The Danger of a Single Story

What about your single story? What parts are you leaving out?

Saturday Morning Gratitude

I'm loving: 

being welcomed back to Lincoln to teach technology

wonderfully eager-to-learn sixth graders (who were once bored fifth graders)

two job interviews in a week

positive feedback

three weeks of consistent commitment to crossfit WODs 

dinner with my summer work boss

good weekend on Dickerson Lake

Lucy spending time with her extended family & dog family

dichroic glass jewelry 

sunbathing with Lucy thanks to half-days at work

PRs on back squat (175#) and front squat (135#)

What are you loving about life today?

Alex Jones: For Those We Haven't Lost

This poem haunts me, even when I feel like I'm doing my best to chase everything I want.

Goals and Gardens

Writing a goal is like planting a seed: something will occur. Either a sprout or nothing.

Placing your written goal where you'll read it daily places that seed in the sun.

Talking about a goal is like watering: too much or too little and the sprout suffers.

If you leave a sprout in the sun long enough with enough water and not too many other plants crowding it out, it'll grow.  If it's a strong enough plant (desire) you'll see it grow fast.  

Lettuce from this summer's garden

As a child who grew up in nearly ideal conditions, I assumed that my teenage New Year's Resolutions were cause for my doing well in school, rather than the environment and nurturing I'd received.  Similarly, I thought I was a good swimmer because I'd been doing it all of my life, and even competitively since 2nd grade.  I believed I was disciplined because I attended morning practices, evening practices, and marching band practice each fall, when the reality was that I was capable of throwing clothes in a bag in the morning, bread and meat in a bag for lunch, and relying heavily on parent transportation and wakeup for said practices.
Any failed resolutions at this time were certainly not my fault: I didn't get on the record board because I was genetically pre-disposed to be fat, I didn't lose xx lb. by xx/yy/zz because it wasn't in the cards.  Imagine the uprooting I had upon entry to college.  I'm still recovering, lots of learning is involved.

For me, New Year's and birthday season are a good times to reassess my goals.  Goal writing itself happens anytime a change is desired.  Once you set your goals, you have to plan to follow through.  If you don't care for one and you still achieve, great.  If you fail to follow up on a goal and it doesn't take, that's okay too.  It wasn't right: either it's a matter of timing or desire.

Knowing these guidelines for goals hasn't prevented my relearning them.
While I've become much better at work-related achievement and building habits related to fledgling interests, I have a long way to go with respect to goals in the fitness sphere, and elsewhere.

Last October I achieved my goal of joining fitness programming that used functional movement.  For the first month I showed up early and practiced my movements at home.
I thought I'd simply keep going.  But it's not enough to start. You must set new goals.

In November and December I became busy with school conferences and holiday festivities but told myself that I was still paying for my membership and would attend, if nothing else, over the holiday breaks. Then breaks came and I indulged in great relaxation and treats.  By the time I got back into it in the fourth month I was self-conscious about finishing dead last at any WOD I attended.  I felt like a failure, like I'd missed critical information, and that I wasn't even "skilled" at scaling.  Felt like someone poured cement over my little plant.  The worst part?  It was me.

I sought refuge in Olympic Lifting.  (Ha! I just typed "Olympic Lifing"...which is what it really was like.)   With a pre-set schedule of weekday offerings I could easily get in a groove.  I still wasn't making perfect attendance but was making gains.  I got back into doing bodyweight movements at home.  Where crossfit had forced me to eat according to my goals (lower sugar, occasional-to-no grains, lower dairy) or suffer, my body didn't have a problem lifting weights overhead regardless of that day's intake.  Like a seedling in a sidewalk crack I was occasionally trampled underfoot, but growing mostly upward.  I think I would've continued that way.  I enjoy lifting and seem have some capacity for strength.  I was beginning to drop the idea of doing crossfit at all and leave my "marred" attempt behind...

Super Cool Video about O-Lifting and Biomimetics (w/Sarah Robles)

O-lifting from my favorite source of video inspiration: Catalyst Athletics

When summer came, the gym changed to crossfit-only offerings and my work schedule adjusted.  My little plant was nipped off at the base, between forefinger and thumb of unpreparedness on my part.  Now it's July, 8 months in, and as far as I can tell, this tiny plant of a goal has roots and some growth coming back.  I'm working on my weaknesses at home through video watching and backyard practice.  I've yet to define what my goal is for the remainder of this year of crossfit, and what's to happen after.

