one small step for my brain, one large step for my checkbook
February 3rd, 2010 | Written by hurricanic
Much has been laid forth for 2010, and all by my own doing, I will admit. I’m a woman who likes progress. I thrive on forward mobility. Too much of staying in the same place and I go crazy. Not necessarily in regards to address – more in regards to personal development. I would like to blame my parents for this. Don and Susan are project-ers. I have grown up in a household where “how was your day?” is not answered simply by “good” or “okay”. Time is to be quantified – for task completion and betterment of life. My dad would spend Saturdays improving the house, and evenings tutoring us in math or physics. My mom earned her Masters Degree while working and mothering and wife-ing, all while also assisting with home improvement projects, tutoring us in English and history, serving on church committees and baking for Girl Scout meetings. Every morning as I would leave for elementary school, even through high school when I wasn’t rolling my eyes and tuning him out, I would head off to school hearing my father declare, “Another day in which to excel!” This, I tell you, has simply been a way of life for me.
I guess it’s a bit about nurture, and probably also a bit about nature. I’m a first born, and a meticulous overachiever to boot. I’m wired to be the Jason Bourne of personal growth. I’m kind of a machine. So it comes as little surprise to me I have a five year plan on my fridge, serving as a daily reminder of how I want to evolve and change into a better version of myself over time. Sure, some of these goals might not be seen as such by others, but I say seeing Bon Jovi in concert has vastly improved my life as I know it. I’m in the process of creating a new five year plan, as my last one “expired” in October 2009. I’m open for suggestions should any of you have ideas.
For now, I’ve decided 2010 is going to be yet another example of forward mobility. I’ve set in motion a three-part system for this:
1) Live as a vegetarian for 365 days (it’s true…one month down, 11 to go)
2) Read a book a month
3) Watch BBC news at least once a week (hasn’t really happened yet, but a girl can dream)
Now, these may seem like obscure choices for me as I set out to become a better woman. They all make sense to me, however, and that, friends, is what matters. I will share more later about points 1 and 3. For now, allow me to expand on point #2.
I’ve never been much of a reader. Mostly, I think, because I’m ADD and no one ever told me. My brain just starts wandering when my eyes hit a page, and before too long, I’m creating a grocery list in my head or wondering where I should vacation next. Unfortunately, for as much as I don’t naturally choose to be a reader, I feel like the older I get, the more I get rhythmic in daily routine. Being stuck in routine makes me feel like I’m not growing. And not growing makes me feel stupid. So I, therefore, have decided to become a reader.
As with most decisions in my life, I become a bit OCD. In the month of January, for example, I read three books. THREE. (Anyone hear a pattern here? Yeah. I know. First with quilts, now with books.) Two of them really shouldn’t count, though. One of them was by Nicholas Sparks. Another was a Christian thriller/romance book passed on to me by my baby sis. I will tell you, coincidentally, that reading the Christian thriller/romance book coinciding with the recent attacks in my neighborhood proved not be the best timing.
I wanted to get some practice under my literary belt so that I would be ready for February because my friend Jen and I decided to start a bookclub. I didn’t want to show up at our first meeting – the one we had assembled and called to order – and not be able to answer the “what’s the last book you read?” question with a more timely response. I mean, c’mon. Who do you take me for? So I read. And I read. And I read. “The Kite Runner,” by the way, was the only legitimate read from January. A huge step in the right direction after last summer’s Twilight obsession. Made me feel like a real grown up tween picking up something that an adult could carry around in public without shame.
Our first book for bookclub is “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin. Jen and I are excited about it. I will admit I was drawn to the book mostly because the cover reminded me of “Flight of the Concords.” In the end, however, it was the favored choice from the dozen options Jen and I mulled over last night at the local Barnes and Noble. In the gloomy month of February, I can use a bit of sunshine – even if it’s just sunshine in the form of bright, yellow font. I’m that desperate.
Tonight, a fantastic group of women joined together in my new living room to launch said bookclub. I think it’s going to be a grand way to spend a couple Tuesdays a month. I mean, other than the unfortunate, unintentional double-booking with the LOST premier tonight, I can’t really think of a better way to spend a gloomy, cold, February Tuesday. Especially if it makes my house a less likely target for the Waldo rapist with a half-dozen cars in my driveway.
I will say, however, that buying new hardback books is definitely proving to be an unwelcome addition to a very tight budget here these days, as my unexpected master bathroom project has literally proven to be twice as expensive as originally estimated. I am planning on becoming a regular visitor of my local public library in hopes these books will be available. I might have to take the city bus to get there, since I won’t be able to afford gas. And I’m probably headed towards an entire year of eating tuna and mac-and-cheese. The important thing, though? I’m not going to be stupid. My reading muscle will be well exercised and my commitment to self-improvement will be nurtured.
Excited to hear more…
if you eat tuna does that mean you are in violation of goal #1? how does fish fit into this whole vegetarian thing? no chicken and pine nuts from waldo pizza! ouch. i miss kjphoto.