 4 weeks I am going to make a conscious effort to stop being a Debbie Downer. It's not going to be easy. Old habits die hard. But I'm going to try my best.

We've all experienced that point in our lives where we feel like we looked our best. For me, that time was the summer/fall before I got pregnant with D. I was the smallest I'd been in a long time. I weighed 123 lbs and was wearing a size 6. I was working out twice a day and eating healthy. I loved the way my body looked and I was working hard for it. Is it my goal to get back down to 120lbs? No. It would be nice but I know my body has completely changed since having a child and being over 30. My metabolism is on an extended vacation. My goal weight is 130/135. Why that? When I was in college, I had gained the college 15. So when I left college, I weighed around 140-145 lbs. At that weight, I had the one thing that I can't stand - back fat. I abhor it! Can't stand it! Don't want it! May seem petty but that's how I feel. Thanks to my weight gain I have more back fat than I can handle and I'm sick and tired of it. So I know I won't be happy until the back fat is gone!

The pictures below is when I felt my best, 1997 (wow that's a long time ago). Vacationing in the Bahamas, I wore a string bikini for the first time EVER! I haven't worn one since.

I don't know if you can see it clearly in the pic, but I had awesome muscle definition in my thighs. I got that through hours upon hours of spinning.

Halloween (obviously). These jeans were tight as hell! But I had no muffin top, no spill-over. Nothing. I felt good in them.

Those were the good old days or as I like to call them, B.D (before Darrius). I'm going to use these pictures to keep me motivated. These pictures were taken at a time where I was at my healthiest and at my physical best.

The plan is to get back to that place again.

2009 Goals Revisited

There's just 30 days left in 2009. Whew! I can hardly believe the year is almost over. I had grand plans for 2009. I had a list of 9 things I wanted to accomplish this year. Did I succeed? Can I cross out everything on my list??  Let's see.

1. Run a 5k race. I'm still working on that one. I have not been consistent with my training. I have let laziness get the best of me. I haven't given up. If I run a 5k this year, then I am happy. If it doesn't happen until 2010, I'm okay with that too.
2. Read a Great American Novel. Mission accomplished. I read The Great Gatsby. And I plan on reading many more. Over the summer I bought To Kill A Mockingbird for $1.99. It is one of my all-time favorite books.
3. Be a better world citizen. This is something I try to do daily. It will forever be one of my goals.
4. Stop sweating the small stuff. Still easier said than done. I still have my moments but I'm more cognizant of when I'm doing it and I check myself.
5. Stop using negative phrases. I think I've gotten better. I'm not completely sure. Maybe I should start recording myself?
6. Take a writing class. I haven't signed up for one YET. I tried to make up for it by signing up for National Novel Writing Month. Ugh! It was so hard for me! I used to write all the time, off the top of my head with no problems. I can't tell you how many times I wrote and deleted what was on the screen. I will definitely try again next year.
7. Decide what I want to do with my career. A work in progress. I did switch jobs and am working for a new company. So far, so good. We'll see what happens when the "new car smell" wears off.
8. Finish swim lessons. I haven't even attempted this one. This will be on my list for 2010.
9. Continue to improve. Ongoing year after year.

That's where I stand with my goals. It's been a crazy year. It's been a busy year. I'm looking forward to 2010 and all that it will bring.

To Do List

I am a procrastinator. It's a habit I've been trying to break.  But old habits die hard.  While attempting to get a jump on my Fall cleaning today, I realized that I have a lot of unfinished projects.  In the hall closet, there's a bag full of pictures that I was organizing so that I can start scrapbooking.  I may have cut and pasted two photos.  I started this project over 2 years ago.  It's still in its beginning phases.  Another one of my projects was to scan all of my pictures and then burn them onto a CD.  I have loose pictures all over the place.  My goal is to organize the photos by theme/event, scan them and then put them on a CD.  I can then box up some of the pictures or use them to create more scrapbooks (even though I haven't finished my first one).

In theory these projects are a good idea.  And then I start working on them and get bored or distracted.  Or I get overwhelmed by the task.  My goal for the remainder of 2009 is to write down all of the projects I want to start and set a date that I want each task to be finished.  I hope by this time next year, I will have put a dent in my list.  Or at least finish my first scrapbook.

Goals Update

We're almost halfway through 2009. Boy time does fly! Here's a quick update on my 9 Goals for 2009.

1. Run a 5k Race - Unfortunately, I haven't done that yet. I was hoping to be ready for my first 5k last week (The National Race for the Cure). No excuses - I let laziness get the best of me. But I'm back on track now. I'm 4 weeks into my training and it has been kicking my butt - in a good way. I hope to run a 5k by August if not sooner. I will be walking in a 5k race next Saturday. I'm going to attempt to run/walk so that I can get the feel of running outside.

2. Read a Great American Novel - In my last update I mentioned I read "The Great Gatsby". My intent was to read another novel. I haven't as of yet. I don't know what to read. I may just close my eyes and point and whatever my finger lands on, that's what I'll be reading.