In taking ownership of my weaknesses at crossfit and working to improve at home, I'm realizing there's a whole other set of seeds I've never planted.  The ones I'd love to have but don't believe grow in my region.  Pineapples, coconuts, and limes in Michigan, if you've followed the metaphor this far.  Perhaps they're possible and simply require greater or different effort.  What are your goals?  Do you have any wishes that have turned into actionable goals? Success stories?

Thanks for reading!

Update

It's been quite awhile! Last time I was in I was working on achieving 27 goals by 28 (27by28). In July I'll be 29. Many of these things I achieved didn't happen until after I turned 28, but I'm still pleased to share my progress with you.

1. See a musician (I am absolutely geeked about) live

This one nearly didn't happen. I bought tickets to go to Lollapalooza with my sister but she quickly realized she couldn't financially make it. Hearing this, a good friend offered to host me along with his girlfriend and family in Chicago's suburbs, but I couldn't see being the 7th wheel. While stalking Facebook one day, I noticed a film school friend had gone to Pitchfork Fest. She accepted my extra wristband as pay for staying at her apartment, airBnB style. 

I kind of fell in love with Chicago.  My friend lives near Lincoln Park in Lakeview. She is literally blocks walking distance from $2 sangrias, Trader Joe's and this view on a rocky beachfront ridge:

The Art Institute of Chicago was exhibiting Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, which I saw on Friday, before heading to Lollapalooza. Both were great.

Some highlights:

The Black Keys

Neon Indian's set cut short by a storm that lasted for hours of Saturday's sets

Bloc Party after the storm

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Santigold

 

Sigur Ros

the grounds just after Sigur Ros

At The Drive In

I also saw Saul Williams and Matthew Dear at The Blind Pig later in the fall. They're both amazing.

2. Complete a round of The Whole30 - ATTEMPTED

Nope! I tried again in January 2013. Lasted a few days and then caved to post-holiday delights. My takeaway is that I need to be more consistent day-to-day with my eating habits than worry about perfection at this time.

3. Wear a ring in my nostril piercing

Tried one out at home. My nose is still the same shape it was when I last tried this experiment. Not for public.

4. TBA 

Last July I rode through a cloud in the mountains in Colorado.

5. Volunteer

Worked for a non-profit last summer, continued as a volunteer over the winter. Next time, I would make this goal more specific, like "Volunteer 2 hours a week" or something.

6. TBA

Drove through (down) the mountains of Colorado! Major accomplishment for me as I have always doubted my driving skills. Since then, daily Michigan driving has felt much less threatening.

7. See 27 movies

Yes!

8. Perform a song on an instrument - IN PROGRESS

I'm working on "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" on piano.  It feels great to get back on the keys. Still working out the fingerings. Get a copy of the sheet music here: https://mega.co.nz/#!UI1kRASD!eDauUBpPx4EX8TzUB40atG_S1jkcnjMEXRorDkEtJY8

9. Read Twilight ("Crepusulo") in Spanish - FAIL

Nope.

10. Train for and run a 5k - FAIL

Nope. This is not even a goal I would set for myself now. Running is gross. I am planning to run a 1 Mile Cupid's Run next Valentine's Day. Goals!

11. Live somewhere new - FAIL

Nope. Damn. 

12. Try something made with offal - FAIL

Still on my To Do!

13. Visit 3 cities outside of the state

Chicago for St. Patrick's Day 2012 

Chicago (and Lakeview) for Lollapalooza

 Denver and Boulder, Colorado

Estes Park, Colorado & the Rockies

I wish New York or Boston had made the list... 

14. Flaunt a rocking bathing suit

This is mine: 

My long-haired twin!

15. Take a class

I started several Coursera courses: Pre-Calculus, Engineering Mechanics, Principles of Public Health 101, Sports and Society, and some writing courses. I put the most effort into the Engineering and Public Health ones, but chose to not finish Public Health and narrowly completed Engineering. Public Health was too basic to bother. Engineering took up a lot of time and I didn't schedule it into my life. 

