You Can't Be a Disciple without Having Discipline

I amazed myself the other day. I finished a novel (non-Harry Potter at that!) in about 2 days. I didn't count the hours, but I bet if I added them all up it would maybe be less than 24. The last novel I read took me months. I really wasn't that excited about it.

Yesterday, I started a new novel. I will probably finish it before the month is out depending on how much I dedicate my time to it. Then, I started thinking about how I've neglected to read this other book I've been meaning to get into again lately.

A few days ago I came across a blog post on self-discipline. I say this like I just "happened" to find it. Actually, I read Penelope's blog pretty regularly. I highly recommend it if you are career-minded and can handle candid opinions. Anyway, back to the topic at hand, after reading it, my immediate thought was "I need to be more disciplined with my workouts, and this is how I will be self-disciplined again," because well, I have been somewhat of a slacker at late.

However, as the days rolled by, I kept having a nudging feeling (especially while I was enjoying my quite time alone with my novels), that I need to be more self-disciplined about something else that I have cast aside. When I googled the word "disipline" not surprisingly the wikipedia entry came up. So I read it. It led me to another word: disciple

Now, I took enough years of Latin in high school to remember that discipulus means "student." So I started thinking, "Am I really a student of God?" Sure, I believe in God, belive Christ died for our sins, yadda yadda yadda. But, do I really study him? My answer would honeslty have to be no. I probably used to. In college. Back when I was single, took 12 credits of classes, and didn't have any money. I had all the time in the world to devote to studying God (because, seriously, who went to class really). But, as I get older (and thus more "responsible") I seem to have let this aspect of my life slip.

But recently I have been feeling the pull to get back into it. So I need to take action. I need to make time to study God. Afterall, I obviously have time to spend an hour in the gym everyday and an hour or two reading for fun every night (and time to write this blog!), so therefore, I have PLENTY of time to study Him. My problem, actually doing it!

My new goal: spend 30 mintues every day studying God. For a month straight. If I miss a day, I start over! (Just like in high school swim practice "If you miss the interval, the whole team starts the set over!")

As a motivator (you'd think my salvation and relationship with God would be enough) will be to treat myself to a new Bible. My old one was given to me by an ex-boyfriend from college (I contemplated naming him), and still has my maiden name on it. It has tons and tons of writing in the margins (despite the fact my ex told me specifically NOT to write in it), passages underlined, and pictures taped to it. Full of memories. I will never throw it away, but merely archive it, and, when inspired, revisit to see who I was between the years of 2001 and 2009.

Today will be day 1. I think I shall retreat to the porch and indulge myself.

Halfway to 2010

Since I did a 1st quarter review of my "Resolutions", I thought I might as well do a 2nd quarter review as well. Helps keep me accountable (or at least that's what I tell myself).

Here it goes:

1. Finish my Master's - Graduated May 2, 2009.
2. Improve my 5K time and finish under 30 minutes (and then some) - My current PR is 28:35. You can verify here.
3. Travel outside of the US - I made it to New Orleans and to Orlando. Do these count?
4. Get back to my "Pre-Florida" weight - Still staying stagnat - I should change this goal, because, why the number on the scale is above where I used to be, the number on the tag in my jeans has decreased. Therefore, I consider my progress thus far successful.
5. Prove to the world that 30 is the new 20 - I'm trying to remember what the heck I was even doing at 20. I'm going to guess gallavanting around Ellis Hall chasing boys. All I know, is that, I am definitely smarter than I was at 20, and, I make more money too. I also think I'm in better shape despite the fact I was swimming 20hrs a week back then.
6. Become more well-read - In the last week I finished 2 novels. On The Road by Jack Kerouac (which, I loated every second of), and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (which, I obviously loved because I finished it in a weekend). A few girlfriends and I have decided to start a book club. We're open to recommendations for our first book.
7. Spend more time in my music - I can honestly say I've only opened my violin case once, maybe twice since the last update. Also, I'm not sure I've sat down at my keyboard in weeks either. Not doing so hot anymore.
8. Get ahead in my career - I am in an interesting situation here. I've had an epiphany about my current position since March. All I can say, is that I'm having more positive experiences lately. I'm going to guess that there is some divine reason for this, and therefore am going to go with the flow for now.
9. Participate in a triathlon - I'm being a wuss on this one. I can't seem to consciously commit to this. I want to do it, I really do. September 12 is still on my calendar. And, I've been training (kinda). But, I haven't actually signed up to compete. I think part of it is because I know I'll be flying solo. All the past races I've completed I've done with a buddy. I'm slightly nervous to do one alone. Steve will come watch and support me no doubt, but, I like knowing someone actually in the race. But, really. I need to sign up. That will be my goal for July.