3. Be a better citizen of the world - I have been keeping up with this but not as much as I would have liked. My efforts have been steered more towards recycling and going green. I've started purchasing "green" cleaning products. I recycle as much as possible. And I now use reusable bags for my groceries. No more plastic for me! The little things go a long way.

4. Stop sweating the small stuff - I find myself still doing that. It's a hard habit to break. But I intend to break it. I just need to be more cognizant of doing it.

5. Stop using negative phrases - I think I have gotten better. I do make the conscious effort to suppress the inner pessimist. The best way for me to do that is to keep my mouth shut. Period.

6. Take a writing class - I hope to sign up for a writing class in the Fall. I was going to sign up for a summer class but I waited too long. Hey - another goal should be for me to stop procrastinating!

7. Decide what I want to do with my career - I know what I want to do. It's just a matter of getting there. I know that I want to work in a Library. But the jobs I've looked at all require a Masters in Library Science. I need to get off my arse and research and find out what I need to do to make that happen.

8. Finish swimming lessons - I was hoping to have this done before we go on vacation this summer. It doesn't look like that's going to happen. I'm tempted to ask hubby to give me lessons in my father-in-law's pool. It's free! But I think we'd argue too much. Let me rephrase that - I will be arguing too much! LOL!

9. Continue to improve - This is ongoing. I'm slowly getting there. Baby steps, baby steps.

The Great Gatsby

I've just finished reading "The Great Gatsby." One of my goals for 2009 was to read a great American novel. I chose "The Great Gatsby" because suprisingly, I never read it in high school. It was a suprisingly a short book - only 180 pages. But it took me two weeks to read it. It was hard for me to get entrenched in the book at the beginning due to the writing style of F. Scott Fitzgerald. But I pressed on and started to really enjoy reading it.

I couldn't get over the vanity and shallowness of some of the main characters - Tom, Daisy, Jordan and Gatsby. I felt pity for Nick as he seemed completely out of his element. I don't feel sorrow for Gatsby because I don't believe his love for Daisy was true. I think she was an obsession, an object that he wanted to possess. I enjoyed the book and I am happy that I chose it as my first American novel to read for 2009.

My next selection is "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. Another novel that I didn't have the pleasure of reading in high school. I'll probably start reading "Of Mice and Men" in March. Right now I need to start the VCA Good-Trash Reading Movement. I've received the first two books in the Casteel series in the mail so I need to get cracking. I haven't read VCA since I was a teen so it will be interesting reading her novels as an adult.

Slip Up

Today I don't know what was going on with me but I was letting little, tinny, insignificant things piss me off. One of my goals is to not sweat the small stuff. But today, that goal went out the window. I guess I was in a mood - maybe - and things were just getting to me. I went to the gym thinking a vigorous cardio session will help shake off whatever's bugging me. Did it work? Nope. Maybe a little but not enough. I'm still annoyed. I'm in my own little world because I don't want to snap at anyone. Hopefully things will be better in the morning.

2009 Goals update

We're 3 weeks into the new year and I figured I'll provide an update on how I'm doing with my 9 goals for 2009. I've started a couple of my goals. I've started training for a 5k race. I was gung-ho about running and was going to the gym on a consistent basis. This lasted for two weeks. And then it started getting cold...really cold. I've slacked off and I'm really disappointed in myself. I am slowly getting back on track and I am trying not to let the winter weather prevent me from doing what I need to do.

I have made a conscious effort to stop sweating the small stuff and to be more positive. It's not easy. When I've slipped, I've acknowledged that I shouldn't have let something get to me. So I think that's progress. Normally I would fuss and steam over it for at least 30 minutes, if not the rest of the day.

I just received "The Great Gatsby" in the mail this week. It's much thinner than I'd thought which means I'll probably end up reading a couple of great American novels. I'm planning on starting TGG later this week.

I've started 3 of my 9 goals which isn't bad. It's only January. I have 11 months to complete my list.

I'm looking forward to becoming a better Marquetta.

9 Goals for 2009

Every year we make the same resolutions - to lose weight, get finances in order, stop smoking. And every year, by February, the resolutions have been broken. I've decided that I'm not making any resolutions for the new year. Instead, I'm going to have goals that I want to achieve in 2009. I hope to accomplish all of them and become a better person because of it. Listed below are my 9 Goals for 2009 - in no particular order.