16. Make an unofficial "tribute" music video & post online - FAIL

17. Do a 100-day burpee challenge - FAIL

18. Get a massage

Groupon helped here. I paid for 2 sessions but only went once. All of my muscles ached the week following and I wondered if I was experiencing rhabdo.

19. Get suspicious moles removed - FAIL

20. Drive through a drive-in car wash

21. Make an animation & post online - FAIL

22. Try fish from a can (tuna, anchovies, sardines, whatever)

Kippers are delicious, anchovies are good in paste, sardines are not, tuna is great in this salad: 

http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/2011/02/09/youre-the-top-tuna-salad/

23. "Cherub Rock" - FAIL 

My special project remains on the shelf. 

24. Read 27 books (1/27 read) - ATTEMPTED

Eleven read. I recommend these ones: 

Chorus

Kabul Beauty School

It Starts With Food

Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life

25. Prepare & join CrossFit, MovNat, parkour, or another functional-based movement program

Joined the local crossfit box last October. Love the weightlifting, feel way out of my league during the WODs. Before joining, I imagined I'd be so fit after 7 months. I've made improvements, but ultimately need to make attendance a weekly priority. 

Front Squattin' 55?

26. Get a short haircut - FAIL

Missed. I found a new hairdresser, though :)

27. Blog 1-3x weekly from July 5, 2011 - July 5, 2012 - FAIL

Obviously not. 

27by28 Summary: 

11 failed

 3 attempted

13 successes

Overall, a win! I'm delighted with the results and recognize that putting these goals in my mind I was more likely to achieve them. 

More Productive without Technology?

This morning I woke up as the sun was whitewashing my eyelids.  I thought about how I hadn't slept quite as many hours at night as the nights before and considered forcing myself back to sleep.  Then my brain remembered staying up late, reading articles on my iPod Touch & only giving up not when I was half-asleep, like usual, but when the charge had ran out.  I considered getting up, plugging the iPod in & going back to sleep until I could get into my morning routine of going downstairs as I'm getting online in-hand.  Are you kidding me?  The part of my brain that seems to have appeared with a grain-free diet was disappointed. Get up and do something useful.  So I got up.  Just in time to walk to the stairs & out the window see my Mom and dog being silly by the birdfeeders.  I knocked on the window & called down to the Lu-dog, who hustled up to the house immediately.  What a great start.

Aside from listening to some Robb Wolf Paleo Solution podcasts while cleaning my closet and drawers, I left technology mostly alone until evening.  As it turns out, all of my hoodies can fit in my closet, my current tees can fit in one drawer with other clothes, and I can have some clear surface space in this bedroom that is its 9th year of my habitation (thank goodness for the years I was not living at home; thank goodness for the clarity & mental changes that make me want to leave).  Truly mundane amazing stuff.  Some other nice things are happening too.  And I stayed Whole30 all day.  Real close to 100g protein by 1PM.  Think I topped out around 130-140g total, however.  Gotta listen more closely to those podcasts.  Keep hearing "1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight" but I haven't caught whether that is for people doing CrossFit/lifting/training or if that is any human, anytime.  Probably should get to working out, just in case.

Whole30 continues...Day 2

Today I realized that my favorite brand of coconut milk, Chaokoh, contains some sulfites, which are no-no on the Whole30.  I'd consumed it with coffee on Day 1.  In the past, I would get bent out of shape about "failing" and call the whole 30-day project off; I would look for a way to get back to my bad habits.  It was cold out, I haven't left the house in 4 or 5 days, I didn't want to go grocery shopping.  To have "failed" yesterday would be the perfect excuse to stay in my yoga pants and hoodie, tuck back into the fudge, Texas sheet cake, Christmas cheeses and say I'd re-start in February, which was my original plan, anyway.

Instead of those delectable choices, I considered what would make me feel better.  Consuming some sulfites on the starting day of a 30-day break from them (whatever they are) is probably the best time to do so.  Went shopping, bought plenty of meat to really start this thing, along with some sulfite-free ($$) coconut milk.  And it didn't taste that great.  But I've got several cans to go.   Bought them on-purpose.  I want to stay on-purpose.