I have done so much talk around here lately of the need to better myself physically, spiritually, and professionally - that I’m starting to feel like this blog has taken a dark turn for a more boring place than it has ever been before. However, I really think it’s something we are all dealing with on one level or another, so I’m going to placate myself by saying, “It won’t be as boring if we’re doing it together.”

Hmm. It didn’t sound as dirty in my head.

Anyway - I mentioned here that I’m reading a book to help me refocus my thoughts in a positive direction. I mentioned here that I’m reading a book to help me organize my life and be more productive. Since I’ve been reading all of these books - I guess it’s time to actually start doing something. Right? Or can I just read the books and immediately my life becomes better? Man. That would be awesome. Someone should get on that.

I’m going to strive for a few things this week that are probably out of my reach but I’m afraid if I set the goals somewhere realistic they will be something like, “Wake up every day. Shower at least once. Try not to eat the entire pint of ice cream in one sitting.” And while those are goals I might could reach, I’m not sure they’ll help me become a better person. So - here are my goals.

• Process my work inbox to empty everyday. I did this on Friday so I’m starting at a good place for this week. I just need to keep it up.
• Process my blog inbox to empty by Friday. I am so behind on emails for this blog and my personal cyber life it’s not even funny. And some of them have accidentally been spammed (don’t ask) so I’m sure there are even things I haven’t gotten to that I’ll never get to because they are hanging out with the offers to enlarge my p3n!s and email alerts from fake companies.
• Exercise at least once this week. I ran my marathon in April and got pregnant in May at which point I was told not to do anything physical for risk of miscarriage. Ha! Funny joke on me. I was lazy as hell and still miscarried. Bah. Well, that inspired a series of lazy months that brought me to this weekend where I actually walked two miles on Saturday and am still hurting. WALKED. TWO MILES. That’s it. I was at the point where I considered a half-marathon a no-brainer. And now walking hurts. I’ve got a long way to go.
• No beer Monday through Friday of This Week. I’ve gotten into a One Beer Before Bed habit that I’m thinking may not be the best idea. Well, as long as it’s only one beer I guess it’s not a big deal, but it seems more often last week that the one beer was becoming two. And we all know where that road ends: With A Pregnancy Belly And No Pregnancy To Explain It.
• Do not waste hours with family doing housework. I’m bad about using my “quality” time with NikkiZ after work and before bed by doing laundry, or washing dishes, or cleaning bathrooms. And while she and I are still together, it’s not exactly quality time. I need to try to use those few hours every evening before she goes to bed to actually play. Or go for walks. Or something fun. Laundry is not fun. Not sober anyway.

So - those are my goals for the week. There are more spiritual and emotional goals I should set, but those are much harder and involve things like actively liking myself and purging my mind of negative thoughts about myself. Well, that’s about impossible right now, so I thought I’d start with the tangible things in my life. It’s much easier to schedule Dance Time with my kids than to change 32 years of negative programming in my head. And Family Dance Time makes for better blog entries.