Where O' Where Have I Been?

Feel free to point out that I've neglected my blog over the last month or so. Since I generally use this as a tool to keep myself accountable for my workouts you can pretty much guess I haven't really been working out. I've been swimming a little, but not consistently. This is about to change.

I figure, what better way to get back into blogging than to review my New Year's Resolutions?

1. Finish my Master's - I FINISHED and have officially been awarded my degree!!
2. Improve my 5K time and finish under 30 minutes (and then some) DONE!
3. Travel outside of the US - really not sure if this will happen this year. One HUGE obstacle being that Steve gets next to nothing for vacation. There are still very tentative plans for a cruise the week of Labor Day, but, not sure we can swing it.
4. Get back to my "Pre-Florida" weight - I'm pretty stagnant in this currently. I mentioned my workouts have been sporadic at best. Really need to get on goal #9 to help out with this.
5. Prove to the world (or at least my friends) that 30 is the new 20 - So, I had an ok b-day. I turned 30 gracefully (I hope), and I know I'm probably healthier than the average 30 year old. But for some reason, I seem to LOOK older than I remember...no fair! But I guess I can cross this off. :)
6. Become more well-read - Still working on this - Currently reading Jack Kerouac's On The Road. Been reading it for several weeks and should be finished by now - been distracted by The Sims 3 ;)
7. Spend more time in my music - been slacking here as well. However, sounds like quintet will start back up next Wednesday. Better dust off the old violin.
8. Get ahead in my career - since graduating, I've updated my resume and managed to toss it around at a few places. I'm also working on utilizing LinkedIn a little more. Even though I've read that the average user is in their 40s, I still think it has a lot of good information and resources. Leveraging social media is something I've been working on lately.
9. Participate in a triathlon - I've been swimming, I've been running, and I've been biking. But, I've been pretty chicken about actually comitting to this whole triathlon thing. There is one in August. I need to bite the bullet and actually register. That will get my butt moving!

This is MY year!

So, I figure since its the new year, its time to address my "resolutions" or so-called "goals" for the new year:

1. Finish my Master's **cop out goal - there is no way I won't be doing this - I figure its good to start out small
   
   
2. Improve my 5K time and finish under 30 minutes (and then some) **I'm already working on this
   
   
3. Travel outside of the US **while a semi-cop out, Canada and Mexico will count - so long as the visit is considered part of a vacation - my real goal is Jamaica, and possibly Japan to visit my brother.
   
   
4. Get back to my "Pre-Florida" weight **The South has taken a toll on my health since moving here, and taught me bad eating habits. You can love through food, but, please, make it healthy food!!!
   
   
5. Prove to the world (or at least my friends) that 30 is the new 20 - except I can drink (legally!) **For those of you who don't know, I turn 30 this year, and I plan to enjoy every last second of it - and you all better come to the super sweet bomb-diggity party I expect Steve to throw me (someone might want to let him know about that)
   
   
6. Become more well-read **This was a resolution I had last year, but school got caught in the way, so I only have 5 months of that excuse this year, I need to read more - makes me smarter and more interesting!
   
   
7. Spend more time in my music **Again, for those of you who don't know, I play violin, piano and guitar - well, I'm still semi-learning piano and guitar, so I need to brush up on those skills, and then re-harness my super sweet violin skills, maybe play at church a few times for fun and practice my quintet music regularly! No, Rock Band and/or Guitar Hero will NOT count!
   
   
8. Get ahead in my career (kind of goes along with goal #1) **In essence, find a job that respects my education and my experience. This includes interviewing in potential new locations such as Chicago, Boston, DC, and Upstate NY.
   
   
9. Participate in a triathalon **I write 'participate' vs. 'compete' because, I may or may not already have lined up a team sprint triathalon - if however, one of the gals can't make it, then, I plan to do it myself - in total! Of course, I'll rock the swimming portion, do great on the biking, then, pray I don't die on the running portion (why does it have to be LAST?)
   

Anyway, I'm sure I'll add to this list, and as time passes by I will get to cross things off, but until them, this is where I am.

Hippie No Ear to Everyone!