1. Run a 5k race. Anyone who knows me well, know that I am not a runner. I hate running and scoff at anyone who tries to get me to run. Earlier this month, I decided that I was going to participate in the 2009 Race for the Cure. As I was perusing their website for race info, something clicked in my head. I could try to run the 5k instead of walk. It's 3.1 miles which I walk anyway on the treadmill at the gym. It's doable. So I GOOGLED how to train for a 5k race and found the information I needed. The training - if I stick with it - takes 10 weeks. Plenty of time to get ready for the race. I can' t wait to sign up for The Race for the Cure so that I cross the finish line as a runner for the first time in my life.
2. Read a great American Novel. I am an avid reader. Books are my joy. But there are lots of great books that I have yet to read. Every summer I tell myself that I'm going to read a great novel by a great author - something that I would have had to read in English class when I was in high school; you know, a "smart" book, a "serious" book. And every summer, I never do it. This time it's different. I know I am missing out on some of the best literature that this country has to offer. So to help me decide what great novel I will be reading, I GOOGLED (gotta love Google) "great American novels." I clicked on a list of what people consider the 100 greatest novels. As I'm looking at the list, I see that there are some books on there that I've actually read. Cool. I have two books that I'm leaning towards: "The Great Gatsby" and "The Grapes of Wrath". I may buy both and hopefully will have read both in 2009.
3. Be a better citizen of the world. I want to become more active in making this world better. I know - sounds corny - but that's how I feel. After the election and witnessing the historic win by Barack Obama, I started thinking that I needed to do more. I need to participate more. A cause that I am interested in and have done extension research on is the Genocide in Darfur. The atrocities that are going on are astounding. And yet it's a blurb in the media. My plan is to join a group in Alexandria and do what I can to help bring attention and resolution attention to that area. I feel like I can no longer sit back and be a spectator. I need to be an active participant. I also want to be an example to Darrius and show that just because something happens on the other side of the world doesn't mean that it doesn't affect you. Any slight against humankind is a slight against you.
4. Stop sweating the small stuff. Like most people, I let little, stupid things get to me. I let it ruin my day, ruin my mood, ruin my outlook. I need to stop it. There's no point in getting worked up on things you can not control i.e. bad drivers on the road (see: road rage rant). It accomplishes nothing. I am going to start letting that stuff go. I don't want my good day ruined because I let an insignificant thing ruin it for me. Easier said than done, I know. But it's worth a try. And I intend to be successful.
5. Stop using negative phrases. I am a pessimist. The glass is half empty, not half full. I think the bad so that I don't get disappointed. It's a crappy outlook to have on life and I want to change that. Alfred asks me all the time why do I have to be so negative. And I just say, "it's easier to think the worse so then you won't be set up for disappointment." Well that outlook sucks. Doesn't that make me a Debbie Downer? I am going to change that. I will stop using phrases like, I'm going to try. Instead I'm going to say, I'm going to do it and succeed. I don't like being negative in my thoughts because it doesn't fit with my personality. I am a funny person. I like to laugh. I like to make jokes. So why be a pessimist? It doesn't fit. I'm going to change that. YES I CAN.
6. Take a writing class. When I was in high school, my favorite class was Creative Writing. I used to write short stories all the time. Once I went to college and was out in the real world, working 9-5, I stopped. I miss that creative outlet. I've been thinking about writing again and possibly write short stories for publication. Since I'm rusty, I'm going to take a writing class to improve my writing skills. I'm looking forward to it and can't wait to get my creative juices flowing again. Even if I don't publish one short story, it's okay. I just want to get back to something that I loved doing when I was younger.
7. Decide what I want to do with my career. I've been going through what I think is an early mid-life crisis. I've been questioning whether or not I'm headed in the right direction. It's more than not liking my job or tired of going to work. It's more about do I want to stay in the Finance/Accounting field until retirement? And the answer I keep getting is NO. In college, I knew I wanted to work with numbers. I loved taking business and math classes. After college, I slowly made my way into the Financial world. Nothing big and fancy. I started off as an office manager of a gym and then moved to billing at USA Today. Then Cost Accounting at my current company and now I am a Financial Analyst. And I am not happy. Somewhere along the way, it stopped being fun and interesting. Now it's tedious and boring. So where does that leave me? I'm reading "What Color is your Parachute?" hoping that it will help me find the way. The two things I love are books and writing. Let's hope in 2009 I can find a career where I can incorporate both.
8. Finish swim lessons. My resolution for 2008 was to learn how to swim. I didn't like that I was in my 30s and didn't know how to swim. Also we would go on these vacations to the Caribbean and I watched from the sideline as Alfred and Darrius played in the pool or the ocean. I wanted to be out there with them. So I started swim lessons at the local rec center. I got over my fear of being underwater and I learned the basics: holding your breath, breathing bubbles, floating. After the 8 classes, I received my certificate of completion and went on vacation a month later. I have not signed up to continue on to the next level. I need to do that. I am not a swimmer yet but I know how to float!
9. Continue to improve. I will not be complacent. I will continue to step outside by boundaries and comfort zone. Try new things. Become a better ME.

New Year's Day is two days away. I was going to start my on my 9 goals before New Year's, to break the typical "resolution" trend. But I decided January 1 will be the day. I don't know which goal I'm going to tackle first. Some are on going without a real ending. The more tangible ones may be easier to start. I'll update my progress as I tackle and achieve these goals in the new year.

Happy New Year!